goldenlight
Enlightened
Today (Sunday afternoon, the day before Labor Day, around 3PM) I received a phone call from an 800 number; I ALWAYS look at the caller ID before I answer a call.
Since it was an 800 number, I assumed it was some kind of sales call. I thought it was kind of strange to get an illegal sales call on Labor Day weekend; most sales calls come on weeknights, around dinner time.
So I let it go to my answering machine. I listened as I got a VERY convincing call from 'card services' urging me to IMMEDIATELY call their 'card member service center' regarding a 'serious problem' with my credit card account.
So, not being a complete idiot, I called the 800 number **ON MY CREDIT CARD**, and I was told, just as I expected, nothing was wrong with my account.
Then, after blocking my phone number, I called the bogus number, left on my answering machine.
It was almost scary, how legitimate and professional the recording I got sounded. No accent. It sounded IDENTICAL to the recording I get when I call the legitimate number for my credit card, or my checking account.
These are NOT your average Nigerian E-mail scammers!!
The big tip-off in the original call was the LACK of information in the call: they didn't identify which credit card (Discovery, Visa, etc.) OR which bank had issued the card, OR my name; all information I would think they would have included with the original call.
I think they DELIBERATELY called on a Sunday afternoon (before Labor Day), so that the LEAST number of people would get the call.
But when I got home, (possibly on Labor Day, in the evening) I would find the message on my machine. And perhaps be foolish/tired enough to call the 800 number, which they thoughtfully provided twice.
I can't stress enough how *legitimate* the original call sounded, and how when I called the bogus number, how GOOD the recording was asking for my account number sounded.
I reported the bogus call, (and the scam 800 number) to my credit card's fraud division. They will try to get the 800 number shut down, but the people running this fraud will probably get away.
In a few day's, these scammers will have a new 800 number, and will be back in business. Or this 800 number may be based offshore, so it may just continue to robotically call thousands of numbers a day.
Hey, let's be careful out there!
Since it was an 800 number, I assumed it was some kind of sales call. I thought it was kind of strange to get an illegal sales call on Labor Day weekend; most sales calls come on weeknights, around dinner time.
So I let it go to my answering machine. I listened as I got a VERY convincing call from 'card services' urging me to IMMEDIATELY call their 'card member service center' regarding a 'serious problem' with my credit card account.
So, not being a complete idiot, I called the 800 number **ON MY CREDIT CARD**, and I was told, just as I expected, nothing was wrong with my account.
Then, after blocking my phone number, I called the bogus number, left on my answering machine.
It was almost scary, how legitimate and professional the recording I got sounded. No accent. It sounded IDENTICAL to the recording I get when I call the legitimate number for my credit card, or my checking account.
These are NOT your average Nigerian E-mail scammers!!
The big tip-off in the original call was the LACK of information in the call: they didn't identify which credit card (Discovery, Visa, etc.) OR which bank had issued the card, OR my name; all information I would think they would have included with the original call.
I think they DELIBERATELY called on a Sunday afternoon (before Labor Day), so that the LEAST number of people would get the call.
But when I got home, (possibly on Labor Day, in the evening) I would find the message on my machine. And perhaps be foolish/tired enough to call the 800 number, which they thoughtfully provided twice.
I can't stress enough how *legitimate* the original call sounded, and how when I called the bogus number, how GOOD the recording was asking for my account number sounded.
I reported the bogus call, (and the scam 800 number) to my credit card's fraud division. They will try to get the 800 number shut down, but the people running this fraud will probably get away.
In a few day's, these scammers will have a new 800 number, and will be back in business. Or this 800 number may be based offshore, so it may just continue to robotically call thousands of numbers a day.
Hey, let's be careful out there!