Warning - new phone scam

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Author Message   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6780 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 9:34 am:        Last night I got a phone call from # 999-999-1234 (immediate red flags went up; some sort of software to hide the number)? So, I answered very rudely: What? Is TS there? What? Are you TS? What do you want? I need to talk to TS. It's me. What do you want? Hi TS. This is Steve, we met awhile ago. What do you want? Don't you remember me? Steve? Steve Michaels? (Very heavy accent, BTW. Didn't work for him). No. What is this about? But you must remember me! Steve Michaels. What do you want??? Oh, well, your grant application has been accepted and..... Jesus f-ing Christ. Click. So, I cluck in amazement, tell TS and note that her full name (not listed in the phone book) was used. This morning, she calls me. Steve (same nuber) called back. Apparently, he really, really wants to get this money to us. But, she questioned him a little more. He wanted to verify her information, which he read off. He had it all correctly: name, address, phone and checking account number. ??????? We have no idea how or where he got this; we are meticulous about using computer banking only on protected systems and shred everything. She has already been to the bank and changed all the accounts and no money is missing. But, beware. If someone calls you, yo may want to get a bit of info from them before you hang up on them. I'm glad she did.   mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5808 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:38 am:        Greene - PLEASE don't tell me I have to answer my phone now. They can have my money for illegal arms deals in Nigeria or whatever...   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6781 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:48 am:        Only if it's a 999 area code. My only regret is that we didn't follow thru enough to figure out the endpoint of the scheme. But, since they had our account number.....   Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8762 Registered: 4-1997 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 10:50 am:        It may be useful to post the name of the bank here. Chances are if one account has been compromised, others have as well.   Nohero Supporter Username: Nohero Post Number: 5092 Registered: 10-1999 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:02 am:        Is all the information about TS that the caller knew (including her full name) on the checks she uses? That may be how the caller got this information, from a check you sent to someone else.   mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 5810 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:07 am:        Greene, Also, post TS's checking account number. I want to make sure I have the right one.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6782 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 11:25 am:        It's Bank of America. I have to say that they transfered everything relatively quickly this morning without disrupting our access to our accounts. I'll let you know how "smooth" it really was when we are able to pay bills and make transfers from the new account. Nohero- I suppose that it could be anyone to whom either of us sent a check; her name is first so maybe that's why they asked for her. We use mostly computer banking & write very few checks. Rather unnerving. Mem- don't forget to pay the bills while you are at it. I think we still owe the butcher money from when he carved up that water buffalo.   doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1109 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:31 pm:        yikes - I guess be happy that you got & took the call so that you knew something was up. very creepy... I have some sort of call block (Call Intercept?) that blocks calls from numbers that don't show up in caller ID - but this sounds like it did show up in caller ID   Eponymous Citizen Username: Eponymous Post Number: 112 Registered: 6-2004 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:32 pm:        Nohero is right. Every check you send out has your account number. Getting this information is trivially easy. Why answer the phone when you can tell its from a 999-?   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6785 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:35 pm:        Ep - I never used to answer calls from numbers I did not recognize. Unfortunately, I now get a lot of calls about a family situation so I have to pick them up. It's a pain. I know it's easy to get a checking account number, but, like I said - we write very few checks (maybe 2 a month?) and however they got this, who knows what other info they have. So, better safe than sorry.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2385 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 1:50 pm:        Unrelated, but I recently got a phish email (citibank) that had my real home address in it. No checking account info, but it woul dhave have surprised me. To be honest, it's pretty easy to get someone's name, address, phone number and checking account number. It's on every check you give out.   bill671 Citizen Username: Bill671 Post Number: 353 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 2:14 pm:        Keep an eye on the old account that was closed - My mom has been going batty with B of A on a fraud. Long story short - somehow electronic checks (withdrawals) were posting to the account without her knowledge or permission - so she changed the accounts, etc. etc. per their recommendation nd instructions. Now she gets overdraft notices - and fees - on the old account each time another fraudulent check tries to post and bounces because the account is "closed". They make good each time it happens, but it's more than a little aggravating - and frightening to an older woman.   Valley_girl Citizen Username: Valley_girl Post Number: 112 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 2:19 pm:        Didn't Bank of America have a whole bunch of customer data stolen recently? I read somewhere about something like this, and the point was to get you to verify your bank account number, and then say the word "yes." Somehow that let them shift funds in your account. Not sure how.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6790 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 3:15 pm:        Riiight. I forgot about that. B of A implemented a new login system lately with security keys that ensure you are on their site. I never do those verification things. In fact, I don't even open B of A e-mails; anything they send has a copy in the message center when you log into your account. Since I check it several times a week, I always see stuff. Bill - that's good to know. I have had my share of aggravating B of A experiences.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6796 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 7:11 pm:        Steve's friend, Mark, just called me back. He wanted to confirm that I have a sister named "Greenetree". TS, your sister is named Greenetree, that correct? This time, I chatted. He read off my checking account and routing number, told me that he is with the Federal Government and because I have been paying my taxes regularly, the government is going to give me $2000, deposited directly into my account. Greenetree gets her own $2000, too! He confirmed that he is, indeed, an employee of the federal government. He just needed my permission to put the money into the account. But what do I have to do? Nothing. Really, what do I do to get the money. Not a thing. It will be there in 48 hours. And if I give the names and phone numbers of friends who pay taxes, they will get money, too. Will I please confirm my information? No, if you are the government, then you know everything already. I want to put the money in a different account, but I need to look it up. Can I call you back? I will call you later, OK? No, it's better for me to call you. Do you have a number? He gave me one (this time it came up "unavailable" on Caller ID). I'm thinking that I should report it to someone, although I doubt there is much that they can do. Any thoughts to whom I should report this?   akb Citizen Username: Akb Post Number: 395 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 8:45 pm:        AG's office. Or, post the number here and we'll all call asking for our $2000.   Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4115 Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 8:46 pm:        Greenie- ABSOLUTELY report this to the Maplewood Police!!!   Elizabeth Citizen Username: Momof4peepers Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 9:55 pm:        Isn't bank fraud handled by the Secret Service? The FCC regulates telemarketers. Not sure they'd be able to help you, but you could try.   CFA Citizen Username: Cfa Post Number: 1579 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 1:17 am:        Since he wasn't so reluctant to hang up so quickly, I probably would have looked into having my phone tapped.   monster Supporter Username: Monster Post Number: 2216 Registered: 7-2002 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 1:59 am:        Fight telephone fraud. Report telephone scam artists to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General. The Telemarketing Sales Rule gives these local law enforcement officers the power to prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Federal govt. ID Theft Web Site FTC page, Putting Telephone Scams...On Hold For those of you out there who feel they are the target, or have been the target of an Internet based scam, the govt. has a website for you too. http://www.ic3.gov/   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2392 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 9:31 am:        No need to tap the phone. Call the phone company. There is a * sequence you can dial that will turn on tracing for your phone. Onl the phone company can access the records (and police if necessary), but it will give them the ability to track who is calling you.   Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 7067 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 4:52 pm:        Call the Maplewood Police and report this. Now that they have their new website up and running (they do, don't they?), suggest that they include this scam warning. Then follow through on Monster's suggstions. If you are on the Do Not Call List, why not report this as a violation? Scam artists are telemarketers, aren't they? Just go to www.nj.gov/donotcall/dnconlinefrm.htm to file your report. Fines for do not call violations are as high as $20,000 for a single occurrence.   AHCJR Citizen Username: Ahcjr1 Post Number: 21 Registered: 9-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:31 am:        Just did as quick Google search... Looks like you're not the only one... "10814. New Scam? by chicpea, 2/10/06 19:11 ET Received a phone call today. Could not really understand the person on the other end, but the gist of the call was that I am going to receive a large amount of money from the government. All I had to do is give my bank account number to the caller in order to receive this gift. Needless to say, I did not give the number and hung up on him. On caller ID the number is 1 999 999 1234. Out of curiosity I tried to call that number and it is not a number that can be called. Hope any other people that may have been called did not give any information. Just thoought I would let anyone on this forum know that this is being done and to be aware of this scam. "   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6816 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:36 am:        In my case, they already have my checking & routing number. The freaky thing is that they stole a check somewhere. Dumpster diving? Careless check recipient? Who knows.... Mark called me last night. I told him to stop calling me. He said "you have to tell me why". I said "no I don't". "Yes, you do". Because I told you to. Click. The phone rang a few seconds later. I picked up but didn't say anything. Hello? Hello? Hello? It took the genius 1.5 minutes to hang up. He called right back. Same drill, but he hung up after about 5 seconds. No more calls. So far.   doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1138 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 10:01 am:        Got a call last night from someone asking to speak to one of my kids (asked for his full name). I ask what this in reference to...he says lottery winnings...I'm ready to go off & start to do so... then I hear laughter - it's my BIL playing a joke. Your situation has gone beyond creepy...   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6819 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 10:26 am:        I am currently on hold with BofA. What a pain. First, we have a lower interest rate on our mortgage because we have auto withdrawal. But, apparently, BofA no longer holds our mortgage, which is news to us. It was a Fleet mortgage & they sold it. So, I have to track down the new place. I am also going to file a complaint with the Dept of Banking, since we were never notified. When we went to drop off some paperwork on Saturday, I asked the personal banker to check that all the accounts were linked correctly. Oops - they weren't. OK, so got that straightened out (we thought). Checked the bank this morning. Seems the recurring payments were not transfered. He failed to tell us that he didn't/couldn't. So, instead of me cancelling the outbound auto payments, they all went out. But, since the overdraft protection was unlinked, I am now overdrawn by $625. OK - got that covered, with no bounce fee ($40 a pop for e-banking). I get an intelligent person on the phone (call the fraud line at B of A; I think they have to be better trained there or something). He puts a note on the account as to why it is closed (which should have been done last Friday). I also find out that I have to call the computer banking department to get the new checking account linked to bill pay. I can't imagine what this nightmare would be like if they had actually gotten any funds. Now, it is just a huge PIA. (I have to pee, but I'm invested in 10 minutes of hold time at this point).   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2463 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 12:18 pm:        greenetree, you should definitely call the phone company about this. Even if the call is not coming up on caller ID, they can trace it back to the source (after all, they're The Phone Company ) They can then provide that number to the police (though I don't believe they can give it to you). Also, I woudln't call the number the guy gave you, since that might be construed as you "establishing a relationship" with them. But if you want to post it here and I'll be happy to call. I love messing with these kinds of folks. No need to worry about giving out personal info - since I don't know you, I can't give out any!   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6857 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 1:16 pm:        Well, despite the flag on the account and no money being in it, the thieves managed to withdraw $59.95. I am (once again) on hold with BoA. I would take this one seriously if someone calls you who'd gotten ahold of your account numbers somewhere.   Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 3092 Registered: 9-2001 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:06 pm:        Greenetree--that is way scary. So sorry you are going through this. It is really terrible how easy it is for all this to happen. Thank you for sharing your experience with us all, so we can be forewarned (but even then, as you say, if they have your info it is too late). I recently bought a really powerful paper shredder and I shred just about every piece of paper, including ATM receipts. It also shreds old Quicken data disks. I shred old bank account information, old credit card records, everything. When I get rid of a computer, I have my kids open it up and explore how a computer is put together--and how to take it apart (mother board gets stomped, eventually; hard drive gets cracked and stomped). And with all this, I am certain to get burned someday. How often do I give out my credit card for a purchase over the phone or on-line? Pass checks in stores and restaurants and send them to retailers by mail? What does my doctor, lawyer, accountant, credit card company, bank, etc. do with their trash--do they really shred it all? How secure are their servers with all my data? How many people insist on using my SSN as a password--I fight it, but give in often enough (heck, it is already all over the place, I figure). I once read a story about a meth addict in California who paid other meth heads to go to landfills, open garbage bags, and piece together people's ripped-up bank statements and checks. Yup, they sat there and put the jigsaw puzzles back together. That is when I got the shredder. Perhaps the only solution is to move to Montana and live off the grid.   Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 871 Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:12 pm:        Greenetree - 59.95 is an odd amount to be stolen. Why would the theives take that amount - as opposed to 129.95 or 255.95? if there was missing money from your closed account can you confirm that the money was taken due to a check or other debit? I am not doubting anything, just suggesting that maybe you had a check out there that was never cashed - until you closed the account...   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6858 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:52 pm:        No - the scam goes like this: First, they call and ask for you by name and pretend you've met. Then (doesn't matter if you insist that you don't know them) they tell you that they work for the US Federal Department of Grants and that, in appreciation for your solid records of years of tax payment, they want to deposit $2000 into your account. Then they read off the routing number, account number, all names and the address on the check so that you will trust them. You just need to give them permission to deposit the money and there is a $59.95 processing fee. This, of course, is when you refuse to confirm any info (not even to say "how did you get my info"), tell them never to call again, and go down to the bank and change everything. I figure, what the heck, maybe it's an over reaction. As others have noted, it's so easy to get someone's check info. And we only write two checks a month and I am a compulsive shredder. No problem. I look online today and, viola, a check for $59.95 drawn from an account that has no money in it and is supposed to be blocked as of a week ago Friday. I pull up the check and look at it. It is a check from some company, with TS's name on it from Fleet bank. The signature line says "Signature not necessary; customer authorization on file". That was a big clue that it's fraudulent. And why take $59.95? Well, everytime they called, I could hear all the people in the background, like a major phone bank. Can you imagine how many people fall for the scam? A little here, a little there. Elderly people, desperate people. And what's to to stop them from making future withdrawals? Oh, and the reason that it's low risk for them is that they don't really get prosecuted. How do I know this? I asked the BoA Fraud rep I spoke to if they would investigate or prosecute. She said "Well, it depends on the amount. Not always". Yeah.   Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1228 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 4:54 pm:        I've gotten that phone call, but they did not have any of my banking information. They all had very strong Indian accents; I wound up speaking to at least 5 different people before they figured out I was just torturing them. Years ago I lost an Amex card; it was actually 'held' by a movie theater and, in the rush to get to the movie, I didn't notice. I called literally three hours after buying the tickets, and Amex told me there was $1,700 worth of merchandise charged (all in NYC, all up above 110th street). Amex told me that if its under $4,000 they don't even bother to investigate. I called the movie theater, made sure I was speaking with the manager, and gave the clerk's name and the time I bought the tickets. I'm sure nothing happened, but it was all I could think to do. Sorry for your trouble - I know this goes far beyond the $60.   red Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 5063 Registered: 2-2003 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 5:33 pm:        So greenetree is the bank covering the $60 since it was their mistake?   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6860 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 8:36 pm:        No, I'm not liable for the $60. But, if you get the call, I'd check your account regularly anyway. It's possible that different people work the scam different ways and some tell you they have the info and others don't. Clearly, they do what they want. I can't believe BoA cashed a check like that.   doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 1158 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:14 pm:        Case, Same thing happened to me at a major chain coffee place - they were unconcerned & so was Amex - they covered it, but I had to file a police report & go through all sorts of conversations with fraud teams...   joy Citizen Username: Joy Post Number: 398 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:45 pm:        and get a copy of your credit report   fiche Citizen Username: Fiche Post Number: 83 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 9:51 am:        Greentree, check out News Channel 12. South Orange just arrested a scammer who was stealing from Bank of America patrons and who also worked for the IRS at one time. Sounds like you guy. They said he was also taking out phone home equity loans without the knowledge of the homeowners.   Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2200 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 11:19 am:          greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6863 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 12:17 pm:        Brett, that I would have spotted immediately & deleted. Does anyone know any details about the guy in S. Orange? I called SOPD and left a message for the investigating detective.   newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 323 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 12:40 pm:        I've recived numerous e-mails like the one above - funny thing is I don't have a Chase account. Report it to Chase security (can usually be found on the real Chase web site.   Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1454 Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 1:15 pm:        greentree You may get more info from the Essex County Prosecutors Office. However, the above sounds like another kind of scam against BOA. This guy was taking-out Home Equity loans against unsuspecting homeowners info, which he probably stole while working for the IRS.   Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1455 Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 1:34 pm:        Here's a poor soul who fell for this scam. Sound familiar? I just want to warn everyone reading this article about this fraud of a company. there are a few names that they go by the one they used when calling me was national choice.usually when the number pops up on the caller id it will say unknown caller unknown number.The other name that they go by is Advantage America benefits.National choice was the company that withdrew the amount of $59.95 from my bank account to "sign up". The person that contacted me told me that I was entitled to a grant in the amount of $12,500.00.She stated that her name was "Rose Paige and her government id # was cs 1009. The $59.95 was supposed to be for processing of the package i was to receive. I recall someone from this company calling me months ago trying to do the same thing. I turned him down when he asked for my checking account number. so recently when i received a phone call from this company aging i thought it must not be a scam. this company promised me that i would receive a $500.00 coupon for groceries or i would be able to deposit it into my account to cash. They said out of the $500.00 to save $59.95 for the processing fee. They weren't suppose to withdraw the funds from my account until i received the package.because they would take it out of the 500.00. It took them no longer than a day to withdraw the money from my account.This is when i thought something is not right. I am finally recieving the package two weeks later. is stated that there is going to be a charge of $299.95 also taken out on my account. I never agreed to the $299.95 ,But when i called to cancell after i saw this on the welcome letter. They told me to wait for the welcome letter and i would only receive a refund if i wasn't approved for a government grant. even though the lady never mentioned $299.95 being taken out of my account.I talked to what is supposed to be a supervisor who told me that he can't control what the sales representatives say when they call. I asked if i could have the name of the person in charge of this company. I was told that they could not give out this information for safety reasons. I immediately called my bank and got a stop payment put on my acccount for this company. and then i went right to the bank and closed my bank account. These people are scam artist and are out to steal your money. Oh! and they also told me that they needed my banks phone number because the bank would call me to authorize the funds to be deposited into my account. I have learned one thing from all of this never give your bank account number out over the phone,or on-line. Taneesha Randallstown, Maryland U.S.A. hmmm… something about that $59.95. Seems these scams reinvent themselves and become more sophisicated especially when obtaining personal information on an individual. In your case, knowing your check number etc.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2513 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 2:06 pm:        It's amazing how easy it is to play on people's greed.   fiche Citizen Username: Fiche Post Number: 84 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 5:47 pm:        Greentree: I may have been mistaken about the news channel. I was in South Orange village getting breakfast and stopped in at the "general store" for some scratch-offs (guilty pleasure). The story was on the TV there and I just assumed it was channel 12. But since I see nothing on the 12 website, I presume I was mistaken. The clerk behind the counter told me that they had a news conference at the BOA bank also (which is next door to the general store). I didn't note too many of the details because I assumed they would be easily available on the channel 12 web site, etc., but I have been unable to find the story on any 5:00 p.m. news channels. I am sure it will turn up in the paper tomorrow. The story did say they thought it was an inside job, that the guy used some of his knowledge from working at the IRS to help with the scam and they gave his name, which for the life of me, I cannot remember. I wish I had paid more attention.   hch Citizen Username: Hch Post Number: 215 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:00 pm:        I've received the same email Brett did. Delete. Received a recorded phone message from "Cardholder Services" tonight. If I wanted to lower my interest rate to 6% I should press 1 to speak with a customer service rep, if I didn't I should press 3. Pretty obvious it was a scam since they did not identify any bank or credit card company. Also number did not work when I tried to call it.   ReallyTrying Citizen Username: Reallytrying Post Number: 709 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 11:12 pm:        I'm not a security expert, but I have done tons of research on individuals in the course of my work. You'd be shocked at what can be found about you. One thing everyone should know is that not listing your phone number in directory assistance doesn't really do much. As soon as you make a donation to an organization, buy something online or by mail, register your child for school, have a child who takes the SAT, fill out a FAFSA, buy an airplane ticket, buy insurance, take a mortgage, or do ANYTHING that creates a record, you have produced information that will be bought and sold. I always know when my undergraduate alma mater has sold my info because it's the only institution that sends mail to me as an "Esq.". When my oldest child enrolled in college, she started getting mail with credit card offers. When I placed an online merchandise order in my young son's name, instead of my name, he started getting credit card offers. (Those credit purveyers are especially aggressive.) Don't be surprised that businesses have your info, but do be vigilant and defensive. They may not necessarily have done anything illegal -- the buying and selling of mailing lists is an importnt aspect of many businesses' way of developing new business. You can opt out of the mailing list process; see the various relevant governmental entities' Websites for info that will help in that regard. Sorry to go on so -- I just think it's naive to think that not lsting your phone number is going to protect yourself against some very common and very legal -- if very annoying -- business practices.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6867 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 7:04 am:        Who said anything about an unlisted phone number being protection? Research is my livelihood;I am well aware of what is out there and a scam where someone has actual info is something to be alert about. This was (obviously) much more aggressive than phishing. If you are referring to my initial post, I noted that TS's full name is not listed and he knew her full name, so I knew it wasn't random digit dialing. We often get calls asking for "Mr. or Mrs. TS", which is obvious random digit.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6869 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:15 am:        OK - for those of you who like to screw with these people, here is the phone number: 702-835-8013 (the toll free number does not work). Let me know how it goes.   Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1242 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:37 am:        Wait a minute.... what number is this? Is it the actual "company" that called you????   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 6871 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:47 am:        This is the number for a company (supposedly) called "My eCheck". The number I posted and the toll free number (which is the same one he gave me when I asked the scammer for it) were both printed on the bogus check that was cashed by the bank. The address on the check in in Las Vegas. I am getting a copy of the check sent to me. Remember, I wasn't called by a "company"; I was called by an esteemed member of the US Federal Department of Grants. But, an explanation earlier in the thread explains why he kept asking if I remembered him, if they were trying to get a recording of me saying "yes".   Debby Citizen Username: Debby Post Number: 2224 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:06 pm:        Brett - Please. please tell me that isn't your real account number...   Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2203 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 9:58 am:        I don't even have a Chase account. You think I would Black out the email, and not the account??   Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2208 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 2:01 pm:        This guy tears up a Credit Card App, tapes it together, uses a diffrent address and phone, and still gets the card. http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/creditcard/application.shtml   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2578 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 3:24 pm:        If he got the Name, B'day and SSN right, that's all he needs. You can do it over the internet, without even providing any matching information.   bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 126 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 3:31 pm:        I received one today from "Chase" also, but it was a little different. First of all, I don't have a Chase account and never did. But the message, which had several grammatical errors and misspellings, said that scammers had recently been sending out fake emails using the Chase logo and that they needed me to reply with my account info and Soc. Sec. No. to update their security info.   Anna Citizen Username: Anna Post Number: 32 Registered: 7-2004 Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 5:45 pm:        My husband received a very similar online message from Pay Pal. It looked very official. I happened to be in the room as he was about to respond with all the info they asked for, and told him this looked like a phishing expedition. We went to the www.paypal site to see if it looked the same and it did, only there was no trademark sign next to the name. We reported it to Pay Pal -- their rep said this was definitely a scam.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2580 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 12:01 am:        I get these every single day, usually between 1 and 5 a day. It's quite easy to forge these. The more sophisticated ones will authenticate your username and password in realtime. So when you type in your username and password, then hit login, it tries to log into ebay or paypal, or whatever bank account you might be giving them information about. Ingenious, if you ask me. Basically, you should never click on a link in an email. That way you can be reasonably certain the web site you're going to is legit. Reasonably, but not certain. There are other attacks where even if you type in a URL, you might not be going where you think.