Interesting phone call I just received

August 23, 2014 | Me

[The Working Man]

I just received an interesting phone call from "Credit Card Services". It wasn't the call that was interesting it was that they used my OWN phone number as the identifying number on the Caller ID.

I'm not sure where this falls in the "legality' scale but from my own point of view if this company can use my own phone number on the caller ID to identify themselves then they or anyone else can use it also to conduct business that is truly illegal. Try explaining to the authorities that you didn't order that kilogram of 'drugs' when your home phone number is clearly the one that was used in making the order as confirmed by 'Caller ID'.

SO what do 'you' think?

[UB355]

nomorobo.com works great if your phone supports it.

[TomGuy]

Sometimes the calls from “credit card services” are legit. My credit card company is very cautious and they’ll call to confirm unusual activity.

Same with my major CC service.

Several years ago, one Saturday morning, they called to ask me about some suspicious charges -- airline ticket from Turkey to Dubai and a similar ME airline charge. The 2nd charge sparked a 'hold'.

From my credit card history, the CCS could tell that I was not a ME frequent flier. They cancelled the card number, sent me a new card & number. I was not charged for the suspicious (fraudulant) charges.

[SkyDancer]

Yesterday had someone sounding like he was in India not identifying himself but asked if my computer was working okay. Anyone hear of such a thing??

[smokingfrog]

The Feds know that scammers are spoofing phone numbers, but they won’t do anything about it.

[bigbob]

Caller ID can be spoofed to say anything the caller wants it to say: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/caller-id-and-spoofing

[melissa_in_ga]

I got a call yesterday from a guy from India named “Peter” (right!) saying he was with Microsoft. I hung up on him without saying a word.

[smokingfrog]

Yes. That was Microsoft. They always monitor your computer and tech support will call you from India if they find any problems. /S

[DLfromthedesert]

I got a call several days ago from my number. I didn’t answer; next time I will and report it.

[Fresh Wind]

Along with the usual “Rachel” calls, I’ve been getting daily “press 1 to hear this message in English” calls, and “are you xxxx xxxx (someone’s name) press 1” calls.

Fortunately, the “free security system” calls have stopped for now, but as the political season approaches, the political and polling robocalls are on the increase.

I hope they all die.

[laplata]

You did the right thing.

[laplata]

Sometimes the calls from “credit card services” are legit. My credit card company is very cautious and they’ll call to confirm unusual activity.

---

I’ve had a few calls from my Credit Union regarding what they thought was unusual activity on my Debit Card. I thanked them.

[The Working Man]

I can see that we all hate ‘Scammers’. Well now, I feel better after all of the advice. Best of luck to all of you in your endeavor’s. Time to get outside and get more chores done!

[Chode]

i have an old state police whistle i use on live human callers... since they all wear headsets now days i guarantee they don't hear so well out of that ear for the rest of the day

[drunknsage]

I love those calls. Perfect opportunity for split personalities to come out and play.

Steven, the gay, is probably my favorite. Its amazing the ridiculous thing you can say to someone with that gay lisp. It becomes a challenge to see how sick, how awful, how perverse the comments get before they hang up.

[ChronicMA]

Either they’re using a number from your phone’s contact list to call you, or they are calling numbers from your wife’s contact list. The contact list on one of the two phones has been accessed.

This phone scam is no surprise, I get delivery failure notices in my email listing many addresses that have been spammed by someone identifying my address as the sender.

[Cvengr]

Psst,...the killer is using your bedroom phone,..get out quickly.... (just kidding)

[vg0va3]

Had a similar problem. Im on do not call list. Contaced fed to alert that company using various numbers to make pitch. I have actually held on to speak to live person. Tried to “walk” them through disclosure. They will hang up. Fed said they cant track them so ignore the numbers. That they robo dialed to avoid detection.

[MD Expat in PA]

I got a call on my cell phone last week while I was at work. I didn’t recognize the number and typically let all calls from unfamiliar numbers go straight to voicemail, but the caller ID said it was from Chico California, and although I haven’t seen or spoken to them in over 20 years, I do have an uncle and two cousins living there.

So I answered and it was an automated message informing me that my “debit card had been locked” and to “press 1”. I hung up.

I also “googled” the number on the website “Who Called” and it came up as being the legitimate phone number of a construction company in Chico, but there were many recent posts from people saying they had also gotten the same call I did and that it was a phishing scam. Evidently if you press 1 you are then asked to enter your card number and SSN. Evidently this company’s phone number is being “spoofed”.

[Eternally-Optimistic]

we get one of these calls at least every other day. I did try to press 3 or whatever it is and when I got a person, as soon as I started talking I was hung up on.
The name has been changed from Rachel to several others recently. And the calling number is one from my area code and first 3 digits. There does not seem any way to stop them. I also am on the no call list.

[jch10]

Yes, but the Indian sounding guy said he was from MSN and needed to make some adjustments to my computer. I just hung up. They called back a few days later....I hung up again.