Latest Phishing attempt: Today I received a call on my cell from an 800 number that turned out to be a valid customer service number for Chase credit cards saying they had an offer for...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Today I received a call on my cell from an 800 number that turned out to be a valid customer service number for Chase credit cards saying they had an offer for a lower interest rate on my card (I do have a Chase card). I declined to provide any information (like my account or SS number) to “verify” my identity. On checking (by calling the number on my card rather than the 800 number) with Chase, I found that this is the latest phishing attempt which spoofs a valid Chase phone number. No clue how they knew my cellphone or that I had a Chase card, or maybe just a guess, but a fairly sophisticated phishing attempt compared to the usual silly attempts via email which are easy to spot. Beware.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

They probably didn't know you had a Chase card. I keep getting emails from card companies with whom I do not have an account. They just got lucky. Glad you didn't give them any info!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Longshadow wrote:

They probably didn't know you had a Chase card. I keep getting emails from card companies with whom I do not have an account. They just got lucky. Glad you didn't give them any info!

I get the email ones all the time, but this is the first via cell with a valid card company number.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

My standard approach is to simply tell them I'll take care of this in person at my local branch and bid them a nice day.
--Bob

TriX wrote:

Today I received a call on my cell from an 800 num... (show quote)

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I almost never any phone call, either landline or cell, from numbers & IDs I don't recognise. But when I do I make it a practice to lie, lie, lie. Long ago I copied a lot of Social Security numbers of dead people. Quess how I use them. For bank or credit account numbers I note the digits they use and manufacture numbers using the other digits. Don't ask me poll questions.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I get calls similar to this at least once a week on my cell phone. They are not always 800 numbers, but from area codes throughout the entire nation. Most of the time I don't even answer. But 2 or 3 times I did answer, and it was always a problem about my credit card. I'm told to resolve the problemt, I need to give a credit card number. Really!! I'm curious how they got my cell phone number. I've never called any of those area codes on my cell phone.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

mas24 wrote:

I get calls similar to this at least once a week on my cell phone. They are not always 800 numbers, but from area codes throughout the entire nation. Most of the time I don't even answer. But 2 or 3 times I did answer, and it was always a problem about my credit card. I'm told to resolve the problemt, I need to give a credit card number. Really!! I'm curious how they got my cell phone number. I've never called any of those area codes on my cell phone.

Have you ever heard of robo dialers? And they can spoof their number to make it look like it is coming from any area code they want to use.
That's why when I get any calls I don't know who they are from, I don't bother to answer it, I just let it ring. And don't disconnect the call, if you do they know it is a viable number.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Soul Dr. wrote:

Have you ever heard of robo dialers? And they can spoof their number to make it look like it is coming from any area code they want to use.
That's why when I get any calls I don't know who they are from, I don't bother to answer it, I just let it ring. And don't disconnect the call, if you do they know it is a viable number.

I'll do that next time. Let it ring out. I can also use in call blocking, but the calls are not continuous, so far. Thanks for the info.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Soul Dr. wrote:

Have you ever heard of robo dialers? And they can spoof their number to make it look like it is coming from any area code they want to use.
That's why when I get any calls I don't know who they are from, I don't bother to answer it, I just let it ring. And don't disconnect the call, if you do they know it is a viable number.

Nomorobo is THE answer to eliminate robo callers. Free for wireline or VOIP phones ($1.99/mo for cell). It intercepts at least 6 calls per day on my home phone. Caller ID helps with the rest, but spoofing phone numbers makes filtering calls harder unless you let every unfamiliar number go to VM.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

TriX wrote:

but spoofing phone numbers makes filtering calls harder unless you let every unfamiliar number go to VM.

Yep, that's what I do. If the call is important enough they can leave a message and maybe I'll call back.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

When I get calls I don't recognize I let it go to voice mail, and if they don't leave a message I immediately place that number on my ignore feature. Never have that number ring my cell phone again.

tandac01

There was a period I was getting e mails about my bank accounts. The problem was that these accounts were for banks I never heard of much less had accounts at. Not a problem until they happened to mention a bank I did have an account at, damn if i didn't start to click the link. Fortunately good sense took over before I committed.

mentor38 Loc: Houston

I answer with "This is Mike", or George, or William, or whatever. Robo calls are programed to respond to Hello or its equivalent in several popular languages. If there's more than a 2-second pause I hang up.

Wrangler Loc: North Texas

When I was in college (before cell phones), I would tell them that I sold World Book Encyclopedias. I would break into a hard sell and they would hang up.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

It's why they make voicemail, my friend! I NEVER answer any numbers I don't recognize! If it is important they will leave a voice message!

I even got a phone call from a phone number in "Machias, Maine" (where I used to live and where I got my telephone number) claiming to be from the "Machias Hilton" with a special deal. I am pretty sure that Hilton has not built a hotel in this little town of 3,000 people which is an hour from the nearest traffic light!