Exercising Caution on the Phone

Exercising Caution on the Phone

We received a call at the house last night that was strange and a little disturbing.  The caller said they were with our bank and needed to confirm our identity before speaking to us about an important matter.  They reported to be with our bank, and they had that information correct.  However, they wanted to confirm our identity by using our Social Security NumberI laughed and said no.  The person told me this was important financial information, and that it was critical that we speak about it.  They said that they could not discuss it with me, unless I confirm my identity.

Again, I told them that I would not give them that information to some random person that called me on the phone.  I asked why I should trust them.  Would they give that information out to someone who called them?  No answer other than they have important information to discuss with me, but they need to confirm my identity first.

This was getting very odd.  I asked why a bank would expect their customers to share such information when “the bank” made the call in the age of identity theft?  It was not as if I called the bank and had knowledge of whom I was speaking to.  They said it was the bank’s standard practice.

Wow – I told them that I was not going to do this.  They said they were done arguing with me. Okay…great!  I asked if they would send me a certified letter with what matter was soo important since we had reached an impasse.  I got a noncommittal okay and a hang-up.

Is this a new vishing scam to try to get personal identification?  It has to be one of the oddest phone calls I have had in a very long time.  With all the identity theft going on these days, I am very cautious as to what information that I give out on the phone or anywhere else for that matter.

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