A new rif on phishing attempts -- happened to me today
I came home tonight and had a message on my machine. A computer generated
voice (or very stilted human) said:
This is [my bank]
we have suspicious activity on your xxxx account debit card (they had the
right last 4 digits) and this card has been frozen.
To keep the card from being canceled, please contact us at 1800xxxyyyy
--
I logged into my account, and saw nothing unexpected.
so, I called 1800xxxyyyy
the answering machine/computer said
Credit Card Activation Center
Please enter your 16 digit card number, followed by a pound sign.
I hit 0 to try to get an operator
then I hit 0#...
then I hung up
I then called my bank and told them about the call and the 800 number.
They checked my account and there is no hold on my card and no suspicious
activity. Their fraud division called the 800 number and confirmed that it
was NOT their number or one of their agents. They said that since I had NOT
typed in my number I was probably ok, but they would issue a new card if I
preferred.
If you get a message claiming to be your bank, CALL YOUR BANK. if it's real,
they will happily transfer you to the right division. Don't type your number
into a computer you don't recognize.
This is a happy ending. But everyone's economy is slowing down, including the
scam artists, so they're trying more and more tricks.
Please pass this on.
voice (or very stilted human) said:
This is [my bank]
we have suspicious activity on your xxxx account debit card (they had the
right last 4 digits) and this card has been frozen.
To keep the card from being canceled, please contact us at 1800xxxyyyy
--
I logged into my account, and saw nothing unexpected.
so, I called 1800xxxyyyy
the answering machine/computer said
Credit Card Activation Center
Please enter your 16 digit card number, followed by a pound sign.
I hit 0 to try to get an operator
then I hit 0#...
then I hung up
I then called my bank and told them about the call and the 800 number.
They checked my account and there is no hold on my card and no suspicious
activity. Their fraud division called the 800 number and confirmed that it
was NOT their number or one of their agents. They said that since I had NOT
typed in my number I was probably ok, but they would issue a new card if I
preferred.
If you get a message claiming to be your bank, CALL YOUR BANK. if it's real,
they will happily transfer you to the right division. Don't type your number
into a computer you don't recognize.
This is a happy ending. But everyone's economy is slowing down, including the
scam artists, so they're trying more and more tricks.
Please pass this on.