AT the October meeting of Shobrooke Friendly Club, Alison Erkman from NatWest Bank gave a very interesting talk on the various scams doing the rounds at present, and how best to avoid becoming a victim.

She highlighted the case of a businessman who had been persuaded to invest his pension lump sum into a scheme supposedly paying up to 20 per cent interest.

Of course it was nothing of the sort, all that it means is that some low life is now enjoying the benefits of this poor man’s pension pot, probably on some sun drenched beach far far away. The moral: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Unfortunately it is the elderly and very young who are most likely to fall victim of a scam. The young, because they are inexperienced, and the elderly because of sometimes feeling pressurised into doing something and sometimes being too trusting.

One club member admitted that a few years ago she had been a victim of a computer scam. She had been cold called saying that her computer was full of viruses, and that the “nice gentleman” on the other end of the telephone would clean it for her. He gained access to her computer, heaven only knows what he did to it, but it cost her about £200 to get rid of him.

Many people mentioned that they had received similar telephone calls, allegedly from Microsoft, their bank or HMRC.

Some had received emails purporting to come from their bank requesting that a link in the email be pressed. An obvious fraud when the email is from a bank with which the person does not have an account.

She advised that if a call is received supposedly from a person’s bank, and requesting a call back to “prove that it is genuine”, never to call back on the same telephone, as the scammer has kept the line open, and you will only end up by speaking to the same person as called in the first place.

The correct procedure would be to telephone the bank on another phone, preferably a mobile and to the number on the reverse of the bank card or on a bank statement.

For cold callers on the doorstep who do not go away, then the only thing to do is dial 999 for the police.

Alison was firm to point out that banks will never telephone asking to confirm security details, Microsoft never cold call people, and neither do Local Authorities or HMRC with claims that a refund is due.

Always just put the phone down and in no circumstances press “1” if requested to do so.

Alison was thanked for a very interesting talk.

Members were reminded that the club was again running an evening trip to Tiverton pantomime on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

The pantomime is “Sleeping Beauty”. Tickets will cost £9 plus the cost of coach travel, yet to be determined. Anyone wishing to go to the pantomime to contact Jacquie Lee on 01363 776189.

The next meeting of the club will be on November 20 at Newton St Cyres Parish Hall, and not as shown on the programme starting at 2.15pm.

Danny of Sandford Orchards will give a talk on “The History of Devon Cider”, which should prove to be very interesting. The talk will then be followed by the AGM.

Norman Gale