Fraudster got me ...

[euclid]

Thought I post this here for others to have a chance to not fall into this trap (hard though). So, her we go:

Had a storm damage (night Friday to Saturday) and called our builder, a nice chap which we know for many years. As it was an insurance case I've asked him to get an estimate/invoice asap. So he suggested to send it via email as this is the fastest way. That was the very first time he used my email and, indeed I got his quote (which did not contain any bank details as I got them already) from his hotmail sent via his i-phone.

That was in fact the only email he did send to me.

However, I've received and bounced several emails (via reply and from exactly from the same hotmail) asking to transfer the payment to a different account as he has troubles with his bank. It did not strike me as suspicious as he mentioned in a personal conversation that this entire Brext and Covid situation had impacted his business. So I've transfered the money!!

To cut a long story short, he rang me today asking whether I've received his quotation. This is when it was revealed that his hotmail account (possible his i-phone, too) was hijacked/hacked. He never sent nor received any of the followup emails! He was very worries as his other customers might have received similar emails.

Anyway, I've spent like 3 hrs reporting the fraud to my bank and to action fraud.

Cheers Euclid

[linolafett]

outch, good luck in getting the money back!

[Chips]

You aren't the first, and won't be the last. Heard about these several years ago as it was becoming increasingly common with closing of sales of property... meaning people thought they were transferring the money to their solicitor - only to be told issues and here's new bank account details to use... and then all the funds vanish. Since it was never even with the solicitor. the solicitor insurance doesn't cover it etc. It's happened to businesses trading to others too; all similar stories.

Good luck getting the funds back, hopefully you can.

[euclid]

Thanks for your feedback. And yes, the bank was able to retrieve the money, arrived this morning back into my account.

Also had a chat with the builder and it look like his i-phone got hacked, too.

Cheers Euclid

[Chips]

Most likely he fell for a phishing method and handed over his login credentials...