New phone phishing scam

[Jog On]

Got a call from someone yesterday claiming to be from Google. Indian chap who knew my name, phone number and email address, telling me my email address had been compromised and was sending 'threatening' emails to people.

After googling the number - 0344 800 2400 - which comes up as a Microsoft support number I see there is quite a common scam going round. They want to remote your computer or get you to log on to some website or something equally dodgy.

Next time he rings I'm going to tell him the threatening emails weren't from hackers - I actually sent them. Just to see what he says...

[Uncle Albert]

I got a kind email from someone who has been paid £30K for "my head on a stick" by a business rival of mine. He'll spare my life if I just transfer £5K to his bitcoin account. I have till the 28th before he hops on a plane to do me in.

Sadly he will be wasting his time as I'll be away on holiday by then.

[GJABS]

I got a kind email from someone who has been paid £30K for "my head on a stick" by a business rival of mine. He'll spare my life if I just transfer £5K to his bitcoin account. I have till the 28th before he hops on a plane to do me in.

Sadly he will be wasting his time as I'll be away on holiday by then.

My plane will be following you to your holiday destination. And £30K pays for a lot of fuel to get there haw haw haw..

[MyUserName]

I got a kind email from someone who has been paid £30K for "my head on a stick" by a business rival of mine. He'll spare my life if I just transfer £5K to his bitcoin account. I have till the 28th before he hops on a plane to do me in.

Sadly he will be wasting his time as I'll be away on holiday by then.

I once got an email from a South African mercenary group demanding money. It had an invoice for body guarding services etc. I was about to delete it when it occurred to me that there was another in another office with exactly the same name as me. It turns out it was genuine and above board, it just came to the wrong guy.

[Uncle Albert]

I once got an email from a South African mercenary group demanding money. It had an invoice for body guarding services etc. I was about to delete it when it occurred to me that there was another in another office with exactly the same name as me. It turns out it was genuine and above board, it just came to the wrong guy.

Oh well, if there is another Uncle Albert at client co then I'm sorry but I'm not tracking him down to hand him a death threat. I think it's best he knows nothing about this and on a positive note I'll have saved his estate £5k.

[Mordac]

My plane will be following you to your holiday destination. And £30K pays for a lot of fuel to get there haw haw haw..

If it's the plane in your picture, unless he's holidaying in Clacton, I don't fancy your chances of making it...

[cojak]

I’ve got a voicemail from HMRC with a final demand and threatening dire things unless I phone a number.

He finished with a flourish ‘This phone call is for YOU!’.

You could just about hear him above the rumble of the call centre.

[GreenMirror]

I’ve got a voicemail from HMRC with a final demand and threatening dire things unless I phone a number.

He finished with a flourish ‘This phone call is for YOU!’.

You could just about hear him above the rumble of the call centre.

Sounds genuine to me.

[LondonManc]

I’ve got a voicemail from HMRC with a final demand and threatening dire things unless I phone a number.

He finished with a flourish ‘This phone call is for YOU!’.

You could just about hear him above the rumble of the call centre.

At least you know where suity is working these days.