Last week, I had an interesting phone call. It was someone from Internet Security Management and he was phoning on behalf of Microsoft. The caller indicated that our computer's IP address was being broadcast over the internet and he would like us to go to our computer so he could fix it for us.
Hmmmmm
Now, I am not technology impaired. I try to stay up-to-date with the information and changes as much as I can. I know what an IP address is. But that is about the extent of it. How and when it is shared on the internet, I honestly have no idea.
I would think that if Microsoft was having some company do cold calls to fix something about IP addresses on their behalf, they would at least send out some type of notice. I mean, my computer always seems like it is 'updating' something from one of the software programs on it. One would assume they would send something out about thatwouldn't they?
And I am well aware of the fact that scams occur on a regular basis. This, combined with the fact that my life is stored on my computer, made me more than a little cautious. Needless to say, the guy from ISM didn't get too much further than that.
I remember someone telling me that if someone phoned asking questions, get them to provide you with a phone number and contact information to "call them back". So that is what I asked for. Now, to be clear, I had no intention of ever calling this guy back, but I wanted to make sure if this was a scam, I had some information from him.
He did not appreciate those questions in the least. With frustration and annoyance in his voice, I was provided a phone number and his name, Steve Stuart.
But I mean, what does he expect? I have the right to ask those questions. He phoned my number and it rang on my phone.
I got off the phone and continued to make supper. Questions raced through my mind. Was it legit? Is my IP address really being broadcasted and is my personal information in danger? Should I be finding out whether this was a scam right away so I could phone him back if it was legit? Or would phoning him back be what actually put my personal information in danger? I 'reverse numbered' the phone number. It was a landline in the Bronx.
Hmmmm..
I couldn't help but think how easy it is for people to be taken advantage of. It is no wonder that people fall victim to scams. I mean scam artists truly are professionals in their own right. But how do you know when it is a scam artist and when it is not?
So this morning, after sitting down to write this column, I decided I would do a little investigative work of my own. I mean, if I was struggling with what to do when one of these phone calls comes in, others must be too.
So I phoned our local detachment and spoke to the wonderful receptionist who provided me with a website. It was called Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and is previously known as Phone Busters. And from there, my research began.
I called the contact number (1-888-495-8501) and connected to the media line, but immediately was transferred to someone else. A nice gentleman asked what I was calling about and I told him my story. "A male," he asked. "Yes," I replied. "East Indian accent," he asked. "Yes," I replied. "OK, you are going to have to fill out a complaint," he said.
Here I was just calling for information for my column. After filling out my complaint, we went on to discuss what I had called about in the first place; what individuals can do when they receive a phone call that is suspicious. I have included an article in this week's paper on my findings. The information is just too much for my column section.
While I knew before you never have to provide information over the phone that you do not want to, I know this more than ever now. You have the right to ask questions and the right to refuse to provide information about yourself or your family. You have the right to protect yourself.
