SCAMMER CAUGHT RED HANDED

Last week a supposed London broker was caught on Close Circuit Telephone Protection while instigating a fraudulent transaction with retired Devon resident Doug Dunn. These days scamming is rare so what made Wayne Smith, 30, risk being caught out? I spoke with Doug to hear his story.

 

"Mr. Dunn. I understand you were transferring proceeds from a property sale to a fixed term savings bond. When did you first suspect you were talking with a scammer?"

 

"I didn't suspect to start with, and I didn't need to as long as I was CCTP recording while he called me."

 

"Please can you remind readers what that is? I know it's been around for a while and has led almost to the end of telephone scamming."

 

"Yes. It's like CCTV but for telephone conversations."

 

"I see. And I believe it is now acceptable as evidence in a court room."

 

"Telephone recording never used to be admissible but following the introduction of Personal Identification it became impossible for a person to use a false identity. I think it uses voice recognition."

 

"So a good job you turned on the recorder. Perhaps it's something we should all be doing?"

 

"I think so. I record any non-personal calls now if they involve online payments."

 

"Certainly makes sense. Doug, you said you didn't suspect anything to start with. What made you think the caller was a scammer?"

 

"After making the transaction I was emailed to say I would get a transaction confirmation. I waited a day, but no email arrived. So I called the investment company to let them know. They looked up my account and apologized for the delay and said I should receive the confirmation email by the end of that day. Again no email. Then at 4am the next day, it literally dawned on me. I’ve been scammed!"

 

"Ouch! So it was the lack of written confirmation that raised your suspicions?"

 

"Yes. That day I spoke with Action Fraud and sent them my CCTP file."

 

"That sounds so easy. I hear that file led to the scammer’s identification and arrest. And I believe your funds have been returned into your account. You must be relieved to have your money back!"

 

“I am relived and pleased we live in an age where scammers can’t get away with it anymore. I was lucky to make money by selling a flat in London. But that represented 12 years of hard work and mortgage payments. It can't be right for it to be taken away like that.”

 

“We are lucky it doesn’t happen so much now.”

 

“Yes, but it used to happen a lot. Back in the early twenties especially during the Covid pandemic period scamming was common. Then a group of people started a campaign to put an end to it. They showed us how to use technology to make it stop. I guess I am lucky it happened now rather than back then.”

 

“Thank you. I think you will help many of our readers when they are making telephone transactions.”

 

“You are welcome.”

 

South Devon Advertiser

9^th November 2040