Spam email or not?

[Hope]

I have just received an email purporting from the Co-op Bank that reads

Dear ...

We are contacting you to let you know that Ofcom, the communications regulator, is introducing a new initiative called UK Calling. It is designed to help make it easier to understand how much it costs per call to call 08, 09 and 118 telephone numbers (also known as ‘service numbers’) and comes into effect from 1st July 2015.

The changes are detailed below:-
 
1.   It will now be free to call 0800 or 0808 from mobiles. These telephone numbers are already free to call from UK residential landline phones
 
2.   The cost of calling 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers will be broken down into two parts:-
 
    Part 1: An access charge
 Your phone service provider decides how much this charge will be and will tell you this. 
 
    Part 2: A service charge
 This is what we charge you for these calls (per minute). Our service charge for calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers will be 3p per minute, and calls to 0843/0844 numbers will be 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.
 

 To find out more about this initiative go to www.ukcalling.info

I ask because we recently have a call from someone claiming to be from the TPS offering a paid service (TPS is free, isn't it), followed the next day by someone offering a paid service for 0808 numbers from mobiles.  I'm confused.

[SqueakyVoice]

I can't think why a bank would be emailing people about this (mine hasn't at any rate), but Ofcom's site does show they are introducing an initiative called UK calling.

If I were you I'd avoid using the links in the email and check Ofcom's site directly (just to be on the safe side).

[Hope]

I can't think why a bank would be emailing people about this (mine hasn't at any rate), but Ofcom's site does show they are introducing an initiative called UK calling.

If I were you I'd avoid using the links in the email and check Ofcom's site directly (just to be on the safe side).

Thanks, Squeaky.  That kind of coincides with my own thinking.

[Owlswing]

I have checked on Hoax-Slayer and there does not seem to be any reports of this being a scam.

The Hoax-slwayer site - http://hoax-slayer.com/ - is very useful if you have any doubt about such e-mails etc.

It also shows up fake items on Facebook and Yahoo.

[jeremyp]

I can't think why a bank would be emailing people about this (mine hasn't at any rate), but Ofcom's site does show they are introducing an initiative called UK calling.

Why not?

The bank is telling you how much you will be charged if you call them.  It seems perfectly reasonable unless Hope doesn't bank with the Co-Op bank.

If I were you I'd avoid using the links in the email and check Ofcom's site directly (just to be on the safe side).

Always good advice even if you think the email is genuine.

ETA the campaign looks genuine.  The link is harmless (but type it in, don't click it).

[Hope]

I have checked on Hoax-Slayer and there does not seem to be any reports of this being a scam.

The Hoax-slwayer site - http://hoax-slayer.com/ - is very useful if you have any doubt about such e-mails etc.

It also shows up fake items on Facebook and Yahoo.

Thanks for that heads-up Nat.  I used to use a different site, but can't even remember its name now.

I think the thing that got me thinking is that the email address this email came to isn't the one that is linked to my Co-op Bank account.  I don't remember giving an alternative email.

[Owlswing]

I have checked on Hoax-Slayer and there does not seem to be any reports of this being a scam.

The Hoax-slwayer site - http://hoax-slayer.com/ - is very useful if you have any doubt about such e-mails etc.

It also shows up fake items on Facebook and Yahoo.

Thanks for that heads-up Nat.  I used to use a different site, but can't even remember its name now.

I think the thing that got me thinking is that the email address this email came to isn't the one that is linked to my Co-op Bank account.  I don't remember giving an alternative email.

If in ANY doubt - treat it as spam/hoax and delete it unread! ALWAYS!

Better to lose a genuine one that fall for a fake.

[floo]

If in doubt treat it as spam, imo.

[splashscuba]

I can't think why a bank would be emailing people about this (mine hasn't at any rate), but Ofcom's site does show they are introducing an initiative called UK calling.

Why not?

The bank is telling you how much you will be charged if you call them.  It seems perfectly reasonable unless Hope doesn't bank with the Co-Op bank.

If I were you I'd avoid using the links in the email and check Ofcom's site directly (just to be on the safe side).

Always good advice even if you think the email is genuine.

ETA the campaign looks genuine.  The link is harmless (but type it in, don't click it).

Wot he said