There was a cryptic message on my answering machine Thursday night. "Hi this is Angela from Alliance One. I need you to give me a call at (number), file number OU812." With the lack of detail, I suspected this was either a sales ploy or a misdirected collections agent. I googled around trying to find out more information. When I couldn't, I just left voice mail.
Angela called back the next morning, opening the conversation with: 'I'm calling about your Capital One credit card and and am giving you an opportunity to settle.' I had to process this, since 'opportunity' usually means 'sales spiel." Me: "I don't have a Capital One credit card." Her: "Does your social security number end with 0000?" Me: "No." Her: "Okay, goodbye."
I assume the call is a fluke of having a semi-common name. I checked my credit report -- something I do annually -- and didn't notice any weird stuff on it. (N.B. If you have a student loan, pay it off on time as it'll never get purged.)
I like the conveniences of on-line access to my accounts, but I'm not confident about the security and privacy issues. For example, last week the newswire reported a hacker had free reign over one of George Mason University's ID computers. The throbbing irony of this is GMU is in charge of the infrastructure for the Institute for Defense and Homeland Security. You'd think they would have it figured out.
Also last week, T-mobile reported a hacker infiltration. This one was apparently in the system for at least seven months.
Not only are the systems insecure, but they're also susceptible to disgruntled/freelancing employee. In yet another article, a Teledata helpdesk analyst was sentenced for selling customer information used by identity thieves. Jeebus.
I'd call to complain, but I'd never know who's listening while I'm on hold.
Angela called back the next morning, opening the conversation with: 'I'm calling about your Capital One credit card and and am giving you an opportunity to settle.' I had to process this, since 'opportunity' usually means 'sales spiel." Me: "I don't have a Capital One credit card." Her: "Does your social security number end with 0000?" Me: "No." Her: "Okay, goodbye."
I assume the call is a fluke of having a semi-common name. I checked my credit report -- something I do annually -- and didn't notice any weird stuff on it. (N.B. If you have a student loan, pay it off on time as it'll never get purged.)
I like the conveniences of on-line access to my accounts, but I'm not confident about the security and privacy issues. For example, last week the newswire reported a hacker had free reign over one of George Mason University's ID computers. The throbbing irony of this is GMU is in charge of the infrastructure for the Institute for Defense and Homeland Security. You'd think they would have it figured out.
Also last week, T-mobile reported a hacker infiltration. This one was apparently in the system for at least seven months.
Not only are the systems insecure, but they're also susceptible to disgruntled/freelancing employee. In yet another article, a Teledata helpdesk analyst was sentenced for selling customer information used by identity thieves. Jeebus.
I'd call to complain, but I'd never know who's listening while I'm on hold.
.
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