Got a 'CU security department' scam call today, at about 7 pm. A gentleman who introduced himself as an employee of our CU informed me that my credit card got flagged for unusual activity because of a funny looking internet transaction. It all sounded serious until: a) I noticed that the caller ID showed his number as "Private". When our CU's security department calls (they called last week), their number shows up. b) He asked me ('in order to verify that you are the account holder') for my credit card's security code and the card number (yeah, ha ha, very funny). Mind you, he never mentioned WHICH card was affected, he just said "the credit card that you have with us". He proceeded to tell me how important it is to make sure that no one else is using my card and that the CU is doing me a favor by calling me. I told him that I am going to do him a favor and notify the proper authorities about this phone call and that I had his number (...so I lied...so shoot me). And the unspeakable happened. The guy blurted out: "You can't have our number, it's blocked". I got such a fit of laughing that I barely heard the *click* when he hung up. A phone call to the real security department at our CU (yeah, they work through Xmas) confirmed that no phone call was made and that nothing was flagged. I guess it should serve as a reminder that scammers are out there. We have lived outside of the US for so long, that we have forgotten about these folks. PawMix
I have an old rule I swear by - if someone (unknown) calls me, I do not give any info out over the phone. No matter if it's my address or my SS#, as soon as they ask I tell them I need a number to contact them. If it's real, they provide one and I then have a better sense of what company I'm actually speaking with.
BINGO - my sentiments exactly. You should NEVER give out info to some idoit on the other end of a phone call. If its a legitimate call from someone you know, they already have MOST of your info at hand, and can supply it to YOU on request. -Sal
I DON'T GET ANY PRIVATE NAME/PRIVATE NUMBER CALLS GET CALLER ID DIAL TONE *77 BEEP BEEP DIAL TONE HANG UP
I had a phone call from "BofA" once about my debit card with them. I make it a habit to NEVER discuss my financial information to anyone over the phone UNLESS I initiated the call.
That's something I've wondered about. Why do these companies call you? How do they know who they're talking to? I've had calls where I've been asked about a purchase and I ask them for their number and we verify if it's valid, but how do they know they're talking to me? I think a better way is to send a letter to the address of record and notify the person. That doesn't guarantee anything either, but atleast it's a physical address that was used to open the account.
had this happen to me, funny thing is, we do not have any credit cards at all. He wanted the security number and I said gee, I can't see one. Can't see a number on a card that does not exist.
It's really unnerving that they guy who called knew our names. We are renting, our landline phone number is not published anywhere (too early for that, we just got the line) and I shred everything that has personal info on it, even if it's just first and last name. We are off the promo list of the CRAs, we do not take part in sweepstakes...I just don't know. I do internet research, so I know that there are plenty of places to obtain this kind of info, but for all things concerned we are listed nowhere. How do they get our names in the first place? PawMix
