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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Are they phishing over the telephone now?!
- 4/25/08 4:05 PM
Phishing over phone
by Maggie Aldinger - 4/19/08 6:04 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ask them to put you on the "DO NOT CALL LIST" then report them to the
"Do not call listing" They can be fined. if they are legitimate they will respect your wishes or be subject to fines or if not they will seek another area to elicite their phshing list from. I found my local # in the daily paper. There is one for cell phones also. I am sure you can check with your carriers. They don't like it anymore than we do. Good Luck, Maggie
Fone phishing
by Brittni1 - 4/19/08 6:08 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have read in various places that phishing over the phone exists and is increasing. The best way to avoid them is with Caller ID. If no name or number comes up, don't answer it. If it's a toll-free number that comes up, don't answer it. In fact, unless you recognize the name or number that comes up, don't answer it. I bought a multi-function machine (printer-copier-scanner-fax) and allow the fax to answer all the calls where I don't recognize the name or number. It cut down on the number of calls I receive drastically. I use the cell phone for personal use and the land-line for internet and fax.
Caller ID or Answering machines are not always the answer.
by TreknologyNet - 4/19/08 6:56 AM In reply to: Fone phishing by Brittni1Australia's implementation of caller ID is woeful. Competing cell networks won't exchange numbers, and therefore many legitimate calls read as "******" on the display. There is one person who rings me at least every second day from her cell phone, and it never shows up on my Caller ID, so I have to be alert to receiving her calls.
I also deal with a finance provider who won't give out any information until they have established the identity of the person on the other end. Their concern is "I'm calling from (e.g.) AMEX," then it tells other people that I may have a problem with my AMEX card which is not something they want to spread around. Very special protocols have been forced into place to ensure that they give sufficient identification for me to take the call.
A genuine finance/credit provider is also unlikely to leave a message, because there is no guarantee that the target person is the only person who will hear that message.
My eventual solution was to have my listing in the phone book swapped to a fictitious name. Any mail to (e.g.) "J Edgar Hoover" goes straight in the bin, anyone ringing to speak to Mr Hoover, "Sorry you must have a wrong number."
As for answering machines, no one seems to know how to use one. A long lost friend and I had an answering machine protocol. Instead of playing tag until you eventually get them on the phone, we would leave each other specific messages, and when returning the call, leave the appropriate response on the other's machine. Two calls only, and question answered. Not 30 telephone tags and still no idea what the call is about. Of course, anyone else listening to these messages would have no idea what our messages meant.
(aside)
Even our memos at work used this code pattern, most of our messages were from DOS, which just served to confuse other people who didn't know what was going on. INPUT "<location>", 1300$, would mean lunch at <location> at 1pm. Can't do it? Reply: "Bad Command or Filename." Will be there: "Application complete. Error code 0." It was also a constant source of fun when other people intercepted these messages and had no idea *** we meant by them. One of them said DEL *.* meaning to us this topic is terminated, and the Admin got hold of it, and typed it into the root directory of the Novell Server!
When I ring my own sister I won't leave a message, because it takes her another THREE MONTHS to bother checking them.
Phone Phishing
by ancient_mariner - 4/19/08 6:28 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Judie,
No bank or credit card provider will ever ask you to provide details of your account or card - why should they, they already have them - but if you are not sure all you need do is to phone the company who is the provider of the service that is being discussed.
Do not accept a phone number from the caller but call the number that you know to be the true number for that service.
Hope this heps
Regards
Jack Carter
Telemarketing
by Steve1776 - 4/19/08 6:35 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
As soon as you hear a overly cheerful or robotic voice. hang up instantly and think about what you were thinking about just before the call.
phishing over the phone
by Ekazakov - 4/19/08 6:54 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello, Judie
I had a couple of these calls, and talked to the representative in the 1st case.
It was not really a fraud - these guys tried to give me a loan. I think sometimes you receive suggestions in the regular mail: "you are pre-approved to receive the money for free!" And fine print on the back side says it's under 20% annual.
So these call are just another way to lure you to call them, I would name these telephone spam.
Simply do not call back, if this is not your bank or your insurance company.
Thanks, Eugene.
Phishing over the phones
by NewEnglander - 4/19/08 7:06 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Smells like a dead whale on the beach to me.
Answer this: WHY would YOUR own credit card company call to get your card # and address or other personal info??
My advise
by uralt - 4/19/08 7:06 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Never answer the phone and never call back when you receive this kind of calls, because if you do so it is a confimation that they choose an avalable phone number and a living person. There are differnt ways to use your phone number and information for these people.
What I would do is call the toll free phone number of my Credit card company or any company what the caller mentioned, to find out if they want an update of my personal information or if there is anything wrong with my acount. Even when you receive a call from a person who identify it self as an employee of the bank etc never give your account number credit card number or SS number. Say you don't remember or you are busy now and call back (not to the number this person is giving you) call back to the number you know it is the real number of the company you know and ask if miss soandso did call you to get some information from you.
Good luck and be careful
Eugene
Phone calls about your credit card
by purplemountain - 4/19/08 7:06 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I get these calls as well as the calls about the car warranty. These are mostly automated calls and some will give you the option of dial or push #9 to be taken off the calling list. I am not sure that will stop it, but as you are always warned, DO NOT GIVE ANY PERSONAL INFO OVER THE PHONE(one exception, maybe! If you make the call) When I get these automated calls and they do not give you the option of being taken off the mailing list, BE RUDE AND HANG UP. JOAN T.
Never heard of it...
by gegen4 - 4/19/08 7:07 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi!
I am so sorry to hear about your troubles! I have never experienced any of this, so I'm not really sure what to tell you. Although, one time our credit card number did get stolen, although we don't know how.
I would say go to the bank and get new credit card numbers. This will secure you a way to finishing something off that could be happening. If not, you should do this every so often anyway. 
Hope this helps!
NOT PISHING BUT A PAIN IN THE A*#
by jonaxthec - 4/19/08 7:08 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We where getting a lot of both the types of call you mention. They are are sales calls from automated or live call centres based here or abroad. Responding to the "take off call list" just gets a dead line. We have reduced their frequency by by doing the following.
Answer the call, wait till you get a live voice then tell them "just moment there is someone at the door", put the phone down on a flat surface and just go about your daily life returning to the phone 5/10 minutes later - they will not be there and believe me after you have done this afew time the number of these calls you get will drop or stop completly.
Phone pfishing
by jshuffie - 4/19/08 7:13 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
What you are experiencing is quite common, and it's been around for a long time. Often it's harmless, just a company hoping you will call them back. If you call them back, then you have taken the bait in the first step of sales call, maybe something just as innocent as to get you to sign up for another credit card. Other times, the person on the other end of the line is trying to obtain your personal information to use illegally.
You were smart to just hang up.
Here are a couple survival tips:
1) Never give out personal information, either by phone or electronically, where you did not initiate the call.
2) Read number one.
In the past, it was suggested to get their phone number and call them back. If they gave their number, that was somehow supposed to make it seem more legit. Don't do it. Read the survival tips above.
What is Phishing?
by Ankit B. - 4/19/08 7:27 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
What is Phishing?
Phishing is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay, PayPal and online banks are common targets. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging, and often directs users to enter details at a website, although phone contact has also been used.
The visitors to the site, thinking they are buying something from a real business, submit their personal information to the site. The criminals then use the personal information for their own purposes, or sell the information to other criminal parties.
Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical measures.
A classic example of phishing is an identity thief setting up a website that looks like it belongs to a major bank. Then, that thief sends out many emails that claim to be from the major bank and request the email recipients to input their personal banking information (such as their PIN) into the website or call on a phone number so the bank may update their records. Once the scammer gets a hold of the needed personal information, they attempt to access the victim's bank account.
So the bottom line is NEVER, Ever, give out any identifying information over the phone, email or instant messaging.
Yup most of us have been victims of such phone calls. The Indian government has recently introduced a National do not disturb Register, once your name is on it, it becomes illegal for telemarketers to call you and they risk very large fines and even cancellation of license . Even my telecom provider has a do not call service of its own. So you should check if this service is available with your telecom provider. One of my service provider has a scheme that I get paid for incoming calls so I don’t mind receiving calls on that particular number so whenever I receive a telemarketing or a Phishing call I just answer the phone and put it on the desk till the call ends.
same thing with me
by wjlbyers - 4/19/08 7:29 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
the same thing has happend to me .so, i looked around on my laptop and adjusted my internet opts and went to the next higher level.but on one of the levels i found out i could not go to my e mail or other places that needs your password to inter :like my online school password:. so i went back and re-adjusted it so i could go into those password protected programs.it also tells you what each level is doing.i noticed when i went to a website they would call me the next day and i never clicked on anything on it . i started seeing this after i went to the new york times web site. so go to start- all programs-accessory-system tools-security-internet opts, and read what it says under that. it says 3rd parties might call you without your consent and so on.
phishing over the phone
by robert91307 - 4/19/08 7:33 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've gotten one or two of these calls as far as I'm concerned they're phishing scams. If there is a problem with your card they will identify the company. What I ask them to do is send me a letter of confirmation and tell them to put me on their DO NOT CALL LIST.
I also ask for the name of the person I'm talking to, their supervisor and a call back number. If those aren'nt available it's probably a phishing scam.
If I do get a letter from the card company, which hasn't happened yet, I would simply call the company, tell them to take me off their DO NOT CALL LIST, and explain to them why I asked them to put me on it in the first place
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