Cell Phone & Credit Card Scams #scam
So I’m sitting here on the phone with Verizon Wireless – yes, right now. As I’m typing this I’m on hold while a Very Nice lady who is doing everything in her power to figure out how to block a 12 digit number which is probably just a random number coming up on my caller ID. The number in question 447813055458.
Just so you know there’s no way to block International Numbers! Isn’t that just great?! Not! It’s not Verizon’s fault, it’s like that with every service, but what am I supposed to do now? And in case you’re wondering +44 is the UK.
However the BBB has put out an Scam Alert, this link was provided to me by my good Blogging Buddy Mariah from SnipClipMom.blogspot.com
Here are a few highlights:
Consumers in several states report receiving calls on their mobile phones in which an unknown caller hangs up after one ring. When the cell owner returns the call, they are billed $19.95 for the international call fee. They may hear music or advertising while they are unknowingly connected to a caller-paid toll service or chat line located outside the country.
The Caribbean area codes that appear on the caller ID have been reported to be from the Dominican Republic (809), Jamaica (876), British Virgin Islands (284), Grenada (473), Antigua (268), Dominica (767) and more.
They even have a name for this, it’s called “cramming”
I thought cramming is what someone did before a final, but apparently it’s a Unauthorized, Misleading, or Deceptive Charges Placed on Your Telephone Bill.
The BBB advises the following tips to avoid these scams:
· Don’t Answer Unknown Calls. If you don’t recognize an out-of-state telephone number on your caller ID, ignore it.
· Add Restrictions to Your Account. Contact your service provider to see if you can restrict third-party billing on your account. Inform other users on your cellphone plan about this scam, and to ignore phone numbers they do not recognize.
· Understand Your Bills. Be sure to keep track of what services you pay for, that way you will be able to determine if any charges are unauthorized. By keeping a close eye on monthly statements, you will be less likely to become victim of these scams. Monitoring your bill is the best way to determine whether or not you’ve been affected. The sooner you spot any unexpected charges, the sooner you can stop them.
· Report Incorrect Charges Promptly. Many cardholders are protected by zero liability policies set in place by credit card companies. Request a new card if you notice unauthorized charges. Fraudulent charges mean your card information has been compromised. Be on the safe side and request a new card. Always be cautious about disclosing your account number on the telephone or online unless you know the person you’re dealing with represents a reputable company.
I did everything wrong. I answered the call and put it on mute – I didn’t say anything, it was on mute the entire time. lol Ok, maybe that wasn’t wrong, but it probably would have been better to just keep sending it straight to voice mail. I figured if I left it on mute long enough they’d realize that I was just going to keep it up. And they did …. some time around 10:30 pm.