Scam?

PM_Mama00 · #1 12-12-2005, 11:39 AM

So I'm a lil confused. This number from Florida has been calling me everyday for almost a month. I answered the first time and figured it was a telemarketer so I said "Phyllis isn't here... blah blah". They have kept calling so I've been ignoring. Finally i answer and it's this woman and she's telling me that she wants to send me information about their company and even if I'm not interested I can still keep the free gifts. It was like Star something. Not sure. Anyways so she verifies my address and my name... she already had this information. Then she asks me what bank I use and I say National City and she asks if I started my account here in Southgate and I say yes. Then she asks for my checking account number just to verify that my account is active. I told her that I don't feel comfortable giving that out and she said that whenever I write checks people see the number at the bottom of the check... I guess she was trying to assuer me that it's safe? So she reads off my bank routing number and it's correct but I tell her that I don't have my checkbook on me so I'm not sure what the numbers are or if they are correct and I keep telling her that I don't want to give my number out over the phone. And she asks me again about the routing number and finally I'm like "I DON"T HAVE MY CHECKBOOK ON ME". I could tell she was getting frustrated when she was tryin gto explain how people see the checking account number all the time when I write checks but I'm thinking "yeah asshole stores see my credit card number too but I'm nto giving that out". After I finally repeated that I didn't have my checkbook on me she hung up on me.

The number is 727-471-1416 and it's Florida based. Is there somewhere I can look or try to find out if this is a scam? If I've never written a check to this place how would they have my routing number? Do I need to cancel this account and start a new one with new numbers?

Rudey · #2 12-12-2005, 11:43 AM

Umm yes it's a scam.

Routing numbers are public.

And it's easy to get a list of names and addresses of people in a city with a list of banks and their branches, and put 2 and 2 together.

Anything that is free is a scam.

-Rudey

Lindz928 · #3 12-12-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
Umm yes it's a scam.

Anything that is free is a scam.

-Rudey

Absolutely!!!!! Not too hard to figure out.

_Lisa_ · #4 12-12-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
If I've never written a check to this place how would they have my routing number? Do I need to cancel this account and start a new one with new numbers?

The routing number is the same for each individual bank. I've called my bank to get their routing number & you don't have to be anyone special for them to tell you. You don't even have to have an account there to get a routing number from them. So she confirmed which bank you bank at & then just read you the routing number she was given. That doesn't mean she knows your checking account number & its not like she can get it without you giving it to her in some way.

So yes, its a scam & don't fall for it. If you are truly paranoid it never hurts to close & reopen a new account.

Peaches-n-Cream · #5 12-12-2005, 12:59 PM

It's a scam. If they call again, tell them to put you on their do not call list.

PM_Mama00 · #6 12-12-2005, 01:06 PM

I kinda figured it was a scam when she repeatedly asked me for my checking account number and said that if I write a check anyone can see the number. She got so frustrated when I wouldn't give it and said "Couldn't you use $500 in free gifts?" I'm like yeah dude but I'm not giving out my number.

I didn't know that about routing numbers. That's what threw me off.

hoosier · #7 12-12-2005, 02:31 PM

Some scammer called me over the weekend, offering me an IRS grant for $12,000, plus $500 in grocery coupons, and wanted my routing No. and Acct. No.

Just to see what happened, I stalled for a while, and gave them a phony one. Within about a min., the guy said that No. was no good. So I gave him another phony No.

He said hold on, you'll need to repeat this to a "checker" and some one else came on the line.

He said the No. was no good, so I gave him another phony one.

I stalled and stalled, just to waste their time.

Finally the called said if I was going to keep giving them phony numbers, I would be in trouble and wouldn't get the money. He hung up.

Minutes later, he called back and left a message on my machine that "Monday an FBI agent wold be visiting me, and fining me $500 for wasting their time."

As of 2:30 Mon., no FBI guy here.

xo_kathy · #8 12-12-2005, 02:43 PM

I googled the number and found a message board with more people complaining of the same thing.

http://junkcalls.nfshost.com/bboard/...x.php/t65.html

PM_Mama00 · #9 12-12-2005, 03:11 PM

Wow I can't believe this. I should have googled them long ago to see wtf this crap was. Since they were calling everyday I thought maybe it was legit.

Someone posted on that website that if they have your name, Bank name, and bank routing number that that was enough to do credit card fraud. Is that true? They don't have my check number and they don't have my debit number.

Alpha Sig Scott · #10 12-12-2005, 03:34 PM

It's called "fishing".

As in, fishing for your personal information.

Hang up on them.

adpiucf · #11 12-12-2005, 03:42 PM

I found this online:

To remove your name from telemarketing lists, write to:

Telephone Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

Or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY - 1-866-290-4236) to register your telephone or cell phone number on the national Do-Not-Call Registry. (You must call from the telephone or cell phone number you wish to register.) You may also register or obtain additional information via the Internet at www.donotcall.gov.

Never give out your credit card numbers or other personal information to someone who calls and asks for them. Report companies using questionable telemarketing practices to the State Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau.