Be careful about details over the phone

Finnglas

My beloved OH got a dodgy looking letter through claiming that he owed a company £1300 and asked him to contact a Mr X on a glasgow number to discuss. I was on the other phone at the time, but just heard him say "Yes, my full name is XXX, my address is XXX and my DOB is XXX". At which point I leapt accross the room and wrestled the phone from him.

We told the company we knew nothing about the alleged debt (after me grilling my OH as to whether he was living a secret life somewhere else), and said if they wished to take it any further they would need to put something in writing.

Next thing we know, this week we're received a letter from Virgin Mobile congratulating us on taking out a new mobile phone with them in - you guessed it - OH's name, address and DOB. Cue more interrogation from me (is there another woman, etc - not that I'm paranoid!!), but it appears he's had his first taste of identity theft.

I used to work for a high street bank, and I know how hard it is to verify who's calling you, and how hard it is when you're making a genuine phone call to the public, but you've just got to be sooooo careful these days.

I like the idea of having a code phrase - perhaps "Fondle my bum"?