Nuisance phone calls or a scam?

[winchservicing]

I’ve been getting phone calls lately, supposedly from my banks, offering services, Insurance etc,

They start by asking is that Mr. Whatever? Obviously you answer Yes!
Then you get. Can you to confirm you are who you say you are by confirming your personal information?

Now I might be a bit dim, but didn’t you just phone me?

Yes sir, but I need to confirm you are Mr. Whatever, can you give me your mothers maiden name and your date of birth?

Basically he was asking for the information which I identify myself with when I call the bank…..is this an identity cloning scam?

He could be anyone just claming to be from the bank!

Anyway, I said “No I can’t” and he said “I cannot proceed with the call without this information.”

Oh no…….what a shame….Goodbye then!

He was very polite, but is this a scam? If I gave him the info he asked for, he would be able to get access to my accounts!

Has anyone else having this problem?

 

[BlueMan]

Sadly I have also received a few (legitimate) calls like this in the past. Like you my reaction is always - you prove who you are before I am going to tell you anything. A colleague of mine was very professionally scammed by a criminal calling him and claiming to be a local bank branch that believed they had a fraudster on the premises. Tell them nothing, and if they are so stupid as to work for a bank and ask those kinds of questions then they get everything that they deserve.

You wouldn't believe the 'discussions' that I have with SWMBO on these kind of issues as she works in the fraud area for a UK bank!

 

[BrendanS]

Prob genuine, but you never can be too sure. Just have a hoot with them. Tell them that the terms and conditions of your account with them, prevent you from providing information that may be used to access you account, and can you please talk to their supervisor. Then tell supervisor same thing, and ask what the banks policy is on asking for information that may aid in defrauding both themselves and you.
You get some interesting answers! <g>

Then write to bank with your concerns.

You also don't get called much afterwards

 

[winchservicing]

I Agree, tell them nothing!

It's a worry! Shows how easy it is to get the information they need-just pretend to be a bank and the unsuspecting tell you exactly what you need to know!

 

[StephenSails]

Dont tell them anything, in fact ask them to put it in writing! How many times have you been charged for a bounced check? If its your bank then they wont mind but you know you will be getting your value back on all those silly charges, if its a fraudster.... we he can can go screw himself then, oh I should not say this on air!

If it is the bank chasing you for dosh, ask them for their password, security pin, mothers maiden name.... turn the tables?

Cheers

Stephen

 

[bonny]

Again, tell them nothing, chances are it's a scam and they will try to rip you off in some way.

If you feel that the call is genuine, then simply state that you wish to be certain of their true identity and ask them for their name, phone number , extension etc. Then ring the official number you have and confirm the details given by the suspected scammer. The chances are that if it's a scammer they will hang-up. If they're daft enough to give their own number they may be found. Don't ring the number they give you, especially if it's an 0900 number or some other premium rate number.

It is an offense to make nuisance calls to persons who have specifically requested not to have them and organisations can be prosecuted for doing so.

Try registering with the "Telephone Preference Service", can't remember their number but you can get it from BT or find it on the web. It costs nothing and certainly reduces nuisance calls but takes around 3 weeks to kick in. I did this 3 years ago and the calls have reduced from 2-3 per night to around 1 every 2-3 months. If I get one I ask then for their name, organisation and registered office, they usually hang up.

 

[tcm]

scam filtering

ooh no. I askem questions like why EXACTLY they are called Nat west and what my wife's maiden's name was. Then as a double check ask what her mother's married name was too and ONLY if they match is it not a scam. possibly.

 

[VicS]

You can register with the "telephone preference service" on line at

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

I did after the link was posted on here some while back. It almost, but not quite, totally eliminates nuisance calls.

Interestingly the two "breaches " that come to mind were both trying to sell me telephone services!

 

[eyehavit]

It is never a good idea to provide that level of detail to what is basically an unknown "voice". It smacks of un-professionalism.
Hypothetically, someone could be in the middle of negotiating opening a new account so might be half-expecting a confirmatory call. If the caller is unknown to the receiver at this stage and is asking for significant personal ID & sensitive cross-checking details (if genuine, the caller/company needs a swift kick in the pants for their casual approach) it is wise to simply excuse oneself, ask for their number and say you will call back very shortly. Do not use the number they give you but go through that companies main switchboard and ask to speak to the individual who called.
One may well ponder the merits of continuing the business with a company that slack.

 

[arto]

If you are concerned about giving out personal information to someone who has called you out of the blue, but you think they might be genuine, then one approach might be to get their details and then call your bank (or credit card company or whatever) using a phone number you know to be genuine, then ask to speak to them.

If your bank can't figure this stuff out, beware.

 

[snowleopard]

this is definitely a scam. i had a call like that, apparently from barclaycard. i cut it off and called the barclacard security line. they assured me that their staff would never call asking for that information.

the easy way to find out if they are for real is to tell a complete porky to the first question. the genuine people will say you are the wrong person and end the call, a scammer will carry on and try to get more information.

 

[2nd Wind]

Had a similar experience last week. Phone call to home number by oversea's centre demanding to speak to me. My daughter had answered and as I was not in asked for a number for me to call when I got home. Bloke on the other end got stroppy and hung up. Daughter then called me on mobile to let me know. While on phone to daughter recieved voice message from oversea's call centre demanding I phone back. Blokes voice again so maybe same guy. He was saying there was something wrong with my account and they needed to check my details. He did leave an 0845 number. Called when I got home and again oversea's call centre (female operator). First question was could they have my card number to identify me. No Way ses I and who are you? She gave her name but would not discuss what was wrong until I gave all my security details. Told her no way and I would call HFC bank using the number on my card. "OK thank you, bye." she says.
Called number on card and spoke with UK operator and explained what had happened. He checked and came back to apologise about attitude of oversea's operator but that they were genuine. When I asked what it was all about he asked had I bought any plumbing items recently on my card. I told him yes about 5 minutes before the first call. He then explained that their monitoring system had flagged up an unusual purchase on my card from an outlet that they have had problems with and were just checking.
It's nice to know that there are systems out there working for and trying to protect us but the demanding and arrogant way that some of the oversea's call centres have need addressing by the parent companies.
After all that what I mean is call the customer services number on your card to check for genuine calls.
p.s. I don't think my call was the first complaint about oversea's operators to HFC.

 

[snowleopard]

that's one of the difficulties with overseas call centres. what to one culture is perfectly polite speech is downright rude to another. we find operators from bombay rude, shopkeepers in the caribbean are offended by our way of asking for what we want without exchanging pleasantries first.

and that's before you raise hackles with the 'exporting jobs' issue.

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
the "Telephone Preference Service

[/ QUOTE ]
It worked for me.

 

[snowleopard]

i don't think the scammers subscribe to TPS

 

[pvb]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rowana]

Also register with the mail preference service. Junk mail almost dries up.

Our number is also ex-directory.

As I've said on here before, whenI do get the occasional sales call, I ask for the mame of the company calling. Then I state that this is an ex-directory line that is also registered with the TPS, and if I ever get any more calls from (the name of the company they've just given me), I'll prosecute them to the full extent of the law ! ! This bit probably means bu**er all, but by god, it makes me feel MUCH better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Superstrath]

Super Scam

[ QUOTE ]
You can register with the "telephone preference service"

[/ QUOTE ]
R4 covered recnetly a superb scam based on the Telephone Preference Thingy. The FREE service works by sending a list of those who DO NOT wish to be called to all registered tele-sales people (It's illegal to make such calls if you're not registered). The chancer concerned had a brother who received such lists, for his legit business. Chancer "borrowed" each new list, called all the new registrees, with the line, " You have called to register with the TPS. This will cost £25 pounds per year, send cheque to...."
Totally credible, the punters got their service (!!) and he got the dosh. He kept the subscription fairly low so that punters were happy to pay. Went on for ages, it would seem. It worked because registration with TPS is automated - you would not really be surprised if they called back to confirm.
Much as I detest tele-sales cold-callers, scammers and so-on, I loved this one. It has a lovely balance and style about it, and no-one felt cheated. Much.

Alistair

 

[Stemar]

Re: Super Scam

I've had similar problems with foreign call centres. If I find I'm dealing with a co that has one, I'll do my best to change to one with a UK customer services.

TP also works for me, but I suspect this is a better way:

1) Register a premium rate number with a major telco (in UK could be 0898 type, or some less obvious code, even 0845 would do..)

2) Buy the Sunday Paper, and a couple of "lifestyle magazines"

3) Hold each publication by the spine, and shake liberally so that all the advertising inserts fall out

4) Fill in every single one of them, using a bogus (not yours) postal address, but including your premium rate number. Also tick the "Please pass on my details" box.

5) Stay in, and answer the phone. Talk excitedly to every cold call you get, regularly saying "Could you just hold on a minute?"

6) Repeat (5) above..

7) Collect cheques for your share of call the revenue from the Telco

8) Retire happy on the proceeds (If you can resist the temptation to replace your windows, get a conservatory, take out a loan etc etc)

(filtched from the net)

Alternatively...

 

[IanPoole2]

I always try to sell them something back. If there selling Electricty/Power - ask them if there happy with there bank.

At work I always say ...Yes we are interested in the whatever, however we only do reciprical business - let me put you through to our Life Insurance team first - the smart ones give up. if it's for a survey - say you charge £100 for that type of information - you'll be surprised!