Mike

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:20:41 +0100, "Andy"
<Andrew.whitelaw@noJunqMailbaesystems.com> wrote:

>Now if a bank, CC comapny etc phones I ask for a landline number to call
>them back on or else for the matter to be put into writing.

Asking for a landline number to call them back on is dangerous. In
the old days, they'd have offered the number of a public telephone box
manned by an accomplice. Nowadays, they're as likely to offer a
geographic VOIP number bought with a stolen credit card.

The only safe way is to ask for their organisation's name and address
and then use other means (telephone directory, etc) to find their
telephone number.

I did this once when the police rang me about one of my company's
vehicles that had apparently been abandoned outside an airport. The
officer was surprised that I was suspicious (which I suppose shows how
gullible people are, on the whole) but the technique worked well.

Mike.

John Phillips

On 2007-07-19, J B <jb@privacy.net> wrote:
> "Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:5g7bmqF3ev5j9U1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> Why do you think it was a scam?
>
> So ....... you'd give your bank details to a 'cold caller' would you?

I recently had an automated call at work purporting to be from one of
my bankers. The recorded voice said there might be an issue with a card
account and asked me for my details.

I confirmed my name but when the robot asked me to key in my DoB I
decided that was time to hang up.

I called the bank and got put through to the security department.
Yes they had called me automatically. And there was indeed a problem
(three strange transactions). So the card got promptly cancelled and
was replaced.

However, did a bank security department really expect me to answer
an automated call from an unverified source and key in my details?

Apparently so.

Maybe I would have been transferred at some point to a human being -
but still I could not have been sure it was genuine.

--
John Phillips

tony sayer

In article <lfcu93dcrqfbgmjfjk1m7hpthftahqqs76@news.kempston. net>, Mike
<mike@kempston.net> writes
>On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:20:41 +0100, "Andy"
><Andrew.whitelaw@noJunqMailbaesystems.com> wrote:
>
>>Now if a bank, CC comapny etc phones I ask for a landline number to call
>>them back on or else for the matter to be put into writing.
>
>Asking for a landline number to call them back on is dangerous. In
>the old days, they'd have offered the number of a public telephone box
>manned by an accomplice. Nowadays, they're as likely to offer a
>geographic VOIP number bought with a stolen credit card.
>


Good advice .. though do be expected to be shunted betwixt England and
India for somewhile

it did happen to us here but they were found out!..


>The only safe way is to ask for their organisation's name and address
>and then use other means (telephone directory, etc) to find their
>telephone number.
>
>I did this once when the police rang me about one of my company's
>vehicles that had apparently been abandoned outside an airport. The
>officer was surprised that I was suspicious (which I suppose shows how
>gullible people are, on the whole) but the technique worked well.

Aren't they just, too trusting the English!
>
>Mike.
>

--
Tony Sayer

Ivor Jones

"J B" <jb@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:5g8hikF3erdtiU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:5g7bmqF3ev5j9U1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> Why do you think it was a scam?
>
> So ....... you'd give your bank details to a 'cold caller' would you?
>
> It happened to me about a year ago, I suggested to the guy that he
> shouldn't really expect me to give out my bank details to a 'cold
> caller' ............. he hung up on me!!!

Why do people pander to these cold callers by saying anything to them at
all..? As soon as it becomes clear that it's a cold call, I simply hang up
without saying anything further. I've never had a call from the same
people twice.


Ivor

MB

The message <slrnf9ue1d.3bh.news0608@linux.mainly.me.uk>
from John Phillips <news0608@DontUseThis.mainly.me.uk> contains these words:

> On 2007-07-19, J B <jb@privacy.net> wrote:
> > "Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message
> > news:5g7bmqF3ev5j9U1@mid.individual.net...
> >>
> >> Why do you think it was a scam?
> >
> > So ....... you'd give your bank details to a 'cold caller' would you?

> I recently had an automated call at work purporting to be from one of
> my bankers. The recorded voice said there might be an issue with a card
> account and asked me for my details.

> I confirmed my name but when the robot asked me to key in my DoB I
> decided that was time to hang up.

> I called the bank and got put through to the security department.
> Yes they had called me automatically. And there was indeed a problem
> (three strange transactions). So the card got promptly cancelled and
> was replaced.

> However, did a bank security department really expect me to answer
> an automated call from an unverified source and key in my details?

> Apparently so.

> Maybe I would have been transferred at some point to a human being -
> but still I could not have been sure it was genuine.



I had a call from my bank last year and they wanted to go through some
security checks but would not say why they wanted to speak to. She
eventually compromised by giving half the details as "confirmation" but
I pointed out to her that things like postcode and date of birth are
hardly secure information. It was fairly obvious that they were just
trying to sell me extra services. I wrote to the bank complaining and
they admitted that it was wrong for them to call like that when they
only have my telephone number for real calls about my account.

MB

J B

"Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote in message
news:5g95voF3eqracU1@mid.individual.net...

> Why do people pander to these cold callers by saying anything to them at
> all..?

I consider that I'm doing a public service.

By keeping them on the line, then they're not bothering you. <g>


--

J B

Jim

On 19 Jul 2007 10:08:45 GMT, John Phillips
<news0608@DontUseThis.mainly.me.uk> wrote:

>However, did a bank security department really expect me to answer
>an automated call from an unverified source and key in my details?
>
>Apparently so.

Interesting, because the banks often make a big noise about never
asking for details over the phone.

Which bank was it?



Jim

Are you sure?

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:07:01 +0100, Ivor Jones wrote:

>As soon as it becomes clear that it's a cold call, I simply hang up
>without saying anything further. I've never had a call from the same
>people twice.

How can you be sure?

John Phillips

On 2007-07-19, Jim <nospam@raynet-uk.net> wrote:
> On 19 Jul 2007 10:08:45 GMT, John Phillips
> <news0608@DontUseThis.mainly.me.uk> wrote:
>
>> However, did a bank security department really expect me to answer
>> an automated call from an unverified source and key in my details?
>>
>> Apparently so.
>
> Interesting, because the banks often make a big noise about never
> asking for details over the phone.
>
> Which bank was it?

Sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea to reveal too many details.

It's important to not overlook the fact that this bank detects strange
happenings in its accounts and contacts the account holder promptly.
That's a very good thing and I expect other banks do this too. However I
hope most customers do as I did: ignore any incoming calls as unverifiable
and contact the bank directly on a trustworthy number.

--
John Phillips

It's Me

"John Phillips" <news0608@DontUseThis.mainly.me.uk> wrote in message
news:slrnf9ue1d.3bh.news0608@linux.mainly.me.uk...
> On 2007-07-19, J B <jb@privacy.net> wrote:
>> "Andy Pandy" <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:5g7bmqF3ev5j9U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>

>
> However, did a bank security department really expect me to answer
> an automated call from an unverified source and key in my details?
>
> Apparently so.
>
> Maybe I would have been transferred at some point to a human being -
> but still I could not have been sure it was genuine.
>
> --
> John Phillips

You would have saved them having to replace your money as you divulged your
account details to a 3rd party.