Community Newsletter: Q&A: Are they phishing over the telephone now?!
- 4/25/08 4:05 PM
extended car warantees are also phishing
by lilipat - 10/8/08 9:36 AM In reply to: Telemarketing mostly by Rocker452Hi I got a call for extended car warrantee. Definatly phishing. I stayed on the line to talk with the person. I was asked what kind of car I had. I lied and said Honda Civic. I asked the woman where I was calling from. She told me Honda. Hummmm. When I, as innocently as possible, asked her to repeat what she said, she knew I was on to her scam. She hung up. I am on the national do not call registry in the USA. But it doesn't matter to these folks. If anyone can get the caller to take their name off the list that's great. Usually they hang up too fast when they realize I am not good phishing bait.These calls are like someone trying to break into peoples homes to rob them. I tried to report a call to the FCC. But they asked me if I could GUARANTEE that the number on my caller ID was the same number they were calling from. Guarantee? Well, I guess not. So I got a form letter from them saying my claim was rejected. Good luck to everyone here
Credit Card phone phish
by s_elves - 4/18/08 7:44 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Judie:
You are quite correct, there has been a significant increase in this kind of potential fraud in the last few years. You did the right thing, too, in hanging up. The basic rule regarding credit card companies is that you should only dial the number on the back of your card, or the number you find in a reliable on-line source (such as the card issuer's website). If they phone you, they will never ask for the whole card number, or any of the sorts of details you were asked.
The same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. I hung up, and phoned Visa and my local police. Visa advised that this kind of scam surfaces every 3-4 months or so, and then dies down for a few months (perhaps the scammers simply change the area or card type that they are working). My local police were also very interested - they put me in touch with the fraud department, who again said that they run into this from time to time.
Ordinary vigilance and common sense are your best weapons. If you ever become uneasy receiving a call from someone who represents themselves in a way you don't like, just explain that you prefer to initiate such calls yourself, hang up politely, and immediately call a number that you trust. You won't go wrong.
When You're Right, You're Right
by Jane in KC - 4/18/08 7:46 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Reading your message made me think of the old saying, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." IOW, please continue to use your good sense, which you seem to have been doing, and don't answer any questions over the phone about your credit cards. While I have not received any calls such as you describe, I never - repeat NEVER - answer the phone unless I recognize the name of the person calling. I find that to be a good policy and recommend it to you. Anyone who is a stranger and really needs to talk to you will leave a message that you can return (or not).
(I think I may have received a letter at some point about the car warranty thing, but again, I just threw it away with all the other junk mail. I trust my car to my dealer, and that's it.)
Keep yourself safe from phishing over the phone.
by SusieQ_PCB - 4/18/08 7:47 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Julie;
This is something that is happening more and more. I had a call that said since our bank had made changes at the beginning of the year and issued the new cards they now needed to talk to us so we were asked to call them back at a 1-800 number they provided. (My bank HAD made changes and issued new cards but I didn't believe they would call in that way.)
I immediately called the bank and asked them if they were aware of these calls. They confirmed my suspicion it was NOT a call from them.
I gave them the number that had been supplied to me and they contacted the police and radio and TV Stations immediately. There was a great deal of local media coverage on the situation. We were only aware of
one customer who actually had called back the number and gave personal information. (There may have been more, but I don't know!)
I think the best thing you can do to protect yourself in these cases is to hang up the phone and then immediately call either your local bank branch or the phone number on the back of your Credit Card. I would NEVER call a number they tell you to call because that no doubt will be a phony number where they will answer with the name of the company they are pretending to be. If you can supply the number you were asked to call back, immediate steps can be taken to shut down that phone number and possibly catch whoever is behind the scam. The
faster WE act, the sooner they can be shut down!
Susie Q.
Fraud Concerns - Simple Solution
by purplewombat - 4/18/08 7:48 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We used to get a lot of annoying phone calls from people selling stuff etc. Our solution was to simply use our answering machine to screen calls. We told friends & family that we would not answer the phone unless they announced themselves first. Now we hardly ever get unsolicited calls because they simply hang up when they hear the answering machine.
Credit card Phishing
by Quietmike - 4/18/08 7:56 PM In reply to: Fraud Concerns - Simple Solution by purplewombatYopu have posted the most sensible and logical answer to the problem!! Let's hope all members get to read it. congratulations. Mike
Contact the card issuer immediately.
by TreknologyNet - 4/18/08 7:56 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you have a contact number for someone you suspect is "phishing" report it to your bank or credit provider immediately. Get the name of the person to whom you speak, and tell that person you will not accept calls in return regarding this issue except from that same person.
Failing that, go into the Branch office and give all the information to the Manager.
You have one up on these guys by already being suspicious. Well done.
TelePhishing
by greybear70 - 4/18/08 8:03 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Judie;
I've been getting similar calls for over a year. Three words...SCREEN,SCREEN & SCREEN. If you don't have an answering machine, GET ONE! Don't do like I hear of a lot of people doing..."Hello, You have reached Judie at 555-5555"! If you think the call was from your bank, place of employment or friend, etc. then call them....My rule of thumb is, if it's an important call, they'll call again. If you answer without screening, DO NOT say anything or push any buttons. Remember, you're always safe just hanging up. Peace, Ron B. PS: Caller ID is good too, but usually has a fee attached.
Prerecorded telemarketing
by jconle - 4/18/08 8:19 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You are right these are examples of phishing scams. If you check out the Telephone Consumers Protection Act (TCPA) fcc.gov you'll find that they are illegal. The Federal Communications Commission gives you ways to report this--they are very serious and need all the input you can give them.
response to phishing question
by sillyhermitcrab - 4/18/08 8:20 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America right now.the fact that they are now calling you means phishing is evolving.and since they asked about a specific card,that kind of tells me someone has seen a credit card statement.best thing for you to do is to purchase a shredder,shred all bank,credit card,and other financial statements before you throw them in the trash.if you feel like going the extra mile,you can burn the shredded documents,they do make for nice kindling in the fire place.also,do make note of the numbers on your caller id when they call,write it down,the time they called,and contact the authorities and even your financial institutions,and inform them of these calls.protecting yourself isnt hard,but too many people dont do it out of simple negligence/laziness.always always ALWAYS destroy your bills and statements,you'd be surprised at what people can do with these annoying documents.good luck and God bless
Mike
Neighbor had identity stolen from using route box to mail bi
by odle5 - 4/26/08 8:23 AM In reply to: response to phishing question by sillyhermitcrabHi,
In response to the destroying of bills and private information papers. My neighbor mailed her 1040 to the irs using her postal route box at the end of her driveway. She also mailed out her electric bill and her water bill payments the same day. Two days later, her bank called and said that she was overdrawn and that since her savings account was empty they could not transfer any money to cover the check she had written at a local grocery store. When she went to the bank to find out what was the problem she learned the horrible truth! Someone had came into her bank with a fake ID and emptied every last dime from her accounts. They had her correct social security number, phone number and two legitimate bills from her proper address with them. Yes, they stole the mail and had instant access to every last bit of important information about her...everything! She reported it immediately to the police who informed her that NO ONE should ever use their personal postal route mailbox to mail out bills because anyone could drive by and see her put the mail in the box and then steal it. Because she had mailed her irs 1040, the police called the irs and found out that her tax return had never arrived. She called her utility companies and they confirmed that her payments had never arrived. My neighbor has lost everything and spends most of her free time trying to restore her credit. She is still dealing with these cruel people who stole everything she had. They are getting credit cards in her name, getting huge expensive items purchased in her name, and even charging medical bills to her name. Her credit is RUINED all because she thought that the postal route box in her driveway was safe! The police informed her to always mail bills and other vital information directly inside a post office and to shred or burn any papers with vital information on them...never throw them away! By using her postal route box to mail important papers, she gave the thieves exactly what they needed to destroy her. She now works with lifelock and other agencies to try to regain her identity and good credit, but that is a long and hard road to have to take because someone decided to ruin her.
I think that it is time that the government sees exactly what is happening and take ACTION! The do not call registry is a joke. I have reported over a hundred phone numbers to them and with my caller id, I am also able to give them the time the phisher called and the date. I still get hundreds of phone calls and emails from phishers. Many of them ask you to update your information or your account will be blocked...really, you cannot trust anyone anymore. Never click any link that these horrible people send to you.
My frustration is with the government. Our government expects you to take all the action to protect yoursef. They sit back and give you advise on how to deal with these problems after they occur, but they do not take the initative to stop them all together! Homeland Security is a joke! Listening in on people's phone calls will let you know that little Bobby has a doctor's appointment but not tell you where the next bombing will occur. Homeland Security has computers trackers listening in on certain words that trigger a call to be recorded. All the person has to do is use code words to hide the fact that it is a threat...Hey, we need to meet and talk about my ingown toenail, could really mean that we meet in the park to beat up pigeons. It is a another joke to try to show people that the government is actually trying to safeguard you...a Joke!
You cannot tell me that the country that is home to some of the smartest computer hackers in the world cannot use these same hackers to prevent these forms of email phishing and call phishing and identity theft....sometimes it takes a thief to catch a thief.
We all need to protect ourselves because you cannot believe anything that our government tells us is the complete truth! Mail all snail mail inside a post office if you don't want the same problems that my neighbor is now dealing with. Don't answer any phone calls from strange companies and don't click any links in emails from so called companies trying to update information. Good luck everybody...we need it!!!
I screen my calls
by Bomba_de_Pistones - 4/18/08 8:20 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't answer unless I know who is calling. I signed up for the National No Call list but suddenly it seems not to work. So now if I don't recognize the number or if says unavailable or blocked, I simply do not answer.
As old as sin
by jameslouder - 4/18/08 8:30 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Judie, people have been phishing over the phone since the day after Alexander Graham Bell made his first call. I'm sure, for that matter, that people were phishing with clay tablets back in Sumer and Babylon. Using pre-recorded messages to sort out the "phish" is simply the latest wrinkle in the racket, which otherwise is as old as sin. You're very wise to err on the side of caution and simply hang up on such calls. I myself make it a rule to hang up on any pre-recorded call, even when it seems to be coming from a legitimate source. A pre-recorded call is ipso facto junk and doesn't merit one nanosecond of my time--or yours.
Call Police
by asasso - 4/18/08 8:33 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, I would call the police and give them as much information as you can. maybe they can track down who's behind it.
Not phishing, just telemarketing sales scum...
by spdickey1 - 4/18/08 8:37 PM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The car warranty one is just a sales pitch for some third party extended warranty. Not a phishing attack.
I got the same call from my credit card issuer about my card. It indeed was my bank, trying to sell me on switching to a new fixed rate plan. Again not a phish, just my own credit card issuer trying to sell me something.
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