[Chat] Watch out for telephone phishing

[Stephen J Gewirtz]

A short time ago, I received a call from 567-248-4455, and I received 
the same call on 12/31/2009.  A recorded message told me that I can 
lower my credit card rate to 6% if I press a key on my phone and talk to 
a live operator.  The credit card was not identified (and caller id 
showed the caller as "CALLER").

My guess is that if I had spoken to a live operator, I would have been 
asked for a credit card number.  And if I had given a number, my account 
would have been run up to its limit.  I might well have been asked for 
other information such as a social security number.

Since I did not speak to a live operator, the only violation of law that 
I can document is a violation of the do not call registry.  I have 
reported the calls as such.

The plain fact is that no legitimate credit card company would make such 
an unidentified call.  Nor would any legitimate credit card company call 
a customer to ask for personal information over the phone.

If you receive a similar call, do not fall for it.  And if your phone 
number is on the national do not call registry, please report any such 
call at www.donotcall.gov .  Hopefully, federal law enforcement will get 
enough complaints to put the perpetrator out of business.

Steve.