ringing me pretending to be hsbc

[crisgal]

whilst out shopping today, i received two phone calls from people claiming to HSBC. I was suspicious as they knew my full name but asked for my birthdate to verify I was me!
I told them there was no way I would give them any details and hung up.
The second call, an hour later said that they had an urgent personal message that they needed to give me before the weekend. They gave me a number to ring - which they said was the bank).
I rang the real bank, and surprise surprise, there hadn't been any attempt to contact me!
My questions are: is there a way I can find out how they got my details? And, do you think I should change my number?

[vehelpfulguy]

Sounds like someone is trying to steal your identity.

How do you dispose of your old mobile phone bills and HSBC bank statements?

If you just throw them in the bin it may be someone has raided your bin, stolen those pieces of paper so has your mobile phone details AND your HSBC details and only now needs your date of birth to apply for loans and credit cards in your name.

I would be a little worried and maybe warn the bank or banks that you want to be informend if there is any strange behaviour on your bank accounts.

Also ask for a credit rating to make sure no one has taken any loans or credit cards out on your name.

You can get your credit rating from here

http://www.experian.co.uk/creditreporttv/

[crisgal]

hey thanks for that . I've had a look and it looks like i'm ok at the mo. Phew!
I'll keep checking and contact my banks on monday.
Thanks again x

[Lakitu]

A few months ago I received a call on my mobile from someone claiming to be with Vodafone and had asked me to verify information they normally confirm to me, which made me instantly suspicious and hung up.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, I received a call from someone claiming to be from Vodafone who confirmed my name and date of birth to me and asked for my security pin number. I remembered the last time I received a call and just told them they had the wrong number. They guy said, "So you're not xxxx xxxx?", again, I denied I was and he hung up.

An hour later my phone was cut off. hahahaha.

I used the landline and called them, explained what had happened. They switched my phone on again and told me that if I'm ever unsure, then give them the 1st two digits of my pin code and ask them to give me the other two. Seems like a fair solution to me, I guess it would work with the D.O.B.

[crisgal]

i think i will just tell them that I'll ring them back. Once I have verified that it is genuine, I will give them a password, and then they can ring me straight back.
It is a bit scary though.
My cousin went to get a passport for himself and daughter, recently. They refused, saying that he already had one!

[Panic Button]

Yes you should never give security information in a call initiated by someone else.

[crisgal]

i've googled the number that they gave me.
I was surprised to see LOADS of sites with details of others who have received nuisance calls from this number.
Thing is though, some sya it's a genuine call caentre from habc group, and others say it's not!
In case anyone's interested, the number is: 08007838422