Consumer Advice

Speaking from experience, the Do Not Call List is a joke especially when it comes to spoofed phone numbers.

So lately, I've been getting the same kind of call from different spoofed numbers in the area code in which I used to live in (and that is still part of my cell phone number). I don't believe the numbers are from the same "company" but each one was likely sold a package to allow them to set up their system - auto-dialers, initial recording, multiple phone line handling like in a telemarketing place. The recording is always the same voice and spiel - if you want to lower your credit card interest rate, press 1, at which point you're transferred to a live operator (foreign accent every time), who asks you which of your cc's you want to get the lower rate on - the Visa or Mastercard. Say Visa, and he says, "Yes, we just need to verify your card so read it out to me. It's the one that starts with a 4." (All Visas start with 4. All MC's start with 5. It's a nice touch). At this point, I read a phony card number to them. Give them more phony info if they ask for it -birthday (I've given November 31st several times now), SSN, etc. They put you on hold while they try to gain access to/control of your card. Doesn't happen, and they come back and tell you. I ask them to read it back to me. "Oh, you must have gotten these two numbers mixed up... It's not XY, it's YX. Try it now." Same thing happens. "Read me back what you wrote down. Well, gee, that looks right. Huh... OH! I see the problem. That last 0 is really an 8. It's just been eroded away with so much use! Now we'll get somewhere!" They come back and tell me it's not working. I ask them to read me back the card number (sometimes ask them to start over - the sound dropped for a second), expiration date, the 3 digit code on back, etc. "Well," I say, "The only reason that this card couldn't be working is that I gave you a fake one because I know you're a scam, and I'm deliberately wasting your time."

Usually get cursed at in a mixture of English and their native language, and they hang up. But not before, I suspect, they put ME on their do not call list.

TlalocW