Be careful about details over the phone

Raksha

HSBC have done this to me in the recent past too. I refused to talk to them the first time, as they couldn't/woulnd't give me any info to prove they were who they said they were. Second time HWMBO answered, and they wouldn't talk to him, even though we have a joint account, at which point I realised they probably wanted to discuss my credit card, which is in my name only.......
They put their proposal in writing in the end........

shymanuk

i had a simular call the other week from a well known online bank............. like the rest of you . i kicked into saftey mode,. told them that i would get back to them and if there was a prob to write to me..... stating any concerns..... well to date no letter no other phone calls ....... even if they were true...... i gave them jack!!!!!!!! becomes a mine field just trying to keep in front of them or not giving them the oppertunity ....

hells_2

I *NEVER* give details to anyone over the phone!! They don't like it, no, but when I retort by asking them to kindly not try and steal my identity and so please put your enquiry (which rarely appears) in writing....tends to get shut of the cheeky !!!!!!s!!!

TheIceman_3

Tinkerbell_14 wrote:

hi ya,
really sorry if this sounds like a really silly question but have been reading all ur posts & im when my creditors "cold call " me have i done the wrong thing by giving them my D.O.B. etc etc. or r u just saying if some 1 from the banks call its best not 2 give out ur info????
sorry if i have got the wrong idea from all ur posts

ALLI x

We are simply saying that if a bank calls you (rather than you calling them) then you should never give them details which are commonly used as security information (such as date of birth) because you really only have their word for it that they are who they say they are.

That is unless you have caller ID enabled on your phone line and you recognise the number they call you from (highly unlikely).

Cinders2001

Absolutely Agree with you here!!
I have had many calls like this (sainsburys bank, Barclays, Pipex etc) all say who they are and want me to go through security checks.

I say, 'I know who I am and you called me.....How can you assure me that you ARE who you say you are' etc.

Sometime they sound offended that I should question their authenticity!!
Why?!!
They questioned mine!!

shellsuit

I have Lloyds ringing me about twice a week about my debt and they ask for my date of birth, my postcode and the first line of my address.

I always give it but now I'm going to use this approach and tell them to put anything in writing.

Joe_Bloggs

There is a technique termed 'pretexting' , an American word and offence which relates to a person pretending to be from another orginisation and obtaining personal information. This can be a precursor to identity theft.
J_B.

Raksha

How about giving them incorrect information - the real company would know it was incorrect.........

Wyndham

Raksha wrote:

How about giving them incorrect information - the real company would know it was incorrect.........

Interesting....

But they would also then be suspicious about you if they were genuine!

Best policy is still, I think (and I've thought about this a lot) to not talk to them at all after politely explaining your concerns.

Cinders2001

Like I said in my post #17, they ask us security questions but they called US!

Maybe we need security questions for them to answer?