Most people wouldn't give their credit card number to a seedy looking character hanging out on a street corner, yet many give this very same information to unknown telephone callers every day.
Some telemarketers are legitimate, but in this age of easy caller ID spoofing and off-shore call centers, telephone scams are rampant. If you give your credit card number out to a caller, you run the risk of unauthorized charges.
Give out enough information along with that number, like your Social Security number and birth date, and you can easily end up as an identity theft victim.
Telemarketing scams come in many different types. Some involve callers who claim to be from legitimate companies to earn your trust. You think it's okay to give out your credit card number because you believe you're talking to a business with which you already have a relationship.
The most sinister version of this call type is someone calling to tell you your credit card account has been compromised. The caller says your account is frozen and demands the number for "verification." Your account is actually fine, but it will be compromised if you give the number.
many banks and credit unions do call you when you have suspicious activity on your account. Unfortunately, phone scammers can easily spoof the telephone number of a legitimate verification caller. If you get such a call, don't give out any information. Hang up and call your credit card company at the number listed for fraud reports on the back of your card.
Other scam calls involve dubious services. Almost everyone has gotten a robocall from "Heather at Account Services" or "Rachel at Account Services" claiming to be able to lower your interest rates.
If you bite and talk to a live person, the caller claims to need your credit card numbers to move ahead with the process. He'll also slam you with hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in charges, and it's highly unlikely you'll get any interest rate relief.
Protect yourself from these and other scams by following one simple rule: Never, ever give your credit card number to anyone who calls you. It doesn't matter whether you believe the person represents a legitimate company. You have no way to verify this because of caller ID spoofing.
If you really want what the caller is offering and you don't know anything about the company, as for a call-back number. Scammers are reluctant to give one, although some will do so. If you get a number, hang up and search it online. Sites like 800notes.com are great resources for scam detection.
If the call is from a company with which you are familiar, don't complete any transaction with the caller. Hang up, look up the company's telephone number, and call back using that number.
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