BEWARE ‘LLOYDS’ BANKING SCAM

I’ve had persistent sales reps from “Mayfair Private Banking” on the phone trying to flog me investments in Government bonds.

They wouldn’t explain exactly how they got my number, just saying that I’d responded to a site advertised on Google.

“Investments with Mayfair Private Banking are protected for up to £85,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme,” they emailed, insisting that there’s extra protection because they are part of Lloyds Bank. Which is a lie.

This lot have cloned details of the genuine Mayfair Private Banking and Lloyds confirmed to me that they have no connection with the crooks’ website mayfairprivatebanking.com.

This made for an interesting conversation when “Tom Hargreaves” we can assume it’s a made-up name – rang me from the bogus firm and I asked him about the Lloyds connection. Hargreaves: We’re a subsidiary.

Me: I contacted Lloyds and they said it’s not true.

Hargreaves: We are not under the direct Lloyds umbrella, we are held by Lloyds.

Me: What does that mean? Hargreaves: They are direct investors into the firm.

Me: You just said you were a subsidiary.

Hargreaves: Yeah, in a way.

Me: They say they are nothing to do with mayfairprivatebanking.com.

Hargreaves: Whoever you spoke to at Lloyds was obviously confused.

I don’t think so – mayfairprivate banking.com is now on the consumer alert list published by the Financial Conduct Authority.