• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

New Scammers?

Status
Not open for further replies.

fowler9

Established Member
Joined
29 Oct 2013
Messages
8,380
Location
Liverpool
It's ridiculously easy to get an advert on Facebook. Anyone with a page can do it.

Indeed, several of my mates death metal bands advertise on Facebook. I wouldn't contact them to do a wedding or anything. If Facebook is peoples point of reference for what is decent in society then the future could be interesting.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

maniacmartin

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
5,438
Location
Croydon
I have not got a response to my request to cancel, but have now submitted my LU receipt scan :)

On my card statement is this:
HOTCRAZYDEAL.COM,080-8178894,PAN
4.00

They have taken the £4, but left the monthly rate pre-authed but not claimed

Note also, that it is showing up as a Panama transaction, not an Indonesian one.
 
Last edited:

maniacmartin

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
5,438
Location
Croydon
Here's the ending:

We have check your account on our platform and confirmed you had requested to be unsubscribed from hotcrazydeal.com.
For you to have a successful refund, you will need to remain a member of hotcrazydeal.com until the end of the refund process.

Your subscription cancellation request has been taken into account.
You will no longer be registered as a premium member and will no longer be charged any fees.

Please let me know if you require further assistance.

Thank you and have a pleasant day!

Cheers,
Katie
HotCrazyDeal Team
Phone: 0808 178 8940
(Monday-Friday: 9am to 7pm / Toll Free)
www.hotcrazydeal.com

So you can only get the 25 pound cashback if you pay at least one month of the 29 pound subscription. During the trial period they don't reply to emails, so your cashback claim is only processed after you've paid them
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
So you can only get the 25 pound cashback if you pay at least one month of the 29 pound subscription. During the trial period they don't reply to emails, so your cashback claim is only processed after you've paid them

As I suspected, oh dear. So do you still have your £4 top-up you paid for?
 

Clip

Established Member
Joined
28 Jun 2010
Messages
10,821
Here's the ending:



So you can only get the 25 pound cashback if you pay at least one month of the 29 pound subscription. During the trial period they don't reply to emails, so your cashback claim is only processed after you've paid them

Yup. Pointed that out in their T&Cs on the first page.

I presume that means the company is actually based in Panama, and are just using an Indonesian hosting company.

But why would they do that as there are plenty in Panama to choose from


Reading into it,it seems that they are not eligible for paying tax from their earnings if hosted off shore. Still dodgy when there are plenty closer countries to host in.
 

maniacmartin

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
5,438
Location
Croydon
Well the website itself appears to be hosted on servers in the USA! I'm only 4GBP down, so not the end of the world.
 

mariamaria

New Member
Joined
21 Nov 2013
Messages
2
Location
London
My card has about 35 GBP of pending transactions. It looks like they may have helped themselves to the monthly fee before the free trial is even over!

I feel so stupid, so stupid. I though this was a real site. I bought two deals and i got charged the subscription before the trial ended up.
I am now writing, calling and nobody answers. The numbers says is incomplete... so i wonder, which number did you dial?
Also, have any of you received the refund or the cashback for the offers?

Please, any info will be appreciate it. I am desperate since im very broke and now worst.
Thanks
 

mariamaria

New Member
Joined
21 Nov 2013
Messages
2
Location
London
Its a prepaid card, and I've just run down the remaining balance on other stuff so its game over for them

Hello again, you said you paid the subscription plus the £4 pounds per the oyster offer... did they gave you back the whole amount?

thanks
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
Hi, sorry to hear your predicament.

Unfortunately the money is as good as lost. It is an unfortunate fact that people who are not very financially secure are easy prey for these criminals. You can try and contact them and/or the police but given the fact that they are based overseas, there is very little the police can do for you, so the chance of seeing that money is miniscule. I don't want to crush your hopes, but meanwhile I also don't want to offer you unrealistic expectations.

The best thing you can do is learn from this experience. If this incident means that you remain vigilant for the rest of your life and never fall victim to such scams again, then that would be a great outcome. Don't beat yourself up for it.
 

maniacmartin

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
5,438
Location
Croydon
If its of any help, I got a response form the cashback claim address, cashback@hotcrazydeal.com . The normal customer support email address never replied to me, although they obviously do read the emails there as they referred to an email I sent to that address when I emailed the cashback one.

If you have not yet been able to cancel, I suggest you contact your bank ASAP, as its likely they have set up a continuous payment authority which will rebill every month. You can read more about these payment authorities on this page at MoneySavingExpert
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hello again, you said you paid the subscription plus the £4 pounds per the oyster offer... did they gave you back the whole amount?

thanks

No, they haven't paid me back anything at all
 

gjee

New Member
Joined
8 Jan 2014
Messages
4
Still though you must be able to get it back.

i was charged for a second month in a row and still nothing...
i also tried to cancel that invincible membership but it doesn't work
even my bank is not able to help
*******s
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If its of any help, I got a response form the cashback claim address, cashback@hotcrazydeal.com . The normal customer support email address never replied to me, although they obviously do read the emails there as they referred to an email I sent to that address when I emailed the cashback one.

If you have not yet been able to cancel, I suggest you contact your bank ASAP, as its likely they have set up a continuous payment authority which will rebill every month. You can read more about these payment authorities on this page at MoneySavingExpert
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


No, they haven't paid me back anything at all

I talked to my bank number of times, they even managed to get me a cancellation letter but at the end of the day i still incurred another charge following month... DO YOU GUYS THINK IF I CLAIM LOST CARD THE CHARGE WILL STOP???
THANKS

P.S.... HOTCRAZYDEAL.COM IS A REAL CON. I EVEN "TALKED" TO THEM COUPLE OF TIMES, THEY CLAIM THEIR OFFICE IS IN MAURITIUS, THEIR ENGLISH IS VERY BAD...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i feel so stupid, so stupid. I though this was a real site. I bought two deals and i got charged the subscription before the trial ended up.
I am now writing, calling and nobody answers. The numbers says is incomplete... So i wonder, which number did you dial?
Also, have any of you received the refund or the cashback for the offers?

Please, any info will be appreciate it. I am desperate since im very broke and now worst.
Thanks

... The bad news is you'll get nothing back, sorry to disappoint you, i'm trying to stop that stupid "membership" fee for a second month is a row... No cashback from the deals as well, this site is a con, stay away...
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
I talked to my bank number of times, they even managed to get me a cancellation letter but at the end of the day i still incurred another charge following month... DO YOU GUYS THINK IF I CLAIM LOST CARD THE CHARGE WILL STOP???

Your bank should be able to cancel the continuous payment authority for you. If you have already requested this and they failed to do it, any further deductions should be claimable against your bank. I suggest that you complain to your bank as this shouldn't be happening.

More details on here.
 

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,528
Location
Liskeard
i was charged for a second month in a row and still nothing...
i also tried to cancel that invincible membership but it doesn't work
even my bank is not able to help
*******s
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I talked to my bank number of times, they even managed to get me a cancellation letter but at the end of the day i still incurred another charge following month... DO YOU GUYS THINK IF I CLAIM LOST CARD THE CHARGE WILL STOP???
THANKS

P.S.... HOTCRAZYDEAL.COM IS A REAL CON. I EVEN "TALKED" TO THEM COUPLE OF TIMES, THEY CLAIM THEIR OFFICE IS IN MAURITIUS, THEIR ENGLISH IS VERY BAD...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


... The bad news is you'll get nothing back, sorry to disappoint you, i'm trying to stop that stupid "membership" fee for a second month is a row... No cashback from the deals as well, this site is a con, stay away...

I had a recurring debit card transaction I couldn't stop, I reported my card lost, and I never saw any further transactions, as the bank blocked my debit card number which the company had.
 

maniacmartin

Established Member
Fares Advisor
Joined
15 May 2012
Messages
5,438
Location
Croydon
They are still advertising on Facebook. I've seen this advert numerous times recently and have reported it to Facebook twice as a scam, but the ad hasn't been removed. Clearly Facebook don't care either.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Your bank should be able to cancel the continuous payment authority for you. If you have already requested this and they failed to do it, any further deductions should be claimable against your bank. I suggest that you complain to your bank as this shouldn't be happening.

More details on here.

Correct. As of June 2013, banks are legally required to cancel CPAs if you request it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
THEY CLAIM THEIR OFFICE IS IN MAURITIUS, THEIR ENGLISH IS VERY BAD...

Mauitius? This differs from their website which says they're incorporated in Panama, their WHOIS data which goes to Indonesia, their web hosting in the USA and their UK freephone number.

The person who emailed me had signed the email with a very english-sounding name... They seem to be everywhere!
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
They are still advertising on Facebook. I've seen this advert numerous times recently and have reported it to Facebook twice as a scam, but the ad hasn't been removed. Clearly Facebook don't care either.

Clearly they put their profits before social responsibility.
 

gjee

New Member
Joined
8 Jan 2014
Messages
4
your bank should be able to cancel the continuous payment authority for you. If you have already requested this and they failed to do it, any further deductions should be claimable against your bank. I suggest that you complain to your bank as this shouldn't be happening.

More details on here.

thanks for your advice. How do i claim these charges against my bank? I talked to them dozens of times, happened to find only one person who responded in a positive way, she managed to get hotcrazydeal.com on the phone and i was sent a cancellation letter which also clearly states that i'll get a refund, i got nothing back and today i noticed i was charged 29.90 again... I'm gonna go claim a lost card see if it works...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i had a recurring debit card transaction i couldn't stop, i reported my card lost, and i never saw any further transactions, as the bank blocked my debit card number which the company had.

thanks, that might work, i'm gonna go claim lost card in the morning...
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
thanks for your advice. How do i claim these charges against my bank? I talked to them dozens of times, happened to find only one person who responded in a positive way, she managed to get hotcrazydeal.com on the phone and i was sent a cancellation letter which also clearly states that i'll get a refund, i got nothing back and today i noticed i was charged 29.90 again... I'm gonna go claim a lost card see if it works...

You should not have to involve the website. Your bank should be able to cancel the CPA for you. Once you have requested the cancellation, they must not authorize any more payment. They are legally required to do this.

Complain to your bank first. I don't know whether you will get your first lot of £29.90 back as I doubt you cancelled the CPA before that money was taken, but you should be able to get this second lot of £29.90 back. If your bank refuses to oblige, take it up with the Financial Ombudsman Service.
 

swj99

Member
Joined
7 Nov 2011
Messages
770
You should not have to involve the website........ Once you have requested the cancellation, they must not authorize any more payment. They are legally required to do this...........................If your bank refuses to oblige, take it up with the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Absolutely right.

When it comes to banks, you are instructing them, not asking them, to cancel a payment and not make any further payments to a particular recipient. Be sure to make this clear in your dealings with them. It might sound like quite a subtle difference, but it's quite an important one. If the bank continues to pay money to this recipient, after you've instructed it not to, it's the bank's loss not yours, and realistically it's the bank's problem whether it get's that money back again. It's your account, your money, and the bank works for you, providing a service and acting on your instructions. I know it might sound like quite an old fashioned idea these days, when people seem to be willing to be told what they can and cannot do by large companies.
 

gjee

New Member
Joined
8 Jan 2014
Messages
4
You should not have to involve the website. Your bank should be able to cancel the CPA for you. Once you have requested the cancellation, they must not authorize any more payment. They are legally required to do this.

Complain to your bank first. I don't know whether you will get your first lot of £29.90 back as I doubt you cancelled the CPA before that money was taken, but you should be able to get this second lot of £29.90 back. If your bank refuses to oblige, take it up with the Financial Ombudsman Service.

well, actually, the bank involved me as the agent had to check if they're legitimate so that's how she managed to get me a cancellation letter not realizing in fact that this site is a con...
funny thing you state "the bank must not authorize any more payments" but it just happened after a month meaning they can't really cancel the fraud unless the website appoint them to do so:)... bank has actually blocked my account after the second charge evidently seeing that already as a fraud and i was told i'll get new card next week... interestingly enough, i was referred to bank's refund department, they said they can "investigate" in a very sarcastic manner, pointing out no matter i'm getting a new card the con site can continue to take money... i don't think i'll get any money back
...but yes, i managed to cancel into these 72 hours range which according to T&C and if this site was really a good one i should have got my first 29.90 back and not being charged again...
thanks
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Absolutely right.

When it comes to banks, you are instructing them, not asking them, to cancel a payment and not make any further payments to a particular recipient. Be sure to make this clear in your dealings with them. It might sound like quite a subtle difference, but it's quite an important one. If the bank continues to pay money to this recipient, after you've instructed it not to, it's the bank's loss not yours, and realistically it's the bank's problem whether it get's that money back again. It's your account, your money, and the bank works for you, providing a service and acting on your instructions. I know it might sound like quite an old fashioned idea these days, when people seem to be willing to be told what they can and cannot do by large companies.

very well said, but how do you instruct people who are in fact mind controlled, 95% have no idea why the're there and they're IQ level of incompetency is flashing at a very alarming rate... and how could that be a bank loss as the money disappearing from my account with no hope to get any back, yes, it's just £60 but what if it was few thousand or so?... the bank never works for you, it's just a middle man and in fact takes more than deserves for it's poor poor services, i must admit that this is generally my fault as i was tempted to get something which in fact does not really exist... cheers
 

fowler9

Established Member
Joined
29 Oct 2013
Messages
8,380
Location
Liverpool
As far as I was aware there is not much a ban can do once someone else has your debit card details other than cancel the card.
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
As far as I was aware there is not much a ban can do once someone else has your debit card details other than cancel the card.

I will repeat what I have already said,

You should not have to involve the website. Your bank should be able to cancel the CPA for you. Once you have requested the cancellation, they must not authorize any more payment. They are legally required to do this.

Whether the other organisation still has your details is irrelevant. If your bank has been instructed to not make any more payments, they must not.

The Financial Ombudsman would be very interested to hear cases where banks are not doing what they are supposed to do. Unlike Passenger Focus, they have real power to fine and award compensation. I urge anyone who has a grievance which cannot be resolved with their own bank to contact them.
 

fowler9

Established Member
Joined
29 Oct 2013
Messages
8,380
Location
Liverpool
I will repeat what I have already said,



Whether the other organisation still has your details is irrelevant. If your bank has been instructed to not make any more payments, they must not.

The Financial Ombudsman would be very interested to hear cases where banks are not doing what they are supposed to do. Unlike Passenger Focus, they have real power to fine and award compensation. I urge anyone who has a grievance which cannot be resolved with their own bank to contact them.

Sorry mate, Was just commenting that it was what I thought, I was interested to hear otherwise. About 7 years ago I gave my debit card details to a loan broker for an initial £50 payment for their services. I read some reviews about them (After speaking to them stupidly) and then decided not to proceed I called the bank and they said they couldn't do anything and I would have to cancel the card which I did, fortunately before any money was taken.
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
Sorry mate, Was just commenting that it was what I thought, I was interested to hear otherwise. About 7 years ago I gave my debit card details to a loan broker for an initial £50 payment for their services. I read some reviews about them (After speaking to them stupidly) and then decided not to proceed I called the bank and they said they couldn't do anything and I would have to cancel the card which I did, fortunately before any money was taken.

The change was recent - only since June 2013 I believe, and I think you can claim back any money since 2009.
 

fowler9

Established Member
Joined
29 Oct 2013
Messages
8,380
Location
Liverpool
The change was recent - only since June 2013 I believe, and I think you can claim back any money since 2009.

Cheers mate. Now that is an improvement and I hope people act on it. I was a bit gobsmacked at the time that the bank would do nothing the day after to stop money being taken out of my account! I bet technically they were able to do that back when I had my problem!

To be honest I am not that astounded how many years behind instant communication the multi billion pound banks are when it suits them.
 

DownSouth

Established Member
Joined
10 Dec 2011
Messages
1,545
I will repeat what I have already said,

Whether the other organisation still has your details is irrelevant. If your bank has been instructed to not make any more payments, they must not.
The problem with getting your card issuer to cancel a CPA is that a CPA block isn't effective if the "other organisation" makes an end run around it by entering your card number and CVV into a terminal with a different merchant ID, it only works with legitimate businesses who play by the rules. It might get picked up by the card issuer's standard anti-fraud filters, but not by the CPA block.

It's exactly the same as if you block your phone service from receiving calls from a certain number at a company - it's no good if the next call from that company comes from a different line.

If you've let your credit/debit card details get into the hands of scammers then you really do have to cancel the card and get a new one, unless you want the pain of making an unauthorised transaction claim on each new transaction they do until they give up.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Cheers mate. Now that is an improvement and I hope people act on it. I was a bit gobsmacked at the time that the bank would do nothing the day after to stop money being taken out of my account! I bet technically they were able to do that back when I had my problem!

To be honest I am not that astounded how many years behind instant communication the multi billion pound banks are when it suits them.
See my previous post, it may turn out that your bank had actually blocked the regular payments.

The big problem is the credit/debit card system - it all works on the assumption that every transaction is genuine unless it triggers an anti-fraud filter or is contested afterwards, and it's not really a fit for use over the internet or with regular automatic payments. That's why I asked my issuer to have my regular card set to work only with chip/stripe access and not with the number entered manually or from stored details, and for anything online I use a separate prepaid debit card which I can top up at the local supermarket when I want to use it, any online business wanting to scam me using stored details won't be able to take me for anything more than the $50 or so I normally keep on that card as a reserve.
 

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,528
Location
Liskeard
The Financial Ombudsman would be very interested to hear cases where banks are not doing what they are supposed to do. Unlike Passenger Focus, they have real power to fine and award compensation. I urge anyone who has a grievance which cannot be resolved with their own bank to contact them.

Just to clarify the Financial Ombudsman does not have any power to fine a company.

http://financial-ombudsman.org.uk/about/index.html

we don't write the rules for financial businesses – or fine them if rules are broken. That’s the regulator’s job

I am not sure they can award compensation neither, as my dealings with FOS they have made recommendations but not enforced the compensation pay out, although the relevant company has paid up (eventually).

(I have been in a long drawn dispute with a bank who I used to be with)
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,465
Yes, on the fining front, I got it confused so apologies. I was thinking of the FSA which have now been split into the FCA and the PRA.

I am pretty sure however that the FOS can make binding decisions. I will have a dig for a proper reference.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top