Phone scam? West Seattleite shares a warning

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Carole:

At 9am on 8/22 (Sat) I received a robocall indicating it was from Cardmember Services and informing me I was eligible for a reduced rate (as low as 6%!) on my credit card and all I had to do to take advantage was press “9.” I do have a Chase card managed by Cardmember Services, but wary of a scam and not about to give out personal info over the phone, I hung up and called the number on the back of my Chase card. Customer service informed me that they are not offering rate reductions and are not making these robocalls. IF YOU GET A CALL LIKE THIS DO NOT PRESS “9.” Call your credit card company directly and inform them. I have sent a similar message to the AG’s office asking them to confirm the scam and put out a consumer alert.

GenHillOne August 22, 2009 (10:49 am)

If this is a New York number, we’ve gotten them here too. I googled the number to find the same scenario you described above and a lot of warnings. We don’t answer any call we don’t recognize and if you don’t know already, you can search for numbers online for more information. I highly recommend it!

AlkiMac August 22, 2009 (11:19 am)

I got the same robocall this morning. Fortunately, I just hung up after listening to the spew for a few seconds. Thanks for the heads up, Carole!

MAS August 22, 2009 (12:02 pm)

I’ve had most of the numbers these folks call from blacklisted for a while, so my phone doesn’t even ring when they call, but if you’re ever wondering about an incoming caller ID http://whocalled.us is fairly helpful.

Note that callerid is spoofable, and folks that do this change their source number all of the time, so you can’t EVER count on what you see showing up on your caller ID screen. For the most part, nobody with legitimate business with you will call you and ask for a CC. If by some chance it IS someone with legitimate business, tell them you will look up their number from a trusted source and call them back.

thermo August 22, 2009 (6:54 pm)

I got this same call…. Hung up after a few seconds.

Rhonda Porter August 23, 2009 (6:59 am)

I highly recommend being on the DNC list and filing a compliant against these bozo’s. Some people (especially those in hard times) might be desparate enough to believe this garbage.

rw August 23, 2009 (8:43 am)

Got the same call a day or two ago….. as well as previously every few months. Rest assured, they will be back.

Carole August 23, 2009 (9:08 am)

I AM on the DNC list…I suspect it is a machine just dialing numbers sequentially…

Janet August 23, 2009 (12:35 pm)

I am on the DNC list, too — but charities are still allowed to call you. Yep.

I don’t understand why our reps in DC couldn’t make it so that you could put your number ON a list IF you wanted to receive calls. The way that things are now, everything depends on what YOU do. Pretty disgusting.

Carl August 23, 2009 (1:11 pm)

What deos pressing 9 do ?

sarelly August 24, 2009 (10:10 am)

I got one of those calls – but since I don’t have a major credit card (debit only) I knew it was a scam right away. Can’t put one past me!

Kathleen August 25, 2009 (11:09 am)

I just got the call, too. I kept asking, “who is this?” (I hadn’t read this report, yet) and they finally hung up on me. That made me laugh. How often do you make a telemarketer hang up on you? That shows its a scam!

Sorry, comment time is over.