Yet Another To Forward... (Phishing)

@damselfly I use various ways to shake them off.

One evening though, maybe 15 years ago now, I had a call from someone trying to sell me a portable 'phone contract that would cost me more than my normal PAYG use. This seemed a genuine sales attempt, not a scam.

After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing he with the Far Eastern accent excused himself, and a young lady came on the phone.

"Oh aye?" thinks I, "The charm offensive."

I didn't work. I managed to turn the conversation away from telephones and contracts; and we had a very pleasant chat for about twenty minutes or so. It was quite easy really, because she said that I was one of the few cold-called people not to slam the phone down or swear at her.

A couple of weeks later Angel, as she had introduced herself, rang again, for another chat without trying to sell me anything. I warned her to be careful not to be caught doing this.

I heard once more from Angel and again warned her.

I never heard from her again; and I do hope she'd not been dismissed for telephoning strange blokes in foreign countries just for a friendly chat! I should add that there was never anything sexual in our talks.

@ArishMell i said, "Do you, indeed?" to the chap who told me he understood I was the home owner, and HE put the phone down. Other times Ive asked cold callers if they've let Jesus into their lives (once got stuck on that, but have learned from it) and they usually hang up. Other times ive let them try to sell me something then had to answer the door, sometimes to "the bailiffs.". It's all fun

@damselfly Oh, they soon realise you don't believe them.

Ones I spot as actually criminal, I sometimes call them that outright and put the phone down before they can. Or been slightly less blunt with ones claiming to be from Microsoft or "The Windows Corporation", and instead say I work in IT security...

Oddest perhaps was a man with an English accent asking politely, "Is that Mrs. [Mell]?"

"No, I'm Mr. [Me -] " Bang! He hung up immediately. No idea what he wanted to sell or con my non-existent wife out of.

@OldBrit Ah, Thank you! I'd not known of that, but it's not something we hear about much. The FCA, yes, but not the PRA.

I still think the message to me was fraudulent though. It's not the first I've had, pretending to be Bank of Santander, either.

@ArishMell not disputing your email probably a scam.

The PRA does very important work ensuring institutions are based on prudent assets etc

@OldBrit Yes, I saw that. I looked at its web-site you cited. It seemed odd to see the name "Prudential" when I have been a customer of the insurance-company of that name.