Our subscription to one of the web sites we use to advertise the gite expired a couple of weeks ago. We wanted to renew but had not got around to it - after all November is not a great month for bookings. On Monday we received a telephone call saying that it was the web site's office and did we want to renew. Malc said yes and when "Daniel" said he could do it over the phone out came the credit card. "You will get an email confirming" he was told.
Later as we reflected on this, the thought crossed our minds that it could have been a scam. Malc said that they knew too much about our subscription not to be kosher but thought it was a risk not worth taking. He should have said "I will do it through the web site".
As it happens, checking the web site showed that the payment had been correctly processed and our ad was back on line. But there are too many scams simply to give out your credit card details to a random caller.
So: make sure the caller is who he says - say you will ring back on a number you know to be correct.
Always go to the web site you know to be the correct one (ie never follow a link in an email to you even if it says it is from some organisation you know - such as your bank).
We all buy lots via the internet now and living in the country makes it even more convenient, so don't be scared to do it - but do be careful.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
