When my children were young I use to say to them; "Every day is a surprise package and you will find some are more surprising than others." So it was this morning. As I came out of the bedroom, Thema said, "Russel Bolden just phoned and was wondering if I still wrote articles for the newspapers and if I did he and his wife Glenys had been contacted by a scam artist that nearly took them for a ride and they would like to warn other people about it.
So I gave them a ring back and learned that about 4:00pm on Tuesday afternoon February the 15th a lady by the name of, Denise Fowler, phoned and said that she was from the National Verification Service - Phone # 1-888-488-7522.and that she was contacting Glenys because her local banks in Wilton and some others in surrounding area's were having problems and the Wilton Bank had contacted, The National Verification Service, a company where she claimed she was employed, asking them for help. "She seemed so well informed about the bank, the Wilton area and our family that I took her for real" Glenys said. "So when she asked me personal questions on certain checks I assured her that the check numbers and amounts were correct and answered her other questions the best I could." "By the time we finished talking and I had hung up the Bank was already closed. So Russel and I got to talking about it and we got a bit worried so decided we would phone the Monroe County Sheriff. They told us that there quite a few of such scams aimed at elderly people and that we should go to our Bank as early as possible in the morning and close out that account, and if we wished, to set up a new one. Which we did. But it was a real scare and that is why I want all my neighbors and friends to be on the watch for people like that. They have a tremendous amount of personal information about each one of us and sure know how to use it. They sure can make you think that everything is on the up an up and they are working for your best interests. It makes me so mad that they were able to pull this on me that I just wish I could jump high enough to kick my self in the hinder", Glenys said.
So after hearing their story I did a bit of checking with the Monroe County Sheriffs office who informed me that there were quite a number of such scams going on. Tell people to check very carefully before giving out personal information to anyone you do not know.
Then I checked out the telephone number given above and found out that it belonged to a telephone answering service for business and corporations and they claimed they never heard of Denise Fowler or the the company, The National Verification Service, but refused to give me any further information as to where they were located, I asked them if they were an off shore company but they said they could not give me that information. "But call us back any time if you have further questions the girl with an Asian accent to her voice said."
Then I went over to the computer and click on Google and typed in www.fraud.org which brought a very interesting page. In talking with the person there she said that this scam is world wide and that it is become more and more prevalent both by phone and internet -mail. It is directed largely toward senior citizens and their financial affairs. It is called phishing Here is what it is all about:
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PHISHINGThe most common form of phishing is by email. Pretending to be from a legitimate retailer, bank, or government agency, the sender asks to "confirm" your personal information for some made-up reason: your account is about to be closed, an order for something has been placed in your name, or your information has been lost because of a computer problem. Another tactic phishers use is to say they're from the fraud departments of well-known companies and ask to verify your information because they suspect you may be a victim of identity theft! In one case, a phisher claimed to be from a state lottery commission and requested people's banking information to deposit their "winnings" in their accounts.
Don't click on the link in an email that asks for your personal information. It will take you to a phony Web site that looks just like the Web site of the real company or agency. Following the instructions, you enter your personal information on the Web site - and into the hands of identity thieves. To check whether the message is really from the company or agency, call it directly or go to its Web site. If you don't have the telephone number, get it from the phone book, the Internet, or directory assistance. Use a search engine to find the official Web site.
Phishing can also happen by phone. You may get a call from someone pretending to be from a company or government agency, making the same kinds of false claims and asking for your personal information.
If someone contacts you and says you've been a victim of fraud, verify the person's identity before you provide any personal information. Legitimate credit card issuers and other companies may contact you if there is an unusual pattern indicating that someone else might be using one of your accounts. But usually they only ask if you made particular transactions; they don't request your account number or other personal information. Law enforcement agencies might also contact you if you've been the victim of fraud. To be on the safe side, ask for the person's name, the name of the agency or company, the telephone number, and the address. Then get the main number (see tip above) and call to find out if the person is legitimate.
Job seekers should also be careful. Some phishers target people who list themselves on job search sites. Pretending to be potential employers, they ask for your social security number and other personal information. Follow the advice above and verify the person's identity before providing any personal information.
Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for your personal information. It's hard to tell whether something is legitimate by looking at an email or a Web site, or talking to someone on the phone. But if you're contacted out of the blue and asked for your personal information, it's a warning sign that something is "phishy." Legitimate companies and agencies don't operate that way.
Act immediately if you've been hooked by a phisher. If you provided account numbers, PINs, or passwords to a phisher, notify the companies with whom you have the accounts right away. For information about how to put a "fraud alert" on your files at the credit reporting bureaus and other advice for ID theft victims, contact the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearinghouse, www.consumer.gov/idtheft or toll-free, 877-438-4338. The TDD number is 202-326-2502.
Even if you didn't get hooked, report phishing. Tell the company or agency that the phisher was impersonating. You can also report the problem to law enforcement agencies through the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, www.fraud.org or 800-876-7060, TDD 202-835-0778. The information you provide helps to stop identity theft. If you need advice about an Internet or online solicitation, or you want to report a possible scam, use the Online Reporting Form or or call the NFIC hotline at 1-800-876-7060.
More information At National Fraud WEB site at:
Click Here
Russel & Glenys Bolden's Ph.# is: 608-435-6135
"Feel Free To Call Us", Glenys Said.
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