Taking phone scammers through a reverse security check! Has to be done, and great fun!

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It can't only be me who has scam phone calls come in. The most recent (and most common) is an Indian call centre voice saying that they're from my mobile phone operator, quoting (or guessing correctly) Three, in this case. They open up with 'We can offer you a 45% discount on your current mobile monthly bill'. Which, in itself, should raise alarm bells - what company ever contacts you to get you to pay them less money??

The scam itself is intended to get you to hand over all your details, of course, including payment, for the 'new contract' - and presumably your account then gets debited for a whole lot.

But the point of this blog post is to point out that you should always interrupt their spiel and ask them to prove their identity. After all, it was them that called you, so the onus is on them - just as it would be if you called a company and wanted to change something in your own contract with them - they'd run you through security questions before doing business.

So, in line with this, by way of example, here how it went today:

Me: Can I just interrupt you, please? You called me, claiming to be from Three, so I need to run you through some security checks.

Scammer: Sir, I am from Three, you can rely on this. And the call is being recorded for your protection.

Me: I'm sure it is. For my protection though, I need to know that you are who you say you are. Please give me my postcode from your records.

Scammer: Sir, because of data protection, I can't give out your personal details!

Me: But you called me! I need to know that you are who you say you are!

Scammer: Sir, we can verify this by me sending you a one time passcode to your phone number. Please give me the six digit code you have received. [side note, never, ever give out one time codes for anything to anybody over the phone. EVER!]

Me (truthfully): I haven't received a code. [not that I'd have handed anything over if I had, since it could be a password reset code for goodness knows what system the scammer was trying to hack into in my name!]

Scammer: That's odd. I can email you the code. What's your email address?

Me: I don't give out personal details to un-verified third parties.

Scammer: But your email address isn't personal, it's public information!

Me: OK, so what is it, then?

Scammer: If you could just tell it to me...

Me: I don't believe you're from Three, the number says it's a 'London' dial code, but you're clearly in an Indian call centre. You've given me nothing whatsoever to prove that you're not a scammer, I'm going to hang up and mark your number as spam. Goodbye.

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Presumably people do fall for this sort of call, and grab the 'bargain' deal, only to find that their account is now subject to additional unauthorised debits. Sigh.

We live in a world full of pitfalls in 2025. Be careful out there!

PS. If you like my work then think about buying me a beer at paypal.me/stevelitchfield - thanks!

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