We get phone calls daily from strangers trying to fool us.
Usually, they are not who they claim to be.
“This is your television service provider” began a caller the other day.
If you get such a phone call, hang up immediately.
If a caller doesn’t ask for you by name, then the caller doesn’t know your name. If the caller doesn’t identify the name of the company it is supposedly calling from, then the caller doesn’t know the name of the company in question.
This also applies to strangers claiming to be from “your power company,” “your insurance provider,” etc. If they knew the company’s name, they would use it.
My most frequent reply is “How may I direct your call?” That often stumps them.
One frequent caller claims to represent an accident resolution company and asks about car crashes we’ve had in the past year. I don’t tell them who we are, what car we own, or whether it’s been involved in an accident. Sometimes I’ll tell a lie: “My attorney has advised me not to discuss the accident with strangers and to forward all inquiries to her. Her phone number is –”
Click. They hung up.
Many of the robot callers start by asking “How are you today?” If I reply, “Rotten, and you?” they continue with, “That’s great! I’m calling to let you know…” An entity pushing an advanced Medicare plan that provides dental, vision, groceries and something called a “flex card” phoned. It concluded its spiel by asking if I subscribe to Medicare.
“You mentioned something called a Flex Card,” I said. “What is that?”
“Perfect! You are eligible for advanced coverage. I’ll put you through to a supervisor.” The new speaker heard me out but didn’t answer my question, gave his prescripted spiel, and concluded with “Do you belong to Medicare parts A and B?” I said, “No.” He hung up.
Got a call this morning reporting a nearly $1,000 purchase charged to “your Amazon account.” To dispute the charge, push 1; to confirm the charge, push 2; to speak to an Amazon representative, push 3; to hear your choices again, push 4.
Anyone who disputes the charge would undoubtedly be asked for their name, address, Amazon account number and personal financial information.
I don’t have an Amazon account. I know I haven’t bought anything from Amazon, ever. I know any question about an Amazon purchase is bogus.
So I hung up.
Most of the time they’re just fishing for personal information. About you. Don’t provide it.
Someone called to pitch life insurance, I think. It was hard to tell because of his thick accent. I said this sounded wonderful, but I’d prefer to come down to his office to discuss it in person. Could he provide me with his address?
Click. He hung up.
Sometimes instead of English I’ll speak French. No robot caller has understood me yet.
Sometimes I’ll ask for the caller’s phone number, saying I’d like to research what they’re saying and call them back later. No dice. They will not — they are not even allowed to — divulge their phone number.
By the way, any “caller ID” number that appears with their call, that’s usually bogus too. If you call it, nine times out of 10 you’ll reach a disconnected line.
Got a call today that informed me “your state” has implemented a program to pay for everyone’s funeral and burial costs. I asked what state they were referring to. Didn’t get an answer. Goodbye.
The caller claiming to be from my television service provider was human, but didn’t name any television service provider. Nor did he know my name.
I asked what he was selling.
“We’re not selling anything. This is just to alert you that you might be in danger of losing your television service.” He asked if the television was on. It wasn’t. He asked me to turn on the television so he could determine if our household was in danger of losing its television service.
“The television is at the opposite end of the house,” I replied. “I don’t wish to walk there right now. Can’t you just tell me what the supposed trouble might be?”
He continued to advise me to turn on the television.
“Well,” I said, “you’ve convinced me. Convinced me that we no longer wish to subscribe to any television service from your company. Please cancel our television service.” And I hung up.
There was no danger. The bogus caller never knew our name, address, or television service provider, or our account number with our provider, and though he might know our phone number it is unlisted and would not lead him to us. He was just fishing for personal information.
I reckon these calls persist because the crooks need to succeed only a small fraction of the time to make a very lucrative living out of misrepresentation.
Some people cheerfully answer all questions asked by a stranger, human or not, who phones them up. Perhaps these folks have been honestly answering all questions their entire lives. They’re good, honest folks. Alas, they’re also the folks most likely to get scammed.
Be suspicious. Guard your personal information zealously.
Why all these phone calls? Because the callers know nothing about you.
Let’s keep it that way.
