Telephone "phishing"

I think I have been the target for a - for want of a better phrase - telephone phishing scam. I received a phone call this evening, just after 8pm, as we were sitting down to start our games evening. The caller asked for me by name, if mispronounced, and then said he wanted to talk to me about my account with a certain bank.

Sadly for him, I do not have an account with said bank and cut him off then and there. It was pretty annoying, and not a little disturbing as only a handful of people know my land-line number; I rarely use it since while I am up in The Tower I can't hear it ring. Anyone I want to speak to on the phone has my mobile number (or if they don't they can ask me for it). Either way, I am not going to discuss bank details with anybody on the telephone unless I call them.

And of course, banks do not phone you - especially outside banking hours - except by prior arrangement.

I have never heard of telephone phishing before, but it shouldn't really come as a surprise, I guess. If this is going to become more commonplace in the future, take this as a warning and don't talk to any caller about your bank account.

If your bank wants to contact you, they will send you a letter asking you to contact them.

Telephone "phishing"

I think I have been the target for a - for want of a better phrase - telephone phishing scam. I received a phone call this evening, just after 8pm, as we were sitting down to start our games evening. The caller asked for me by name, if mispronounced, and then said he wanted to talk to me about my account with a certain bank.

Sadly for him, I do not have an account with said bank and cut him off then and there. It was pretty annoying, and not a little disturbing as only a handful of people know my land-line number; I rarely use it since while I am up in The Tower I can't hear it ring. Anyone I want to speak to on the phone has my mobile number (or if they don't they can ask me for it). Either way, I am not going to discuss bank details with anybody on the telephone unless I call them.

And of course, banks do not phone you - especially outside banking hours - except by prior arrangement.

I have never heard of telephone phishing before, but it shouldn't really come as a surprise, I guess. If this is going to become more commonplace in the future, take this as a warning and don't talk to any caller about your bank account.

If your bank wants to contact you, they will send you a letter asking you to contact them.