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!

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.

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

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


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
     

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

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 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?

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.