Outbound Calls Requesting Personal Info

eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 10:38
Last edited 31/03/2023 - 12:51 by 1 other user

This really grinds my gears.

Are companies and the automatons working in call centres really that fkn stupid that they make outbound calls and expect YOU to tell them your full name / DOB / address etc etc, in order to proceed with the call?

Hang on mate, YOU called ME, and I've got no information about you but I'm supposed to hand over critical identifying information anyone could use to impersonate me?

Then if you say, "nah sorry I'm not going to tell you that, as you called me and I don't know who you are", they get all uppity and refuse to continue with the call.

I've had this happen now with a few companies, you would think in this day and age that they wouldn't go around encouraging their customers to spill that information to random unknown callers.

Why don't THEY come up with a way to verify themselves to us?
eg send an email saying "Janet from our call centre will be calling you soon and requesting your DOB and home address"
Or an SMS confirming the enquiry and that someone will be calling you to ask about ticket #5347

Otherwise how the f am I supposed to trust that an unknown or private number calling me and demanding my private info is trustworthy?

Mobile

Comments

  • brendanm on 31/03/2023 - 10:41
    +2

    I just say that I'm not giving out that info and say goodbye.

    • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 10:45

      Yeah that's what I say, then they get all uppity and say "well I can't help you any further then" and then you can't proceed with your enquiry

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 31/03/2023 - 13:15
        +1

        Tell them to look it up on the darkweb along with my drivers licence number.

      • Keplaffintech on 02/04/2023 - 14:35

        but they called you? if you have an enquiry wouldn't you call them?

  • pharkurnell on 31/03/2023 - 10:44
    +1

    eg send an email saying "Janet from our call centre will be calling you soon and requesting your DOB and home address"

    the hackers would never have thought to do that eh.

    just dont answer calls from numbers you dont know… if its legit they will leave a message

    • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 10:47
      -4

      Do the hackers pretending to be companies have access to send emails from company domains?
      No they don't.

      If you got an email from [email protected]
      telling you that "Bob from customer service will be calling you regarding enquiry #4482 and requesting your DOB for verification "
      , Why would you think it's a hack?

      • cashless on 31/03/2023 - 10:56
        +2

        SMS ID is easy to hack.
        It's done all the time, so your "pre-warning" idea wouldn't work

        • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 11:56

          Fair enough so then how can they identify themselves over the phone?

      • pharkurnell on 31/03/2023 - 11:04
        +4

        If you got an email from [email protected]
        Why would you think it's a hack?

        nobody spoofs email addresses do they…. do you live under that rock?

        • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 11:54

          Check the email headers

  • ozbargainsam on 31/03/2023 - 10:53
    -1

    If you picked up on the scam, you're not their target.

    It's a phishing scheme, not everyone bites.

    If it's not, then it's likely that a phone number does not constitute the person picking up is actually the person they want to talk to. So the verification is necessary in situations. And companies may find it necessary for privacy and compliance reasons (e.g. covering their asses).

  • Crow K on 31/03/2023 - 10:54
    -1

    ok i'll tell them

  • Seraphin7 on 31/03/2023 - 10:54

    It's usually a sales call in any event. But I agree, no personal details unless I am expecting the call.

  • EightImmortals on 31/03/2023 - 11:16
    +1

    Yeah my bank did that once, it was a legit call but I still told them I wasn't going to give out that info as they called me and should have the details already.

    • GG57 on 31/03/2023 - 11:25

      My bank did this previously, maybe 5 years ago, as standard practice.
      They have changed their processes now and have other means of communication and verification that seem to work for both of us.

  • branners on 31/03/2023 - 11:36
    +5

    This really is getting out of hand.
    A month or so back I had a delivery guy ask me for photo ID. When I showed my licence, he told me he needed to take down my licence number and DOB for verification purposes. When I refused, he told me he could not deliver the package, so I said, OK, off you go (may not be a direct quote), I'll get a refund for a non-delivery. After some tense words, he handed over the package and left.
    Ridiculous

  • Baysew on 31/03/2023 - 12:26
    +3

    Simply state they you don't wish to give out any personal information to unknowns but would be OK with you ringing them back. (Using main contact number).

  • djsweet on 31/03/2023 - 12:49
    +1

    Yeah nope. I don't have this happen often, but in the rare instance it has, I have offered to call them back at their publicly listed number.

    • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 12:52

      Yeah understood, But then you're subject to the IVR and potential long call queues , having to get through to the right person or department, which negates the benefit of them contacting you

      • djsweet on 31/03/2023 - 13:22
        +4

        True. But better than getting your identity stolen or bank account drained.

  • foxmulder on 31/03/2023 - 13:18
    +3

    I think best for them to create an enquiry ticket which you can use to contact them instead at their official phone number, this way it's more legit and the person on the other end can pull out details re enquiry

    • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 14:32

      Yeah that would work
      The thing that I find bizarre is when you refuse to hand over your private info then they stop dead in their tracks and refuse to continue speaking, as if you've broken their brain, and they can't discuss anything further about the enquiry because it would be a breach of YOUR privacy.
      Genuinely dumb ass staff

      • Settero on 31/03/2023 - 14:57
        +1

        They need to confirm its the intended person. No rules on how many people can use the same number , just because someone answers a phone number they have does not mean it's the right person.

        I agree they need a better way to identify themselves.

  • mja65 on 31/03/2023 - 15:02
    +1

    The irony - I've tried to explain this to numerous Optus representatives who continue to ask me exactly this when they are calling me - all while trying to reach me to discuss the measures they are taking to mitigate the risk of their data breach!

    Even worse in this case is that I've had the conversations with Optus pre-breach as well.

    • eckorock on 31/03/2023 - 15:58

      Yeah it's just mind boggling

  • jlien on 03/04/2023 - 21:35

    this happened to me with CBA, who were calling me to discuss a home loan (i'm a customer, but don't have a HL with them)

    I straight up told them that in the age of scams, i'm not going to provide them any personally identifying details without first confirming who they are.
    They understood and was apologetic about it. To confirm, they sent me a message in netbank's secure mail to confirm that they were on the phone with me.

    I was satisfied with that; but agree that i do get a bunch of sales calls asking me to identify myself off the bat. I promptly tell them no f' way.

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