Near-miss spam call

[TimboMania]

This didn't take long! Today I got a spam call from "Cardholder Services." The fake number of the caller was just one digit off from a number in "People," my address book.

I just started using my new Moto G for routine phone calls yesterday, with T-Mobile as my carrier. Previously, I was using a Verizon with a flip phone.

I entered phone numbers into "People." How did "Cardholder Services" access my address book? I wonder if I have installed a bad application that is broadcasting my address book to spammers. I don't have many apps installed, and as far as I know, none of them are fringe-y.

Thanks in advance.

 

[John Bean]

I'm not clear why you think it accessed anything - did the number match (you said not) and was the similar number cardholder related?

It's not uncommon for phishing calls to use numbers very similar to real ones, that's how they succeed. No need to access any personal data if the phone number concerned is a public one that Google can find

 

[TimboMania]

I'm not clear why you think it accessed anything

My wife's phone number is xxx-xxx-4362. The spam call I got was from xxx-xxx-4361. Only the last digit was different. Definitely not a coincidence.

"Cardholder Services" is a huge and notorious call-spamming operation.

It's not uncommon for phishing calls to use numbers very similar to real ones, that's how they succeed.

How does "Cardholder Services" know my wife's phone number, and know that I frequently call it?

Timbo

 

[dan330]

was it in your address book.. as "wife" or her real name?

my guess. it was a coincidence.
when they are calling in a certain area.. hot calling bunch of names on a list.. from an area. i am guessing they just setup the FAKE number to something unused in that area.

i cant believe they ... will go to the trouble to .. program a new Fake number for each person they call.. that will match someone's "wife". why even bother??

 

[TimboMania]

was it in your address book.. as "wife" or her real name?

With her real name.

my guess. it was a coincidence.

The odds are against that. One digit off in a ten-digit phone number, the number I had last called, and call most frequently??

i cant believe they ... will go to the trouble to .. program a new Fake number for each person they call.. that will match someone's "wife". why even bother??

We're all guessing here. I was wondering if this is a well-known trick among call-spammers, maybe a new one. Perhaps not.

Why would spam-callers bother? As phone users get more sophisticated about blocking spam calls, the call-spammers are going to get more sophisticated about finding was to avoid blocking. Hijacking commonly-used numbers from your phone might be a good way. Of course, Google saves those numbers in the cloud, too.

 

[zuben el genub]

Cardholder services robodials. I've seen Colorado extensions here in CO. They do not abide by the DNC list.

I use a ringtone for every group in contacts, and if the caller isn't in there, I don't answer. I look up number in 800 notes. That service is free.
Here's a posting about the idiots:
http://complaintwire.org/complaint/FpEBAAAAAAA/credit-card-services


Since you answered the phone, you proved your number is viable, and you will keep getting calls. I haven't answered any of their calls, but they try at least twice a year with a different number.

If you are on a landline - use the SIT tones on an answering machine. Mobile phones can't use it. Get a call blocker or start a spam list with a silent ring.

BTW - I don't use Google Voice, or sync contacts. Google doesn't have them stored anywhere, so Google could not be blamed in my case. The other 2 phones on the contract can't use Google. Neither are new or androids.

 

[dan330]

you know.. winning the lotto is very very very small odds. much smaller than your situation. but someone wins all the time!

i have important people saved on my phone contacts. even if a number is 1 digit off... i know it aint know body i know. never give it a second consideration.

 

[John Bean]

Indeed. There are lots of examples of "coincidences" related to "one digit out" phone numbers, like this example.

Of course you shouldn't believe everything you read on the web, but this sort of thing must happen quite often if you think about it.

 

[Hadron]

The thing is, they may have used that same number to call 100,000 people. To the other 99,999 it means nothing and so they think nothing of it, but to one person it means something. To that person it appears "too close to be a coincidence", but only because that person doesn't know about the other 99,999 calls.

I don't know that's the case, but it seems far more likely than a junk-calling outfit going to that sort of extra effort and expense when the recipient is most likely going to hang up regardless (perhaps even more so if they feel they've been conned by a familiar-looking number).

 

[zuben el genub]

As long as maybe 5% of callees fall for it, it's worth their while.