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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Are they phishing over the telephone now?!
- 4/25/08 4:05 PM
Unlist your number & reverselookup
by gurnx - 4/19/08 7:37 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If I were you I would:
- unlist your phone number. I no longer have a home phone; with highspeed access at home I can either use TMobile free wifi calling and/or skype.
- Take the 800 number that you called and look it up; google 'reverse lookup' to find sites that provide this service.
- If you think any of these are legit do this; ask them to send you details to your mailing address that they have in their records. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR ADDRESS; they should be willing to read their address-on-record back to you for verification.
Jim
Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns: Phishing over the phones
by coloradopatti - 4/19/08 7:41 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Everyone has given you good advice, Judy. It seems in the last year these types of recorded phone phishers have really taken off. I have found that being on the Do Not Call registry doesn't always stop them but please ensure that your phone number is on the list anyway - it greatly cuts down on the amount of telemarketing calls you will receive. In February, a law was passed so that we do not have to regularly renew our numbers on this list, so this is a good thing.
Something you will notice upon answering these recorded calls is the connection is still intact but nobody is there, indicating a recorded telemarketer message that will eventually transfer you to a live person. I believe these people call several numbers at once and it's the (bad) luck of whomever answers first as to whose number gets left hanging the longest. In many cases, the longer you stay on the line, the better it will be for them so if nobody responds after you say Hello, just hang up.
I doubt you could get these people to identify themselves even if the initial call wasn't recorded but try to do this when applicable. If they really are from a legitimate institution, they won't mind giving out their phone number and extension so you can call them back. And if a number does show in your Caller ID, there are websites where you can report it and that number not only gets on a national list but is also investigated if enough people turn it in (800notes.com or callercomplaints.com, to name a couple).
These scams are being investigated by the Attorney General's office and they appear to originate overseas, probably using voice-over internet technology. Moreover, the scammers generally use fake Caller ID numbears and their employees are often threatened so as not to give out information that could help authorities track their bosses.
You might also want to keep an eye on your bank accounts throughout the month, as often charges for $1 are deducted by similar fraudulous actions. Many do not bother to investigate such a small sum but think how this can add up to millions being stolen from unsuspecting account holders. Just remember that however they are getting our information, we are put onto lists that are then sold to others and thus, the escalation of incidents. Do what you can to see that you get on THEIR Blacklist sheet by not cooperating. They will only continue to waste their time with a particular person or number if we repeatedly fall into their traps. Getting our number on that Blacklist of theirs is the ultimate goal, as they then move on to more unsuspecting individuals (unfortunately).
Phishing probably
by norarose - 4/19/08 7:58 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Standard rule...hang up and never call back any number from one of these calls. We have also been getting them for the last month. Annoying yes, but don't know who to contact to get rid of them. We don't have any extras on our phone so don't know if the feature that gives you the last number that called your phone would work. Could try calling your phone provider. But good luck. We asked Bell to check on a phone number that a tv ad was using and somehow the overflow kept ringing in on our number. (numbers were't even close) They couldn't be bothered. Told us to change our phone number.
No conversation
by gulrajani - 4/19/08 8:01 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is a message for Judie.S.
if you are living in United Kingdom, I suggest get in touch with BT and they will advise you.So far you are doing the right thing by putting the phone down and not engaging in any conversation at all.
good luck
Phishing Calls
by captdaveh - 4/19/08 8:17 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have also received numerous calls such as you described. Like you, I hang up when they ask for card numbers.
Phising Phonecalls!
by Tonyshapps - 4/19/08 8:25 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi there,
These phishing phone calls are no new phenomena in the UK. The are often couple with a sales pitch to disquise there real reason i.e. to obtain your credit card numbers.
Tony
Tony Shapps
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phishing
by Dennis Flacy - 4/19/08 8:32 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I too have recieved both types of calls, and have hung up quickly. I hang up on ANY call that is a "recorded announcement". Been getting quite a few lately. Some are political.
If someone asks me to assist in a survey I ask how much money are they going to pay for my valuable knowledge. So far no $$$. Or I lie.
Phishing over phones now? Y E S ! ! !
by raynardo - 4/19/08 8:32 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's the latest!
Forget the "no call list", these scumbags will try anything to steal from you. Why? Because they're hard to catch and the penalty is non-existent. Until enforcement and penalties become the downside to these scams, they will continue.
Example 1: My father passed away a little over a year ago. My 78-year old mother began getting, what she thought, we're legitimate phone calls from scammers trying to get credit card information from her. And, unfortunately, she succumbed to one of these official sounding scams. Luckily she called my sister immediately, and my sister had to go through the process of changing all sorts of account numbers to protect my mother.
Example 2: I've been getting tons of calls from folks wanting to extend the warranty of my car. To try to avoid scammers at home, I have a phone number that is never answered by a human, only my computer, and it keeps track of all the phone numbers (and there are many). Well, out of the blue I get one of these phone calls on my cell phone (which I think was due to random/demon dialing), giving me the same spiel. On a lark I went for it. The person again claimed that, "my warranty was expiring", and I said wow, I'm lucky you found that out, and since I really do own five cars, they asked me the make and model of my car, I asked, "Gee, don't you have that information? Please, you tell me which car you're talking about." I was transferred to another person, and he tried to get the car information from me, but I said, "You called me, so you tell me." He put me on hold for about five minutes, and then the call went dead. So far, I haven't had another scam call on my cell phone. But the line mentioned above, gets one or two a day! And yes, it is on the "no call list".
So here's my helpful hint for today: TREAT EVERY CALL AS A SCAM CALL. If you can afford it, subscribe to your phone providers caller ID service. Then, if you don't recognize the number, or it's somehow blocked, don't answer it. Instead have an answering machine/device answer those calls. I seriously doubt you'll miss any important calls. And you'll be much safer for it.
Phone phishing
by danhintz - 4/19/08 8:45 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Not only is that getting common, but the legitimate financial institutions are exposing us all to fraud by sloppy practices that include revealing personal information in their mailings (that anyone can steal) and not properly identifying themselves in telephone transactions (for example, requiring you to confirm your address rather than confirming to you that they have the proper information on file)
Good luck and stay vigilant.
Credit Card Information
by jayaamutha - 4/19/08 8:53 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am from India. I am responding for this question from Indian situation, which may apply to other situations also.
The Credit Cards are mostly issued by banks or affiliated agencies. Once issued, they never ask the details such as card details or secured secret numbers which are known to only card holders. When we ask some clarifications, at that time they may ask our credit card number and our personal details, not secret security numbers, to confirm our genuineness. But we purchase any item on line, at that time they will ask to type the card number and pin number mentioned near the signing strip. This security based transaction where the pin number is encrypted and visible to others.
But however we have to confirm the genuineness of the on line store or transaction. So it is not at all necessary to give the personal or card details to anybody else. If we have any doubt, we can directly approach / report to the bank which issued the card.
a short and simple answer
by Sandovh - 4/19/08 9:02 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, Judie,good morning to you and all CNETters!
My answer is humorous and simple:
Do you know the best contraceptive pill?
An aspirin! You hold it between your knees and do not drop it!
The best thing to do in your case, you already have done: Never give any private information over the phone or email to anyone you don't know. That means any one.
As to the frequency, I have ocassionally received this type of calls but they have ceased since I signed on the national "Do not call" register. You might want to consider doing that too.
Have a good day.
Add your numer to the national Do Not Call Registry
by jdhailey - 4/19/08 9:13 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you want limit the number of these calls, first log onto the national Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov, then register the phone number getting the unwanted calls.
"The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free."
Add your number to do not call registry
by zammer8 - 4/25/08 5:42 PM In reply to: Add your numer to the national Do Not Call Registry by jdhaileyFrom frustrating experience, I suggest you waste no time calling or emailing any of the offices suggested. They will do nothing but, if ENOUGH (no number given) comaplaints are received they will enter the caller into a database available to state law officials. The FCC has no enforcement powers and is not really interested, in any event. Do Not Call is a fraud designed to make the public think the government is doing something about unwanted sales calls.
Answer for Judie, Fraud concerns
by cowboy200 - 4/19/08 9:15 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Judie,
I would be curious to find out how many people responded to your querry but I know that i have recieved the same phone calls and they were a bit annoying. At firstI just disreguarded them. Then I answered the call which put me on hold for awhile. Which really burned me up. When I finally got to talk to someone I asked to be taken off their call list. I havent heard from them since. I notified my local police department and told them I thought there might be a posible attempt at identification theft. An officer came out and told me that he didn't think that was the case but gave me a report mumber and said if it happened again too report it again and they would trace the call. Like I said I haven't heard from them again
David
phishing question
by Dreaming Badger - 4/19/08 9:26 AM In reply to: Are they phishing over the telephone now?! by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes they do seem to be increasing lately, especially the
automobile warranty extensions ones. I get one online or by
mail a couple of times a week. I get calls on credit cards
too,but not as often.
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