Is this a new scam?

[philcooper]

Just got this email, thing is I sold my jeep about 2 years ago!



Dear Mr Cooper

I am currently investigating a burglary and I have a spreadsheet with calls made from a mobile phone stolen from the address.  From this spreadsheet I have 4 calls made to you on 20/08/2008 at 1241 hours; 1453 hours; 1454 hours and 1506 hours.

I appreciate that you have probably received many calls in relation to your advertisement for the wrangler jeep, but would be grateful if you could confirm if you remember receiving the above calls from a foreign number: 00197 1219 5606?  If so, do you have the details of the person that called?

Your help in this matter would be invaluable and I would be grateful if you could let me know either way whether you can assist police in this matter.

Many thanks

Yours sincerely

TDC Ana Ambros

Ana Ambros TDC
BURGLARY UNIT, HAMMERSMITH
226 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6 7NN
Telephone: 020 8246 2633
Email: ana.ambros@met.police.uk

[carbore]

Its a strange one. The phone number "MAY" be legit and the email address also looks ok, but I diddnt think they coppers emaied people out of the blue (bad pun)

If I were you id find the phone number for the main station via some other means (a few googles or directory enquiries) and phone them up.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Seems legit, but if I was sending an email like that out, I'd have put my ID number on it. I'd call the Met on this number 020 7230 1212 (24hr switchboard), and ask to be put through to the officer named, just to cover yourself.

[Disco Matt]

I'd agree with LSP - a popular scam nowadays is to dupe people into phoning a premium rate number. BT seem happy to collude in such scams too (they'll take your money and pass it to the scammers), so worth giving the Met a call to ask about it.

[MuddyMachine]

I just google mapped the address, it doesn't look like a police station. more like a warehouse.

[philcooper]

I think if this was that important they can ring me, like she said she has my number!

[philcooper]

Curiosity got the better of me and I rang them, It was legit they are investigating a burglary and some guys phone got nick, apparently he then phoned my old phone number.

Anyway livened up my morning a little

[wing nut]

working for the nhs ,we had a memo ,saying if you have a caller asking you to press #90 then dont do it, as this allows the caller to make calls from your your phone system

[lee celtic]

the only building with that post code is the old fire station . shepards bush road  ;)

[thermidorthelobster]

working for the nhs ,we had a memo ,saying if you have a caller asking you to press #90 then dont do it, as this allows the caller to make calls from your your phone system

That's generally an urban legend;  the scam is people who can't be bothered to spend 2 minutes checking whether it's true then perpetuate the myth by sending out silly memos.

HOWEVER it is valid for some switchboards so might be true for yours!