Mutual distrust

[bunn]

I just had a phonecall from a person who said she represented a bank with which I hold a credit card. She opened the conversation by asking for my personal details.

Me: 'No, I'm not giving out my details to someone who rang out of the blue and says they are a bank'

Her: 'Can I give you a number to call me back?'

Me: 'No, that doesn't work: how do I know where a number you gave me will go? Can I ring the number on my card statement?'

Her: 'No, because that's a different department'.

Me: 'Well, you'll have to send me a letter then'.

*** Phonecall ends in confusion ***

Not that that solves the problem, because presumably the letter will have a phone number on it, which will not be the main one for the bank, and could be faked, but if a letter arrives, I suppose I will have to extend the hand of trust and phone it...

Comments

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I've just friended you, so I've just seen this post.

I've had similar experiences in the past. I simply contacted the financial organisation on the phone number that I had for them and asked if they were contacting customers, or indeed me inparticular, at the moment. It turned out that they were and that it was a pure sales call, did I want this extra service or something.

I think you were quite right not to give any details. The 'No, because that's a different department' pretty much gives away that it's dodgy.