Ebay & Stolen phones.

[Guest pwest13]

I just recieved a call on my c550 from a mobile number, and it was from Orange Corporate Security. I know it was from this number as when i questioned him he told me my D.O.B, my home address, my imei number and when i first used the phone. So if its not a legit Orange call what could i possibly tell him he doesn't already know! He told me my phone was stolen and he assumed i bought it off of ebay.

I did buy it off of Ebay but obviously didn't know it was stolen. From a retail store apparently. So basically i have to send him an email with the information of the seller on ebay, such as his username etc. Then im not sure what will happen? Will i have a leg to stand on if he decides to bar the phone? I bought it for £108 inc P+P, but i really like the phone!

Has this happened to anyone before? Any knowledge on this would be much appreciated!

[Guest daedalia]

if it was a store with a VAT number operating through ebay my feeling is you should be ok. Speak to citizens advice or google for trading standards to find out for sure.

[Guest mcwarre]

I would call Orange direct if I were you ASAP..............

Never, ever, assume that someone is who they say they are. I could probably find out such details if I was that way inclined.

If it was stolen then it will have been blocked. It has a wiff of a scam about it.

[Guest pwest13]

Just spoke to Orange, no one has called me in there records this morning, and as you said mcwarre, Orange confirmed that my account would have been barred if it was allegedly stolen. He even said that my account would have been 'noted' if anything of this sort had occured. He reccomended I do not give any of the information he asked for, but it's my choice.

Weird!?

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Was the email address you were given to mail an Orange address (and not orange.net - that's a customer domain)?

P

[Guest pwest13]

It said the mail came from in the address bar a different address

From : Timmy Mallet

The blank email he sent me to confirm mine and his email contacts it was signed off:

Sir Timothy Mallet

Loss Prevention

ORANGE

Corporate Security

[email protected]

Tel: **********

The Future's Bright

BTW his name is not timmy mallet.

Edited November 22, 2006 by pwest13

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

It's possible the phones weren't barred to help trace the thieves right?

The fact that he has an orange.co.uk e-mail address and also the new orange-ftgroup.com address, makes me think he's who he says he is. Added to the fact i've dealt with 'Corporate Security' personally before, it seems to be legit.

P

It said the mail came from in the address bar a different address

From : FOX Matthew OUK

The blank email he sent me to confirm mine and his email contacts it was signed off:

Sir Timothy Mallet

Loss Prevention

ORANGE

Corporate Security

[email protected]

Tel: **********

The Future's Bright

BTW his name is not timmy mallet.

[Guest pwest13]

I do think it is legit but i felt it strange that:

1) the caller asked if i worked for orange and when i asked if that was relevant he dismissed it.

2) Orange have no records of the call or any problems with my account

I mean like i said earlier he knows everything about my account details, what harm could it do telling him who i bought the item off on ebay? One more thing, he said he thinks he knows the ebayer in questions username and mentioned it, asking me if that was the seller. I couldn't remember at the time but I just checked and he was right.

Perplexing.

[Guest Samsonite]

what about involving the authorities yourself?

Or at the least e-maling Timmy Mallet and saying that you intend to just so that you are seen to be playing the game as an honest citizen who, at the end of it all, is the victim.

my thinking behind this is to flush out a potential scam from within Orange. If other people within O dont know about the dialouge you've had with Timmy, perhaps HE's the rogue in all of this and mentioning the Fuzz might put a new slant on things...

perhaps i'm too cynical but i think that a rat is starting to smell a bit...

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

2) is definitely normal with the way that Orange Group Security operate. They deal primarily with investigations internally in Orange, so they operate 'invisibly' with regards to other departments.

As I say, I am pretty comfortable this is legit.

P

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Why don't you just give him another call now you've had time to think about it, and chat about it?

P

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

Sounds like they are on the hunt for a dodgy member of staff who's been nicking phones and selling them on ebay.

This is a story worth following until the end :)

/me grabs a bag of popcorn and sits back to watch the fun

[Guest pwest13]

Two totally different views there! I'm not going to inform the fuzz as noone has done anything wrong in my eyes, just accusations of scams or infact a theft? I won't call him again as he will get back to me if he really needs the information in which i can share my concerns then. I have asked Orange to call me if any changes apply to my account or there is a threat of termination.

I mean i have given Orange all the information about the caller adn email addresses so I don't see what else i should/could do?

[Guest Samsonite]

i see what you mean but you have been told that your phone is stolen.

You are (potentially) the victim of a crime in that you may have to return your phone to the rightful owner and forfeit your money. If Orange are using you as a pawn to get to the actual crim, then they should look after you.

What happens if your phone is suddenly barred? If Orange are looking for a thief in their own midst, you shouldn't lose out.

If you involve the police, or at least say that you intend to, how can any legitimate organisation say you shouldn't? If Orange are aware of your intentions, they cannot claim at a later date that you have been complicit in the crime and leave you out in the cold and kill your phone...

[Guest The Doctor]

My guess is that its somebody within orange stealing phones then selling them on ebay.... If this IS the case then Orange SHOULD look after you and the money you spent on your phone.

Any self respecting smartphone theif would however rewrite the IMEI before selling it on to avoid this kind of thing :) My guess is that the person taking the phones has very little interest in them besides the money....

Its up to your whether to involve the police but my recommendation would be to leave orange to it, the police have a tendancey to confiscate stolen goods which means you will lose out as they wont offer you any reimbursement for your purchase. I'd sit back and leave orange to it....

Phil

[Guest brnoblade]

Those of you who are old enough, may remember Timmy Mallet and Mallet's Mallet, a childrens TV show. So beware of the wrath of Timmy Mallet and his mallet

[Guest yrreP]

Those of you who are old enough, may remember Timmy Mallet and Mallet's Mallet, a childrens TV show. So beware of the wrath of Timmy Mallet and his mallet

Yes! I was going to say that too!

This sounds very dodgy - unless the poor so-n-so actually is called Tim Mallet (he so would have been owned at school!).

[Guest chucky.egg]

I mean i have given Orange all the information about the caller adn email addresses so I don't see what else i should/could do?

It does sound like their tracking down a member of staff nicking stuff from stores, but dont get too defensive with them.

If the handset is stolen then it belongs to Orange, not you, regardless of what/who/when you paid for it.

By helping them you show good faith, and they may be more inclined to let you keep the handset - which is the outcome you want.

[Guest pwest13]

A helpful member on this site who works for Orange checked the caller out and he is legit so i sent him the information required. I asaked to be kept upto date with what happens just to finish the story and make sure no popcorn is wasted.

[Guest mcwarre]

Goos luck with this, I hope that they don't take the phone off of you especially as you are helping them :)

Keep us up to date as I like stories where they catch the baddies

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

just to finish the story and make sure no popcorn is wasted.

Me waste popcorn? don't think so :)

[Guest pwest13]

The plot thickens...

Just recieved an e-mail from another e-bayer who bought a phone of this theif, he told me his phone was without notice just switched off. Im not sure where this leaves me, mine isn't barred...yet.

I just wondered, my simcard is years old i didn't buy it with the phone so surely Orange couldn't bar my sim card?

[Guest The Doctor]

Me waste popcorn? don't think so :)

Man after my own heart ash :D

Phil

[Guest chucky.egg]

I just wondered, my simcard is years old i didn't buy it with the phone so surely Orange couldn't bar my sim card?

They certainly have that ability, but no reason to use it based on what you've told us. They don't want to lose your business, they just want to stop the thief.

What handset did you buy? a c550?

I don't have any of those, but I have c500s and a few PDAs (mostly M500s, Prophets, Universals) which are going for recycling in the next few days. If your phone gets barred you can have one of those foc (you pay postage). PM me on Monday at the latest if you want one.

[Guest awarner (MVP)]

FOC?

Any devices you don't want would be a great benifit to my help and advice test collection :)