Scam alert: ‘Phishing’ phone calls ‘about your credit card’

| Safety | West Seattle news

Remember the “phishing” calls last month citing Wells Fargo? Now, things have gone generic, according to Val‘s note:

I don’t know if you’ll hear about this from others, but I just got a suspicious robocall from the 503 area code (503.902.8997) warning me about “your credit card” and inviting me to press ‘1’ to start the process to avoid whatever dire consequences they were predicting. Which of course I didn’t do. I listened to the entire spiel and the call did not specify any financial institution; it was all couched in terms of “your credit card”.

Just in case it’s happening more widely, or if it’s time for another reminder about phishing phone calls…

As was widely and repeatedly advised when the “Wells Fargo” calls were proliferating, don’t give any specific data out by phone – if you think the call might be legit, call your bank to check. Here’s some federal advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of this kind of crime.

celeste17 November 15, 2011 (7:54 am)

I have been gettign these phone calls for a while. Mostly at the house although yesterday they called my cell phone. How do they get around the do not call list?

westseattleperson November 15, 2011 (7:54 am)

That sounds like the messages I’ve been getting for months. It usually quickly says there’ nothing wrong with your account but you should take action… I’ve never bothered to listen to the whole thing though, assumed it was someone trying to get me to switch credit cards.

Ignore ignore ignore

xyz November 15, 2011 (7:57 am)

I got the same type of message on my work cell phone, which I never use for personnal information. Something out my credit card being “locked”. Sounds like the scammers are at it again. I didn’t get the phone number though.

Mike in the Junction November 15, 2011 (8:12 am)

I have got this call about 4 times in the past 5 or 6 weeks. They refer to reducing my interest rate.

Patrick November 15, 2011 (8:28 am)

Interesting to see this article posted this am.

Just late last week I received 13 calls from this EXACT # in 2 days.

DO NOT under any circumstances engage the call.

Just hang up or better yet, don’t even answer it.

I filed a complaint with the AG’s office on Friday and they are now aware of this.

luckymom30 November 15, 2011 (8:52 am)

We get these calls every year it seems. We also get a robotic call from a company claiming to be protecting our bank account and they want us to call them back with the last 4 digits of our ssn to verify our acount.

MB November 15, 2011 (9:09 am)

I got one last week that specifically said it was in reference to my Wells Fargo account…I don’t have a Wells Fargo account…

bestbets November 15, 2011 (9:35 am)

I have been getting these too, and from different numbers. I don’t even have any credit cards! I did press 1 and started to tell the live person that I wanted to be removed from their list… they hung up on me. Glad someone has notified the AG, I just haven’t had the time/energy.

madison parent November 15, 2011 (9:45 am)

My 14 year old got two text from that number from his cell…called heard the word credit card and hung up.

WSMom November 15, 2011 (9:52 am)

I got a call today as well. Last month they called while I was sleeping at 5:45 am. I woke with that startled “oh no, someone’s hurt or dead” feeling. Made me very annoyed! I hope the people behind this get caught and fined very soon!

Jim P. November 15, 2011 (10:05 am)

“How do they get around the do not call list?”

They don’t give a flying pig about the do not call list.

Most of these operations are overseas or in Canada despite what any area code says.

Don’t let them trick you. Some of them are actually pretty slick in conning you into telling them things and then making it look like they knew that already like a cheap “psychic”.

The best advice is tell them nothing if you even speak to them at all which I do not reccomend, although it is fun to waste their time if you want to as they are scum and parasitic criminals.

I’ve been fighting them for several decades in many forms.

JunctionMonkey November 15, 2011 (10:06 am)

I think the people responsible for these are in a “boiler room” in FL. I did an internet trace of one of the numbers which appeared on my caller ID (same message as everyone else) and that is what came up. They have the ability to use other exchanges throughout the country which explains the differing area codes. It’s all the same outfit.

ALSO – an acquaintance of mine in TX had an email account hacked, and I got a phishing message addressed from him about my Wells Fargo Credit Card (I don’t have one) on my business email.

IGNORE ANY PHONE MESSAGE OR EMAIL ABOUT YOUR FINANCES!

C November 15, 2011 (1:40 pm)

503 = Cincy =>

Val November 15, 2011 (4:09 pm)

Beg to differ, C; 503 is Portland, OR though as was pointed out earlier, it’s probably immaterial – the call could have originated from just about anywhere.
–
I forgot to mention in my original note, the call came to my cell – I don’t have a landline.

Enid November 16, 2011 (5:42 am)

I’ve been getting these calls for months, and have already filed complaints with the DNC registry website and FCC. I urge that everyone receiving these do the same. They’re coming from a Florida area code.

artsea November 16, 2011 (5:16 pm)

We have two different phone lines in our house and both phones have been called at least a dozen times each over the last six months or so. Always a message saying that they can lower the interest rate on my credit cards. I often press the number to speak to a “live” person. At first I reminded them that I’m on the do-not-call list, but they immediately disconnect. I also tried asking them to remove my name from their calling list. Also….”CLICK”. Now I just amuse myself by calling them filthy names. I guess the government isn’t interested in stopping it.

Curiouser November 17, 2011 (11:07 am)

One of those calls I got a few months ago actually had an option to remove yourself from their calling list. That was nice, but there is no way to tell if it worked. Calls are usually untraceable because of their use of robocall software. It is just annoying. Either hang up on them or talk with them and play along (without giving information) and take up more of their time. :-)

Curiouser November 17, 2011 (12:50 pm)

I just got one of those calls a few minutes ago. When I clicked thru (1), I asked for more information. Blah, blah, blah. Then I asked how they got our number and they hung up with no reply. Oh, well.

Enid November 18, 2011 (7:35 am)

Please DO NOT press a number to be “placed on a do not call list”. This is a trick that actually does the exact opposite. It also verifies for the robo-caller that your number is active, and they will sell it forward.

David Trotter November 18, 2011 (9:05 pm)

These also are coming from area code 971, an Oregon area code. They come from specifically 971-220-1771.
I HAVE dialed “1” three times specifically to tell them to stop calling. The first time, a man came talking over me, insisting “Do you know why we’re calling?” even after being told again to remove the number (which is unlisted and on the National Do Not Call List). When you tell them that you have told them to remove the number an d that they are therefore legally required to do so, they always hang up at the word “legally.” I have filed one recorded com (a week ago) and two online complaints (yesterday and today) with the National Do Not Call List. We’ll see what happens. All I’m doing now is hanging up, then “869”ing to see what the number is. The one time I, out of curiosity, called the number back, I got a recording that I needed to unblock my number, first, to talk with anyone. I didn’t.

Rhino November 22, 2011 (11:49 am)

I received one reporting my Bank of America Debit card as being deactivated for security reasons. This is very jarring because the only people that have my phone number and know I am of BofA customer is BofA. Seems like they might have some security issues on the inside…

Rhino November 22, 2011 (12:12 pm)

p.s.

I think it’s funny that you guys think the National Do Not Call List is going to help. The ‘Do not call list’ is a list for solicitors who stay within the bounds of the law. They care about avoiding people on that list, because they are legitimate businesses. People who are posing as a bank to steal identities, credit information, and commit fraud do not give a flying f#$% about the National Do Not Call list.

Jackson December 7, 2011 (7:38 pm)

Got ’em too. They also “phish” private or financial info calling from this phone #: (504) 468-5531. They seem especially intent on targeting cell phones. If you get suspicious or scam calls, you can input the exact phone # into a Google search, and look at sites like 800notes.com, whocallsme.com. Try using search word “report” or “complaint” in this regard. I’d skip the web sites that want you to pay for caller info.

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