|
The information below describes common scams which have been reported to telephone companies. Both are reported to have occurred on business and home telephone services. The third is a "scam in the making" which has been reported frequently in the corporate world. I am providing this information about them so that you are not caught off guard. Feel free to share this information with family and friends.
A reminder
I am the point of contact at the law school for all telecommunication questions and inquiries. Do not answer questions, provide information, or general assistance to anyone who inquires about telephone services. I can be reached at the Telephone Help Line extension 4399 if you experience an attempted scam, or have questions or problems about your telephone or voice mail. I will contact our local telephone representative to alert them of this incident.
George H. Hayes
Vhishing- Voice Phishing
We have received reports of another scam that everyone should be aware of: "Vishing" Attacks (or Vhishing or Voice Phishing). Vishing attacks are similar to "Phishing" attacks that most Internet & e-mail users should already be familiar with. The difference with Phishing attacks and Vishing attacks is that Vishing attacks include the use of Voice Mail and/or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technologies.
How Vishing works? First, you receive an e-mail message saying the security of your bank account or credit card account has been compromised and you have to a 1-800 number to verify the account information.
The e-mail is faked to look like it has come from your bank or credit card company, in this case Citibank, and may even bear what appears to be an official logo.
If you dial the number mentioned in the e-mail, you are asked, using automated messages (IVR), to type your 16-digit card number. Additional automated messages can then be used to harvest additional details such as security PIN, expiration date, date of birth, bank account number, social security number, etc. The information that you provide can then be used for numerous illicit purposes including charging purchases to your credit card account, removing money from your bank account or stealing your identity.
Do not become a victim. Never respond to an e-mail asking for personal information and never call the number listed in such an e-mail. Always call the number listed on the back of your credit card or another number provided to you from a known source.
Service technician scam
A person would call you and identify him/herself as an AT&T Service Technician (or a technician from another carrier) who is conducting a test on your telephone line. They would then ask you to do the following: press nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#), and then hang-up. The goal of this scam is to use your telephone line to place a call. When you dial 9, 0, and # the "service technician" can capture a new dial tone and place a call. While some telephone companies have proven that this action can provide access to a new line, other companies have said it is not possible (and a few are unsure).
Don't follow the caller's instructions! Tell the person to call me, then hang-up. A telephone company does not need your help to test a phone line.
Area Code 809 scam
You would receive a message on your answering machine, pager, or fax machine from someone asking you to call them back because they have information about a family member who has been ill, a relative who was arrested or died, or has additional information about a prize you have just won. You are told to call back to a number (with area code 809) for more information. If you were to return the call, you would hear a long recorded message. The goal of this scam is to keep you on the line as long as possible because the cost for this call would range from $25 to over $500 per-minute. (Note- You could also be contacted by email or read about an "incredible" offer on a web site with an 809 call back number.)
809 is the area code for the Dominican Republic. Not all 809 calls are suspect, but some have been set-up as "pay-per-call" numbers. Since 809 is not in the United States it is not covered by regulations which require that you be notified and warned of the charges and rates involved when you call this type of number. In addition, there is no requirement that you be provided a time period during which you may terminate the call without being charged. If you receive a call from a 809 area code, do not return the call if do not recognized the number or the name of the person who called.
|
Fax, Printer, and Copier Supplies Scam "In the making"
I was alerted of this scam through a college and university telecommunications list-serve. These calls are very common in the corporate world, and many on the list-serve fear these calls could become common in universities. This same practice could also be used by any company that sells books, office supplies, or general office equipment.
Typically, a caller contacts an office and seeks the name of someone and the make or model number of a fax machine, printer, and/or copier. A few weeks later, a shipment of overpriced supplies (toner, paper, etc.) for the machine(s) arrives. An invoice then follows, noting the "phone order" and the name of the person who supplied the make or model number of the equipment. Since the supplies are the right ones, and can be used, some organizations pay the bill, believing that the materials were ordered. When they realize how they were ordered, they believe that it is easier to pay for the supplies rather than return them.
There is also a variation on this scam in which a caller contacts someone in an office and notes the name of a supervisor (let's say "Bill"): "I spoke with Bill yesterday about a surplus supply of this shipping tape that my company is trying to liquidate, and Bill said your office could use it, and told me to talk to you for shipping instructions." Another employee, respecting Bill's alleged wishes, provides the requested information, and shortly receives a shipment of overpriced supplies. Reality: Bill never heard of the caller, and had no opinion whatsoever on surplus shipping tape.
Most of these companies charge hefty restocking fees, and aggressively collect on their invoices. The moral to this and other situations in which someone calls to obtain information about you, a department, or the law school is to question whether this is a legitimate call. A person would not regularly call to inquire about the type of equipment you have in your office, nor seek information which a person would have freely provided had they actually spoken to them.
If you experience calls of this type, obtain as much information from the caller as you can (their name, company, and contact information- telephone number, fax number, e-mail, or company web-site address). Then notify your supervisor (and me) about this incident. Never freely provide information to persons you do not know, and to persons whose identity or company cannot be verified.
Also see Credit and Charge Card Scams at link http://www.nyls.edu/pages/3204.asp
