I just received a message on my answering machine asking me to call Barclaycard on 08445560055. I do not have a Barclay card but was curious so I dialled the number. I got a recorded message telling me that this was a new automated service and asking me to put in my 16 digit card number. At this point I hung up as it seemed like a phishing phone call. I decided to be resposible and alert Barclays so that they could take appropriate action but could not get thro' to a sensible person. I spoke to an Indian gentleman who told me that this wasn't a Barclays number.... surprise surprise  and no he wouldn't put me thro' to the fraud department as I wasn't a Barclays customer. Is it any wonder that the banks are in deep trouble! I just get the feeling that the lunatics are in charge of the asylum!

It's probably easiest to send them an e-mail via their website. You could also try Card Watch:
http://www.cardwatch.org.uk/

I would have emailed the CEO of Barclaycard and most of the other positions I could think of... waste of time on the telephone where there is no record.

This is not a scam, it is criminal activity, and it has little or nothing to do with Barclays.

Whatever else Barclays is responsible for, and that is plenty, all it could do in this situation is continue to remind its customers never to respond to this type of approach.

Cardwatch may be able to offer useful advice, however this is a matter for the Police.

There are more reports of scam calls by this number at http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08445560055

The Barclays Board members can be found at www.aboutbarclays.com/content/detail_imageright.asp?NewsAreaID=20

I suggest you try emailing the following

Group Chief Executive - john.varley@barclays.com

Chief Executive, Global Commercial and Retail Banking - frits.seegers@barclays.com

I also have a generic security matters email address for Barclays.  This sends an auto responder back saying they will only get back in touch if it is relevant to do.  This is as follows:-    internetsecurity@barclays.co.uk

There are many important matters that the Board of Barclays should be giving their attention to.

Could somebody please explain why this issue is thought to be relevant to Barclays, rather than the Police.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 26^th, 2008 at 1:02pm:

There are many important matters that the Board of Barclays should be giving their attention to. Could somebody please explain why this issue is thought to be relevant to Barclays, rather than the Police.

May be it is because the banks are always telling us to report these matters to them. For example this is what is on the Lloyds TSB web site, I know this does not refer to phone calls but I would guess they would still want to know.

Security update
We won’t be sending you any emails for the rest of 2008

We haven’t sent you any emails in the last 4 weeks and won’t be sending you any for the rest of the year (unless it’s in response to an instruction you’ve asked us to carry out for you).

Remember we will NEVER email you asking for your logon details or directing you to a page that asks you to type in this information.

If you receive an email of this kind that claims to be from Lloyds TSB, it will be fraudulent. Please do not reply but forward it to our investigations team at emailscams@lloydstsb.co.uk
24/11/2008
     

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 26^th, 2008 at 1:02pm:

There are many important matters that the Board of Barclays should be giving their attention to. Could somebody please explain why this issue is thought to be relevant to Barclays, rather than the Police.

Because Barclays customers are the ones who are actually at risk of disclosing their card security details to these fraudsters and Barclays need to alert their customers to the potential danger by any means they can such as at the online banking login screen etc, etc.

Surely you don't think Barclays have no interest in their customers being defrauded by people who are not actually Barclays?  After all Barclays will be footing the bill for it if it happens. ::)

Of course I agree that the Police should also be informed too.

NGMsGhost wrote on Nov 26^th, 2008 at 1:12pm:

Surely you don't think Barclays have no interest in their customers being defrauded by people who are not actually Barclays?

As it happens, I have many doubts about the role of the banks in relation to fraud. They only suffer losses in cases that are recognised and reported properly. They gain income by selling services that are intended to help identify cases in which their procedures have failed. They fail their customers by following procedures that are readily susceptible to fraudulent imitation. However ...

The number of current and potential frauds requires the banks to give only general advice rather than creating a false sense of security by only highlighting specific cases.

The case reported here is primarily a matter for the Police.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 26^th, 2008 at 1:41pm:

The case reported here is primarily a matter for the Police.

No it is also primarily a matter for Barclays as it is a deliberate attempt to fraudulently imitate them and defraud their customers in so doing.

The Police will take a lot more notice of Barclays reporting this to them at a corporate level saying they have had 500 reports by customers than they will take notice of one lone report by one individual.

Have you never tried reporting a matter like this to the Police (especially as most people reporting it will not even have fallen for the fraud) only to find how very disinterested they usually are in even logging this kind of matter. If it is rape, murder or assault then they will of course turn out right away but for anything else they would much rather the public sorted it out for themselves.

Thank you all for your responses. I have today emailed the CEO as suggested. The eason I didn't call the police is that I didn't think they would take it seriously whereas if Barclays contacts them it is quite another matter.I wonder whether I shall get a response.

I think your find the number does belong to Barclays and is used by Barclaycard debt collection department,as is  0844 556 0054.

They do use the Cable and Wireless supplied 0844 556xxxxx numbering range

http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/customer-service/contact-list/index.html

0844 556 0105 BarclayCard Internet Customer Services.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=16200865

Tel 0844 556 0104 Barclaycard Customer Relations.

I did get a response from the CEO'office. It seems it is indeed a Barclaycard number and is for debt collection. Since neither I nor my partner have a Barclaycard and since we have had the same phone number for the past 40+ years  how does our number get to their debt collection agency? Scary isn't it?

reggie wrote on Nov 28^th, 2008 at 4:55pm:

I did get a response from the CEO'office. It seems it is indeed a Barclaycard number and is for debt collection. Since neither I nor my partner have a Barclaycard and since we have had the same phone number for the past 40+ years  how does our number get to their debt collection agency? Scary isn't it?

I would put that question back to the CEO's office.

The bigger question to put to Barclaycard is to ask why they expect customers and others to respond to what they have no reason not to suspect to be phishiing telephone calls.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 28^th, 2008 at 6:13pm:

The bigger question to put to Barclaycard is to ask why they expect customers and others to respond to what they have no reason not to suspect to be phishiing telephone calls.

For once I find myself completely in agreement with you.

These companies should only expect customers to respond on a published phone number on their website, or used in previous postal correspondence, in such a situation.