Security Verification?
Jul 31st, 2008 by papabear
I received a call from an unknown mobile number.
Caller: Hello, my name is Os calling from MBF Corporation
That’s what I heard he said
Me: Yes…
Caller: Are you still using your visa and mastercard?
Me: Yes…
Caller: We are currently doing a security verification exercise.
Caller: So, can you tell me which banks are your cards from?
Me: Where are you calling from again?
Caller: MBF Corporation.
I heard that right the first time.
Me: Why do you need to know what cards I have?
Caller: It’s my job.
Me: What are you doing again?
Caller: We are doing a security verification exercise for all your credit cards.
He started to sound agitated by this time.
Me: If the banks want to do a security check, then they should contact me directly.
Me: I am not giving my details to some unknown people.
Caller: Thank you. (and he put down the phone)
Security verification my socks! What do you think that was all about? I have no idea but I simply do not see any reason why banks would ask some third party people or companies to do security verification on their behalf. That just does not make sense at all.
I wonder if there is anyone who would actually talk to them and provide all the information that they wanted…
Unfortunately far too many people will provide the requested information. That is why they are calling, just to get the info from those who will talk. The elderly are especially vulnerable to these types of scams.
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You are right hawk. Not to mention those who have very little knowledge of some basic banking procedures…
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Security Verification?…
Security verification my socks!…
Never answer with a name, or even agree you are at the address or phone number called.
Insist upon positive ID from the caller, or hang up. Suggest snail mail, and if he does not have the adress, tough.
Somtimes it really is a guy from a card I really own, and it sounds urgent. I agree to provide positive ID after he has read me a line item from a recent statement. ie zyz cafe, 12th DEC $42.23. They usually refuse on grounds of confidentiality, to which I refuse to divulge info on grounds of confidentiality.
Proper banks use snail mail.
If banks were serious about phoning securly they would snail mail us a sheet of paper with private day codes for each day of the month.
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Thanks for the advice Ben! In this case, a call from a mobile phone definitely not a common practice by any bank…
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just like the many phishing emails that flood inboxes….no bank would ever ask an employee to ask a customer for confidential information but there are some who unfortunately give it out
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Oh that also happened to my hubby but he did not give his personal info also. Too bad some people give…Its a lesson we need to consider to look…
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tony, you are right, lately there are many of those phishing mails flying all over the place…
gengen, good for your hubby to be cautious about that.
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since i’m an expert in this (ceewwaaahhhh….), let me tell u on how it works.
1. They will NOT supposed to ask details on card (e.g:card no or expiry date) unless you are the one whose calling them.
2. Physical information of the card should not be revealed at all especially 3 digit verification number behind the card as it will lead to fraudulent activities:D
3. Security questions are mostly based on personal information. If it is in regards to your debit/credit card, these info is available in the form that you filled up when you opened that card account. If you feel uncomfortable to divulge any information, please call the helpline immediately to verify the phoen call you just received.
4. Take down the name of the staff who was speaking to you to ensure that you have a backup. REMEMBER: most calls from any center especially from banks must be recorded. Pls record the time and date when you’re receiving the phone calls so that they can’t come back to you and say, “We didn’t call you, sir.”
Sekian, Terima Kasih.
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thanks for the info cheryna! I don’t think the guy that called me was from any bank…
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He’s a thief! He wants to get some personal information to steal money from you..or perhaps use it in illegal activities!
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Thanks Havenlei, he might be. We will never know…
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these people really thinks that we are so gullible to just give out our personal details just like that. i do wonder what security verifications is the caller talking about. no one asks from which bank is your credit card ever. if the bank called he should know that you are his customer and is using the bank’s card.
p/s: should ask his name and ic number.. he should freak out and put down the phone nefore even starting to ask anything haha
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thanks zsazsa, next time I would do that… hahah…
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