Investigation or con?

[helsinki]

I have a disability that renders me unable to work for periods when in relapse, this has been the case for several years.

When i can - i work as self employed (soletrader - cottage industry) but there are periods of both being on benefits/ self employment/ employed.

I have recently gone back to work (for somebody -part time) to ease myself back in slowly - if i dont get sick i will eventually go self employed again as i can earn more.

 

Last week - out of the blue i got a call from a withheld number, the guy asked for me by my other name (used for years in my industry -never to deceive) and said he got the number from my website - he told me he had both my home and previous (4 years old) business addresses and said he was from the DWP and he had a National Insurance rebate for me. I smelt a rat as I have never used my "stage" name officially , never claimed such a rebate and doubted it would be dealt with by phone in any event (he said he had written letters but had no reply.The old business address has long since changed hands - and I never got a letter at my home (that I did use before for correspondence via the website). I thought it was a [problem] to get my bank details - politely said "sorry - dont know what you are talking about" and that was it .He said "ok, if you dont want the rebate- goodbye".

 

Today however I get a call from a land-line - it sounded like the same guy - he said he was looking to book my services (basically im a talent scout) for an event for a soldiers homecoming next year (he specified a venue) and could i recommend any acts - i asked him to be more specific and he mentioned one particular artiste he saw on my website (although I knew that act hadn't been on the site since May) but when I pointed out that the artiste in question wouldnt be suitable for a family audience (along with the "brass band" he was booking?) he said "so what act can you get me".I told him clearly that I was not operating in this field at this time and suggested he Google "tribute acts" that may have a more all round appeal he said "ok thanks" and said goodbye. Again I put it down to either a [problem] - or that the guy just didnt know much about what he was doing... but to set my mind at ease (and maybe recommend a Tribute website) i rang the number AND I GOT THE DISCONNECTED TONE???.

 

I have nothing to hide - but I may not have all the paperwork from what I have done work wise - Does this sound like some sort of investigation or just wierd 2 co-incidences?. As I say i have just got back to work - i have done nothing wrong but this is a bit wierd and unnerving so i would appreciate any opinions or advice. Thanks.

[Nystagmite]

It sounds dodgy to me.

[huggys boss]

It sounds to me like a con or a wind-up. I sincerely doubt that the DWP would ring you about a rebate, we have all seen the warning ads from Inland Revenue, they NEVER email or ring regarding rebates and I suspect that a National Insurance rebate would come from Inland Revenue and not DWP (I may be wrong on that one).

 

As for the booking, it may be genuine. It may be that you were called from a phone that does not take incoming calls, such as a call box.

 

I can't honestly see the DWP using either of these tactics if they were investigating you. (They may possibly try to make a booking, but I think they would do it in such a way that you thought that they were a genuine customer who knew what they were talking about).

[ErikaPNP]

DWP don't have anything to do with NI rebates. This is dealt with by HMRC, who would send such a notification to you in writing; they wouldn't contact you by phone about it.

 

There are many of these cons on the go, some by phone, some by email and even some by text message.

[Nystagmite]

I suspect that a National Insurance rebate would come from Inland Revenue and not DWP (I may be wrong on that one).

 

DWP have nothing to do with tax rebates - it's all HMRC.

[Bazooka Boo]

What was the number you rang?

 

The first call, was that a withheld or unavailable number?

[Janie1962]

If you still have the landline number, input it on the "Whocallsme" site. If it's a [problem], it may be on there.Hope this helps.Best wishes,Janie

[helsinki]

Thank you all very much, logically it makes sense to be a rooz or a rip off (why when I type c o n does it come out as "problem" lol?).

 

the first call was "No Caller ID" - I ran the second through "whocallsme" - its not listed.

 

I guess also that if it was for real - and they were running any investigation the number would be genuine INCASE I called back .

 

Thanks folks. H

[Bazooka Boo]

What is the number? A bit of digging about should highlight it soon enough...

[helsinki]

0208 786 8241 thanks

[Nystagmite]

Can't find anything on Google. I think DWP numbers are all 0845?

[sillygirl1]

Comes up as number unavailable - I'm in one of my smart answer modes today so would have enjoyed winding them up...

[helsinki]

Did a bit of research - the area code is basically from a place 8 miles from where an ex lives , who have recently re-surfaced and I have ignored. I wouldnt put it past them to try and wind me up.

 

Also, thanks to this forum - i now realise its not just a simple "arrest -prove us wrong or we swallow the key", if by any tiny chance this was anything official (which i now strongly doubt) there is more than enough chance to defend myself.

 

Thanks again everybody. Much appreciated. H

[Bazooka Boo]

That number doesn't even come up when BT search for it either????

[Bazooka Boo]

Ah, well that may be the reason then...well done..