Direct Line looking for customers

[philharve]

Hi All

I received an unexpected email today. It was from Direct Line who were looking for customers. They even knew what model Mercedes I drove.

I am not offended by this direct approach but I do wonder how they obtained my email address and knew what car I drove. The most obvious answer is via this forum. If my assumption is correct then it is likely that other members of this forum could have received a similar approach. Maybe an agent of Direct Line is also a member.

Two things ...

1. Has any other member received an approach from Direct Line recently, and
2. What do members feel about such an approach?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[M6AJJ]

My insurance is due for renewal this week, and I have had no approach.

 

[television]

Me neither Phil, in Sept I got 2550 spam messages mainly for enlarging certain parts of the body, nothing there re high jacking details from here, I have just looked at last months

 

[philharve]

Me neither Phil, in Sept I got 2550 spam messages mainly for enlarging certain parts of the body, nothing there re high jacking details from here, I have just looked at last months

Hi Malcolm

Working late?

I used to get SPAM like this, sometimes with photos. Mostly its 'Viagara' or 'I'm a young girl looking for fun ...' or 'We are auditing your account, please supply details ...'. i get a large number of SPAM from the Far East which are written in Chinese or other language. Then I discovered Baysian SPAM filtering and the problem went away. The Baysian filter 'learns' what SPAM looks like - with a little prompting from me - and 'Wallah!' all suspicious emails are separated into a special folder, the contents of which is usually filed in the WPB.

I haven't decided upon the fate of the Direct Line email but if I instruct the filter to treat it as SPAM, that's the end of it and any subsequent phishing emails.

If there are any Apple Macintosh members in the forum, take a look at 'Spamsieve', the SPAM filter application.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[100%Bitch]

I've recently renewed my insurance and I had no approach from Directline. :-(

 

[jibcl500]

For the last two years I have got all my quotes for insurance through confused.com. to insure 5 cars it saved a bundle. I think confused forwarded my details to other conpanies that then ring up and try to do a better price, trouble was they couldnt so they passed me to another company then another and it got the the point where I had spent nearly two days on and off the phone to idiots trying to sell me insurance. bottom line was it was still £160 cheaper through confused.com.

I think its time the insurance industry changed to insuring the person and not the car, if your a good driver (I think so!!) and havent claimed then what difference does it make to the cars you drive, I drive all our cars the same way, I drive the A class the same way I drive the 500's.

jib

 

[R2e]

Have you used an online quotation system (like Confused.com) Phil? They generally require an email address and that's probably the source of the Spam from Direct Line.

 

[verytalldave]

Nothing...........and it wouldnt worry me either.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I am currently being 'spammed' by dodgy (african) emails - 99% from Yahoo, offering me MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars - in return for my name/address/ bank details etc etc. I get upto 10 a DAY. each time I block them, they change their address Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..!

p.s. Does anyone actually FALL for this rubbish?

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I'm already with Direct Line, so I guess it wouldn't affect me

However I can't see how they could be using this forum to get email addys as quite a number of people don't even have their email addy visible on thier profile.

 

[verytalldave]

I am currently being 'spammed' by dodgy (african) emails - 99% from Yahoo, offering me MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars - in return for my name/address/ bank details etc etc. I get upto 10 a DAY. each time I block them, they change their address Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..!

p.s. Does anyone actually FALL for this rubbish?

You would be surprised. Some do. It truely beggers belief.

 

[jberks]

I doubt they've got your details from here. They'd have to trawl through, reading signatures and even then, how do they access your email address. All too labour intensive and simply not cost effective.
To run a mailshot efficiently, they will have sent out at least half a million emails at the same time.
There are lots of places they can get your details from. An email address together with name and address from any number of firms you've bought something off on the internet. Car reg and name, address from, for example, a garage database. Put them together (there are firms that specialise in this kind of work and it's not that difficult - I was doing it in the 90's) and hey presto, reg nos and email addresses. They already have access to reg no/car matching so it's an easy process from there. Also, have you ever used an online insurance search engine?
Fact is that with access to half a dozen databases (who all sell data to each other) they probably know more about you, than you know yourself!

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Insurance companies have access to a database that will have your details that were put there by your current insurer.
This is done for the benefit of the insurance companies so customers don,t tell porkys regarding their claim history.

 

[philharve]

Have you used an online quotation system (like Confused.com) Phil? They generally require an email address and that's probably the source of the Spam from Direct Line.

Hi Ron

No, I've not used 'Confused.com' but maybe I will in future.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

I am currently being 'spammed' by dodgy (african) emails - 99% from Yahoo, offering me MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars - in return for my name/address/ bank details etc etc. I get upto 10 a DAY. each time I block them, they change their address Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..!

p.s. Does anyone actually FALL for this rubbish?

Hi JEZ.ML270

Yes, I have received this kind of email which usually begins ' I am Dr. <x>, <rank>, acting for <long-winded explanation> ... need assistance converting $100,000,000 ... etc., etc.' These emails usually originate from Nigeria.

I haven't received any recently and they certainly wouldn't fool me. However, they might catch someone who is either naive or desparate. My Baysian email filter will automatically file them into the WPB even if they try changing their email address which is easy to fake.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

I'm already with Direct Line, so I guess it wouldn't affect me

However I can't see how they could be using this forum to get email addys as quite a number of people don't even have their email addy visible on thier profile.

Hi Lyn

My signature lists the cars I have owned or own. They don't have to look at my profile.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

I doubt they've got your details from here. They'd have to trawl through, reading signatures and even then, how do they access your email address. All too labour intensive and simply not cost effective.
To run a mailshot efficiently, they will have sent out at least half a million emails at the same time.
There are lots of places they can get your details from. An email address together with name and address from any number of firms you've bought something off on the internet. Car reg and name, address from, for example, a garage database. Put them together (there are firms that specialise in this kind of work and it's not that difficult - I was doing it in the 90's) and hey presto, reg nos and email addresses. They already have access to reg no/car matching so it's an easy process from there. Also, have you ever used an online insurance search engine?
Fact is that with access to half a dozen databases (who all sell data to each other) they probably know more about you, than you know yourself!

Hi jberks

I tend to agree with you but in my experience I am seldom asked about the car I drive. However, I know there is a lucrative trade in selling on details as long as they are not personal. The type of car I drive is non-personal so I guess this detail could have come from anywhere. It is difficult to obtain an email address, but not impossible.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

Hi,
Insurance companies have access to a database that will have your details that were put there by your current insurer.
This is done for the benefit of the insurance companies so customers don,t tell porkys regarding their claim history.

Hi bigasotonuk

Before I retired I used to work for BT and used hire cars for business trips. We were informed by our Fleet Management Dept., who deal with all aspects of company transport, that any vehicle accidents/incidents on business must also be notified to ones personal car insurer. Likewise, personal insurers have a duty to inform employers of any personal claims. This exchange of information is necessary to identify risks (including bad drivers) and to reduce costs. There is a central database, probably several, but how do we know that data isn't leaked to other parties? We don't! Leaking could be official or unofficial but either way it's an additional revenue stream for the seller of the information. I doubt it is exchanged without money exchanging hands somewhere along the chain.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[stevex]

I received a similar email from Direct Line, mentioning the Jag I last had insured with them. It was written off almost 2 years ago and I haven't insured anything with them (or anyone else for that matter) since.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi JEZ.ML270

Yes, I have received this kind of email which usually begins ' I am Dr. <x>, <rank>, acting for <long-winded explanation> ... need assistance converting $100,000,000 ... etc., etc.' These emails usually originate from Nigeria.

I haven't received any recently and they certainly wouldn't fool me. However, they might catch someone who is either naive or desparate. My Baysian email filter will automatically file them into the WPB even if they try changing their email address which is easy to fake.

REGARDS

Phil

What these numb-skulls don't realise, is that Banks, Embassies, National Lotteries etc etc DO NOT USE YAHOO for their emails...!!

Do'h......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!