Glenys Kinnock to go

Achievements

Sad news that Glenys Kinnock is not standing as a candidate in the next European parliamentary Elections. Her 15 years as a MEP have been distinguished by a tremendous personal campaign to assist the developing world.

She is Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific / EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and Labour Party Spokesperson on International Development in the European Parliament.

Glenys is President of One World Action, the Development NGO. She is also Patron of the Drop the Debt Campaign, Vice President of Parliamentarians for Global Action, Board Member International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Board Member World Parliamentarian Magazine and a Council Member of Voluntary Service Overseas.

These are formidable achievements. Forget the 'gravy train- image of Euro-MPs, Glenys's has been a dedicated campaigner for the major crises that assail humankind. She has tirelessly used her position to the invisible unglamorous suffering people of the developing world. Her work is greatly appreciated. She will be greatly missed.

With luck she could continue her work from an ermine decorated new platform in the Lords. That would be a deserved   peerage for valuable services. No scandal there.

New Clever Scam

I am grateful for this warning issued today by a Gwent Trading Standards Department.

"This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday by “VISA” and I was called on Thursday by “Mastercard”. The scam works like this: person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?“

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do",
and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card. Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back o f the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening."

You have been warned!New clever scam

Comments

[boghopper]

Not before time. The sooner the rest of the loony Kinnock dynasty disappears from the public payroll the better

[boghopper]

Not before time. The sooner the rest of the loony Kinnock dynasty disappears from the public payroll the better

[Paul Flynn]

Is this your idea of an sensible comment, boghopper? We are used to a higher standard on this blog. Try a down market one. There are plenty where empty abuse is appreciated.

[boghopper]

So it's only sycophants and those of the faith welcome here then - not many of those in the real world, Paul.
Over and out.

[Sally Ann]

This blog takes a strong line on sychophancy as well as empty comments that just say Yaa Boo. I am convinced that Glenys has done a great job for the developing world. Work that does not win votes or make a politician popular. But it is was the right thing to do. She deserves praise.
You attack her, presumably for her name...???

[David Ganz]

Dear Paul,
Do you deny that she has received frequent MEP payments while not remaining in the chamber, and that she has consistently voted agianst transparency in the salaries of MEP's (see the Taxpayers alliance site if you have forgotten the details)?

[Paul Flynn]

If the procedures are similar to the Commons, prescence in the Chamber is no proof of a full day's work. So much work takes place outside of the Chamber. What point are you making?

I do not know how or why she voted. But I know of her successful campaigning work ? where does this figure in your assessments?