Potential identify theft?

Kai77

Over the past few days I've been called twice by utility providers I've got contracts with (broadband and mobile). When they call I just say I'll call them back without giving details.

Both times it looks like the number is spam (have Googled). I'm now worried that someone now knows about my accounts and is calling to try and get info.

Is there anything I should do to protect myself? I already have a password on my credit report services due to a previous identify fraud a few years back!

MeteredOut

How confident are you that the number is spam? A number of the crowd-sourced sites have entries for companies where that people log as spam because its a cold call, not because the call is not from that company.

Another possibility is simply that it is spammers but you use the most common broadband/mobile companies and they have simply gotten lucky.

Or there could have been a data breach and info was leaked, but companies should (and mostly do) notify customers if that happens now.

How to protect yourself: don't give any info to any callers in order "to identify yourself". Ensure they provide you with details that only the company can know.

Did you get any inclination what they were calling for?

I often get "we're calling about your O2 account and a great offer we have for you" calls (I am with O2). I ask if they are from O2 and that typically throws them.

Sarahspangles

Kai77 said:

Over the past few days I've been called twice by utility providers I've got contracts with (broadband and mobile). When they call I just say I'll call them back without giving details.

Both times it looks like the number is spam (have Googled). I'm now worried that someone now knows about my accounts and is calling to try and get info.

Is there anything I should do to protect myself? I already have a password on my credit report services due to a previous identify fraud a few years back!

Mobile provider is easy for anyone to guess as blocks of mobile numbers were assigned to specific providers. I get lots of calls about ‘My O2 account’ which I know are marketing or scammers as I have an O2 number with a different provider.

There are so few mainstream broadband providers they’ve got a fair chance of being right if they give one of the top three or four names.

Brie

Scammers are rarely calling from the number that might be displayed on your phone.  They will be calling using a computer that picks up a line and bounces the call around various locations between land lines and mobiles.  So a call might show as being from Brighton or Birmingham but the caller is actually anywhere else in the world.  

If I'm concerned about any of these calls and can't decide if they are legit or not I just say "sorry but I've got a cake in the oven.  Can you post me the details please?  You should have my address." and I hang up.  Only once have I actually received something in the post about anything that was as urgent as the caller said.   

400ixl

Brie said:

Scammers are rarely calling from the number that might be displayed on your phone.  They will be calling using a computer that picks up a line and bounces the call around various locations between land lines and mobiles.  So a call might show as being from Brighton or Birmingham but the caller is actually anywhere else in the world.  

They don't bounce the calls around anywhere, this isn't TV. They just spoof the number to show what they want to, typically trying to be either a local number or one of the company they are trying to mimic.

born_again

Kai77 said:

Over the past few days I've been called twice by utility providers I've got contracts with (broadband and mobile). When they call I just say I'll call them back without giving details.

Both times it looks like the number is spam (have Googled). I'm now worried that someone now knows about my accounts and is calling to try and get info.

Is there anything I should do to protect myself? I already have a password on my credit report services due to a previous identify fraud a few years back!

Have you rung the companies on a known number, to check if they have called you?

Kai77

Thank you for the helpful replies.

The first one did indeed show up on a spam website but interesting that offer calls are also sometimes logged as spam.

I didn't think much of it but the fact they've called twice now and both times correctly mentioned a service I have made me pause. Plus I am opted out of marketing for at least one (not sure about the second).

I do worry that even saying 'I'll call you back myself later' or whatever is an admission that I have the service. As opposed to saying 'I don't have that service'. 

I'll try calling the companies to verify.

oldernonethewiser

Another technique is when answering just say Hello and let them ramble on.

If they ask "Is that xxx?"

Ask who they are and why they want to know

Once they start their spiel then hang up.

If it is something important a company will write to you/email you.

Jellynailer

My technique is to say to any unexpected caller I am hard of hearing and get them to speak slowly and more clearly, say sorry still don't understand - better to email me.  If they ask for the email address end the call.  Takes a bit longer that other techniques but it wastes their time nicely.  

I once kept a scammer (who wanted to upgrade my pc) on the phone for nearly 20 minutes before I told them I did not have the make of pc that they cited after they were shouting the words I pretended I could not hear!

Nasqueron

Kai77 said:

Thank you for the helpful replies.

The first one did indeed show up on a spam website but interesting that offer calls are also sometimes logged as spam.

I didn't think much of it but the fact they've called twice now and both times correctly mentioned a service I have made me pause. Plus I am opted out of marketing for at least one (not sure about the second).

I do worry that even saying 'I'll call you back myself later' or whatever is an admission that I have the service. As opposed to saying 'I don't have that service'. 

I'll try calling the companies to verify.

People report numbers as spam regardless, it could be a cold call seller or a legitimate company with an offer, always safe to do what you are doing and call back the number directly if interested, else tell them you're not interested and hang up.

It's not likely to be ID theft, everyone gets cold calls unfortunately