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Be Aware - Scam using HL Credentials
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Terrydxb
Posted: 29 November 2023 16:24:30(UTC)
#1

Joined: 27/11/2017(UTC)
Posts: 16

Thanks: 30 times
Was thanked: 40 time(s) in 9 post(s)
I recently had a call from 0117 214 0487, someone calling themselves Sebastian from HL (sebastian.bush@hl-investing.co.uk) offering me fixed bond rates of up to 8.85% for a fixed rate investment.
I have never had any sort of account with HL, but this chap seemed to know all about me.
I'm of the school of thinking that 'if it sounds too good to be true....etc" but I played along and got a really professional and very impressive looking brochure emailed to me.
Next port of call was the actual HL website - needless to say, the emails given were in a different format to those on the HL website.

Here are the scammers details:
enquiries@hl-investing.co.uk or 0117 214 0487
Data Protection Officer, One College Square South, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5HL

I then phoned HL and suggested that they were being used in a scam - they weren't really interested and said that they were probably already aware of this one (without actually asking for details). They did say that they wuld never 'cold call' in this manner. When I pushed, I did get an email so I could forward the existing scam correspondence - I sent the stuff off, only to get a reply "We’d kindly ask that you only use this email address if you need to attach documents, any other emails to this account will not be monitored" and that it would be better if I logged into my account (which I don't have).

I got a 'follow up' call from 'Sebastian' yesterday - when I suggested he might be part of a scam, he hung up on me.

So, I'm not a customer of HL but this atittude to scammers means I won't be a customer of theirs any time soon.

This is a very, very professional scam operation, please take care not to be taken in by it
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28 users thanked Terrydxb for this post.
Adam Johnson on 29/11/2023(UTC), Helen L on 29/11/2023(UTC), Guest on 29/11/2023(UTC), cliff aner on 29/11/2023(UTC), ANDREW FOSTER on 29/11/2023(UTC), Jesse M on 29/11/2023(UTC), Dentmaster on 29/11/2023(UTC), Jay P on 29/11/2023(UTC), Sara G on 29/11/2023(UTC), Guest on 30/11/2023(UTC), Fuzzy Beats on 01/12/2023(UTC), Laura Sommer on 01/12/2023(UTC), Guest on 01/12/2023(UTC), Dexi on 02/12/2023(UTC), Guest on 05/12/2023(UTC), bill xxxx on 06/12/2023(UTC), Baron Wuffet on 06/12/2023(UTC), Busy doing nothing on 10/12/2023(UTC), colin fellowes on 14/12/2023(UTC), The Spanish Inquisition on 15/12/2023(UTC), Jed Mires on 21/12/2023(UTC), Guest on 22/12/2023(UTC), Neville Contractor on 07/01/2024(UTC), Ramondo on 24/01/2024(UTC), Peter1598753 on 18/02/2024(UTC), BigLoss on 05/05/2024(UTC), Suburban Lesley on 02/07/2024(UTC), Carl blue nose on 14/07/2024(UTC)
AnthonyL
Posted: 05 December 2023 09:21:35(UTC)
#2

Joined: 27/07/2010(UTC)
Posts: 182

Thanks: 29 times
Was thanked: 144 time(s) in 68 post(s)
You can forward any emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing

Your scenario sounds as if the police should be right on top of it, but at this moment neither the government, the police, nor the financial institutions seem capable of dealing with the issue.

I'd love to know what happens at report@phishing.gov.uk and I suspect that if the volume is not high as yours probably isn't. then it'll fall under the radar.

There was a BBC program that tracked (overseas?) scammers, don't know if that would be a route, or Martin Lewis.

Disgraceful by HL.
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3 users thanked AnthonyL for this post.
Tim D on 12/12/2023(UTC), BS on 22/06/2024(UTC), Suburban Lesley on 02/07/2024(UTC)
BigLoss
Posted: 05 May 2024 13:54:27(UTC)
#5

Joined: 18/06/2019(UTC)
Posts: 85

Thanks: 484 times
Was thanked: 129 time(s) in 49 post(s)
Thanks a lot for this, pretty bad that HL weren't interested. I certainly appreciate the trouble you took.
I'm afraid it's only really inertia and that they're IT is less poor than other platforms I'm on that keeps me there.

Terrydxb;287834 wrote:
I recently had a call from 0117 214 0487, someone calling themselves Sebastian from HL (sebastian.bush@hl-investing.co.uk) offering me fixed bond rates of up to 8.85% for a fixed rate investment.
I have never had any sort of account with HL, but this chap seemed to know all about me.
I'm of the school of thinking that 'if it sounds too good to be true....etc" but I played along and got a really professional and very impressive looking brochure emailed to me.
Next port of call was the actual HL website - needless to say, the emails given were in a different format to those on the HL website.

Here are the scammers details:
enquiries@hl-investing.co.uk or 0117 214 0487
Data Protection Officer, One College Square South, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5HL

I then phoned HL and suggested that they were being used in a scam - they weren't really interested and said that they were probably already aware of this one (without actually asking for details). They did say that they wuld never 'cold call' in this manner. When I pushed, I did get an email so I could forward the existing scam correspondence - I sent the stuff off, only to get a reply "We’d kindly ask that you only use this email address if you need to attach documents, any other emails to this account will not be monitored" and that it would be better if I logged into my account (which I don't have).

I got a 'follow up' call from 'Sebastian' yesterday - when I suggested he might be part of a scam, he hung up on me.

So, I'm not a customer of HL but this atittude to scammers means I won't be a customer of theirs any time soon.

This is a very, very professional scam operation, please take care not to be taken in by it
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1 user thanked BigLoss for this post.
Suburban Lesley on 02/07/2024(UTC)
Kao Swung
Posted: 18 July 2024 14:15:05(UTC)
#6

Joined: 18/07/2024(UTC)
Posts: 2
Thanks a lot for sharing this information. As a new member here I really appreciate.
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