Is this a scam?

[Holly in FL]

I almost never answer the phone...especially during school hours. So, I let a call go on the answering machine this morning. I listened to the message and the person claimed he was from our credit union doing an "annual credit card security check." I have NEVER gotten a call like this from our credit union...but, he DID name our credit union.

I've decided not to return the call for a few reasons...one being the guy leaving the message yawned...loudly...right in the middle of the message and then said quietly, "Oh...excuse me."

Ugh...

Next time I'm at the bank...I'll ask about it.

Thanks!
~Holly

[GothicGyrl]

Yes it is a scam. And he's probably got your SS# and all sorts of things. HOWEVER--he doesn't know if they are correct, so he calls to verify this information. If you verify it with him, he can steal your identity.

Any reputable company will NEVER ask you to verify any kind of information (beyond address) over the phone and they certainly will not be calling you to verify this. They would most likely send you a letter asking you to come in to the bank to "update information" in person.

It will never be done over the phone. Ever.

[Holly in FL]

Thanks! That's what I was thinking!

Sigh...

How do these people get my SS#? Is it THAT easy to find?

Thanks!
~Holly

[Adrianne]

I would never do it over the phone unless I called them.

Good for you for not returning the call!

Adrianne

[OnTheBrink]

What she said. ^^^^

Also, they won't do it via email, either. Banks, cc companies, paypal, none of them ask for account verification via email. Well, I take that back. Paypal MIGHT, but they ALWAYS use your name instead of "Dear Member" or other anonymous titles. Any email you get that asks for personal info is a phishing email and they're trying to steal your ID.

[GothicGyrl]

Holly, it's not that they have YOUR SS#, it's that they have A SS#, that might be yours. That's why they call because they want to verify it is real before they steal.

Now, the chances are good that they do have your SS#. They aren't hard to get. However, they are very hard to use. Which is why the phone call.

I would not worry about it except to tell your bank about it. Give them the phone number the call came in on (*69 if you don't have caller ID) and let them open up an investigation.

[Holly in FL]

Well...it's actually not a scam. I went to use my credit card at the grocery store and it was declined. So, I called the number when I got home and my bank security has a block on my credit card because there was a suspicious charge for $113 from a Trading Publications. Both my husband and I did not make any charges for that amount on Sunday.

I wonder what will happen from here?

Thanks!
~Holly

[GothicGyrl]

So whomever called you, is the Trading Publications. Did you tell your bank about this phone call and are they going to remove that charge?

File a report now, the sooner the better. And yes, technically it is a scam. A different sort, but still a scam.

The guy who called you wasn't from your bank--he wouldn't have yawned on the phone doing an "annual credit card check". That was the scammer.

[TRILLIUM]

If the credit card's fraud department picks up questionable activity they will call you. We had this happen to us once. When I talk to the credit card company they did not require private info. It was a description of what the card was used for and the wondering if we had used it. Once back when I was a student and had my credit card only for emergencies my card had been stolen and I did not notice. :o The credit company recognized the unusual spending. Of course if I had suddenly gone on a jewlry and electronics buying spree the hold on my card would have been annoying.

[Claire]

Well...it's actually not a scam. I went to use my credit card at the grocery store and it was declined. So, I called the number when I got home and my bank security has a block on my credit card because there was a suspicious charge for $113 from a Trading Publications. Both my husband and I did not make any charges for that amount on Sunday.

I wonder what will happen from here?

Thanks!
~Holly

This has happened to us (more times than I like to remember!). You will need to get a new credit card #, and you will not be liable for the fraudulent charges. If you use your cc a lot, pay for expedited shipping. Otherwise it takes about two weeks to get your new card in the mail and you won't be able to charge things until it arrives.