So, we have a minor problem with the phone line, and I called Verizon. I reached a woman with a heavy indian accent, who listened to my problem and told me she would forward my call to the person who could help. But before she would do that. she wanted to tell me they were running a promotion, and I had won a gift card.
She asked to confirm my name and address, which I grumbled at, and said she should have that info since she had my phone number. But I gave her that info. Then she asked for my birthdate, to verify I was over 18. I refused, and asked to be transferred. She insisted. I said I would not give it to her, as I thought I might have dialed the wrong number. She hung up on me.
I called Verizon again, and got an automated voice system. I obviously DID dial the wrong number the first time.
So, how worried should I be?
(And after dealing with the automated voice system, I am expecting a Verizon service call tomorrow. I wasn’t able to exactly describe the problem, so I hope they are willing to deal with it. But that’s not the topic of this thread.)
Wow how unlucky to manage to dial a wrong number of someone willing to scam. I’d think it must be someone playing a joke because the odds of you dialing the number of someone set up to literally do a scam seems unbelievably small?
Regardless, what can someone do with your name, address and phone number? In my pre-actuarial days we used to buy more data than that for cents per thousand so I think it’s pretty widely available.
Interesting point. But it’s hard enough to reach verizon that I’m not super motived to try. And I don’t know what number I actually dialed. Hmm, maybe my phone does, actually. I should check that.
I think you’re right about this…if you do give it to them they’ll just send you a form email with “tips on how not to be scammed. #1 if it sounds to good to be true you know it didn’t come from us.”
I agree. All they know is your name, address, phone number, and that you’re almost certainly a Verizon customer. That’s not much more than what’s in the phone book.