Community Newsletter: Q&A: Are they phishing over the telephone now?!
- 4/25/08 4:05 PM
Are they phishing over the telephone now?!
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 4/25/08 4:05 PM
Question:
This isn't exactly a technical how-to question, but I would really like to know how widespread this phenomenon is at this point. I've been getting phone calls lately that sound for all the world like phishing. They disguise themselves by saying something about my credit card (no specific one) or the car I now own (no specific brand). The two incidents I specifically remember involve a prerecorded message announcing 1) we need to discuss your credit card although there is no problem right now, and 2) the deadline is approaching to obtain an extended warranty on the vehicle you now own. Then it says to wait for the operator to come on. I hung up. Another very suspicious message was left on my answering machine to call a toll free number about my credit card. I think that one mentioned a specific card. However, I started getting a bit freaked out when they wanted me to give them a whole bunch of information (card number, address, etc.) before they would tell me what they had called about. I hung up on them, too.
Is this becoming more common? Have any of you experienced this? I have not really seen anything about it and didn't really know where to post this type of information in order to get an idea. It certainly seems like someone should get the word out, as was done with e-mail, before a lot of people really get messed up! Is there anything we can do to stop this? Thanks.
--Submitted by Judie S.
If you have some advice, recommendations, or experience to share with Judie, please click the reply link and submit your answer for her. Thanks!
Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns: Phishing over the phones n
by Kenneth Jankowski - 4/18/08 6:07 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First advise to you is get on the do not call registry for if you can get their info you can prosecute,get caller ID might help,never give personal info to any website you don't deal with
Phishing
by zammer8 - 4/25/08 5:12 PM In reply to: Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns: Phishing over the phones n by Kenneth JankowskiSuggest you check on what Do Not Call Registry offers. Ability to sue is not one of the benefits. As I recall, compliance is voluntary. That said, it does help a great deal.
It's not voluntary!
by cyberphantom8 - 4/25/08 6:18 PM In reply to: Phishing by zammer8"As of October 1, 2003, it is illegal for most telemarketers or sellers to call a number listed on the National Do Not Call Registry."
"One caveat: if a consumer asks a company not to call, the company may not call, even if there is an established business relationship. Indeed, a company may not call a consumer - regardless of whether the consumer's number is on the registry - if the consumer has asked to be put on the company's own do not call list."
Get on the list and file a complaint if you're getting calls you don't want! They must must comply
It's not voluntary.
by zammer8 - 4/25/08 6:38 PM In reply to: It's not voluntary! by cyberphantom8It is not illegal to call numbers on Do Not Call Registry. FCC has no enforcement powers, in any event. Do Not Call Registry is a fraud intended to convey that the federal government is preventing telemarketers.
Right on
by Omphalopsikite - 4/25/08 11:19 PM In reply to: It's not voluntary. by zammer8No teeth, only scares the 'honest' ones. Spoofed caller ID's are the rule. Telco blocking worthless. Telezapper still the best defense, and does work on junk faxes part of the time. Will not block legit faxes despite urban myths.
I generally respond with phony data to waste their time. If they had to sort through 10,000 BS responses, they just might go get real jobs. HA!
100% Correct
by EBathory - 5/3/08 7:35 AM In reply to: It's not voluntary. by zammer8The "Do Not Call" is a total scam. There are so many loopholes in it you can drive a truck through. Just another useless bone thrown to consumers to make them think the government really cares about them.
I once got a call about my car's warranty about to expire. I never had any warranty on the car whatsoever.
Trouble is, by just picking up the phone you are letting their computers know that someone is home, and it will note the time of day so they will attempt another call. If my caller ID says "Unknown" "Restricted" or anything like that, I simply don't answer. If it's that important, the caller will leave a message. If he/she doesn't, then it's just one of those irritating scams.
do not call list does exist
by hepaforsi - 4/26/08 4:16 AM In reply to: It's not voluntary! by cyberphantom8There is a national do not call list and some state do not call lists but if you have ANY involvement with a company or its affliates within the past 18 months it is legal for them to call you. It is then up to you to tell them you are on that call list and then call the companies that they are affliated with. I used to work for a telemarketing company and believe me its easier to just get the call, say you're on the do not call list and then hang up on them. If you tell them that then legally they cannot call you back.
Do Not Call doesn't work
by Les Girouard - 4/25/08 5:57 PM In reply to: Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns: Phishing over the phones n by Kenneth JankowskiI have been on the national & California Do Not Call lists since the beginning & I have still gotten the same calls Judie has plus some others. These people pay no attention to the Do Not Call list because it is impossible to report them. In order to do so by either email or phone, you need to know the name & phone number of the party that called you. Since these folks don't identfy themselves, this is impossible to do. And all the telephone company will do is try to sell you caller ID. They will not tell you who it was who called. It doen't seem fair that one should have to pay for a monthly service in order to combat these nuisance calls.
There are some caveats for the Do Not Call Registry
by Shofarman - 5/2/08 9:02 AM In reply to: Do Not Call doesn't work by Les GirouardI have had my numbers placed on the DNC registry since it's inception however, I own a business and some of the phone numbers I use (most of which actually) are posted in various places pertaining to those businesses. If, in fact you own a business, it is my understanding they still a right to call you - even if you have requested to not be called.
Nothing is perfect but hanging up on them is usually the best trick or you can be like me and when they call, you ask them who they are and whom they wish to speak with? If it's a sales call or phishing expedition you will know it and I just tell them the person (usually I tell them my employer will be right with them.) Then I place the phone next to the TV and hollar through the house that they have a phone call. I will then make them wait for 2-5 minutes before I get back with them. I then tell them he will be right with them and to please hold again - and the phone once again goes next to the TV or radio with the volume up. I will continue to waste their time just as long as they want to hang on. Usually I hear the phone alerting me they have hung up within a couple of minutes though.
If I have lots of time to waste at the moment, I like to grill them about their product while using a peculiar accent and make them repeat what they are selling over and over before they get totally frustrated and just hang up on me. I've been able to get them so frustrated after 15 minutes I think some of them are actually pulling their hair out.
In my business, my most common calls I get are from folks trying to imitate the folks at VRBO.com trying to sell me advertisement on their website - which is never worth the money in my humble opinion.
ROFL
by Kongar - 5/2/08 6:47 PM In reply to: There are some caveats for the Do Not Call Registry by Shofarmanthat was hilarious. : )
sometimes, using a redneck accent and If my girlfriend is around I will pretend to start a fight or get into a fight with her and then start smacking her (I slap my other hand) while yelling and cursing. I stop here and there to throw a "hold on" or "almost done - be with you in a minute" and then back to the "beating" lol
unfortunately, they are using out-of-service numbers
by Culebra - 4/25/08 8:20 PM In reply to: Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns: Phishing over the phones n by Kenneth JankowskiI have received the same calls. The Do Not Call list will not be of much help, because the numbers from which these calls are supposedly originated are out-of-service, and if you inquire into the address or contact info of the calling company, they hang up.
It will require phone traces and taps to stop these guys, but it should be done.
phone numbers no good
by setmeup4 - 4/25/08 9:28 PM In reply to: unfortunately, they are using out-of-service numbers by CulebraOur family has received many such phone calls, I googled what was listed on our caller id for many of them and found pages on internet where others had been scammed and you can add your name to the complaints...however, several have changed location constantly...one address gets found out and they are gone like the wind and setting up elsewhere...sounds in background sounds more like they are at a home than in an office! Phone numbers change so frequently that they have a good routine by now...some I saw were being reported in 2002 for the same thing!
We have asked them repeatedly NOT to call anymore...doesn't work...now we just let my autistic grandson answer and they hang up! 
You can google just about anything...I have even googled phone numbers and found sites where people have info.
Good luck everyone!
oops, forgot to tell you something! :)
by setmeup4 - 4/25/08 9:39 PM In reply to: phone numbers no good by setmeup4LOLOLOL...Ok, mentioned I Googled phone numbers and names from caller id...
Well, One particular company calls at least 6 or 7 times a day... I just look and don't answer when grandson isn't home...well, just after I had googled that number one day and found a site online, they happened to call while I was just finishing up reading some interesting stuff...so, I answered the phone when I saw it was them again and told them that I had just Googled their numbers and they hung up! Next time they called was a different person...did the same and they hung up....Haven't been bothered by them for about 3 days now...either they are on the move or they gave us up!
OMG, that many times a day?!
by LorraineKP - 4/26/08 2:22 PM In reply to: oops, forgot to tell you something! :) by setmeup4I'm getting sick at the thought of so many prank calls. The service I have has gotten rid of all nuisance calls for me. Verizon provides my phone service, and they have Call Intercept, which screens calls without an identifying number in the Caller ID box. Those people calling from private or unidentified numbers are asked by a recording to state their name. Then your phone rings funny, and when you pick up, you can listen to what they said, and either take the call or hang up. Spam callers never bother trying to get through the screen. This costs a few dollars a month, but it's worth the money because it saves my blood pressure. I cannot bear unsolicited calls.
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