Pretexting with phones is a serious deal. The telephone rings and a pleasant voice on the other end tells you that they’re calling from your bank to verify some information because someone tried to access your account under suspicious circumstances. After they verify your identity with a few simple questions, they lead you step by step through the process to change the PIN number for your ATM card, having you punch in your new ATM PIN on your dial pad, reassure you that your account is now safe as houses and hang up with a cheery good afternoon. You go on about your business, and it’s not until you go to use your new PIN number that you realize you have been a victim of one of the scam techniques designed to get your personal information. Welcome to the wonderful world of pretexting.
The FTC defines pretexting as using false pretenses to access someone’s personal records. Pretexting is often used by scammers to learn enough information to impersonate you and obtain your personal account information from banks and other financial institutions, or even to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards and take out loans in your name. A pretexter may attempt to learn your social security number, account numbers, your mother’s maiden name and other information that will make it easy for them to access your bank accounts and other financial accounts.
The name of the scam technique derives from the basic tactic used to extract personal information from its victims. The scammer calls with a pretext for needing your information, usually in order to “help” you in some way. The caller may tell you that they are calling from your bank or from a government agency. He or she may claim that you have won a prize and needs your routing information in order to deposit the cash in your account directly. They may claim to be from a credit card company that wants to give you a credit card. The ruses used by pretext scammers are many – and they’re often made to seem legitimate because the pretext caller knows just enough information about you to be more convincing.
It is illegal to use subterfuge or a ruse to obtain personal information, including your cell phone records. The Graham-Leach-Billey Act, passed in 1999, makes it a crime to:
- use any fictitious pretext to get financial information from a financial institution or a customer of a financial institution
- use forged, counterfeit or stolen documents to get financial information from a financial institution or a customer of a financial institution
- ask another person to do either of the above
It is also illegal to pretext for sensitive consumer information, including cell phone information and records. Currently, it is illegal to obtain and sell someone else’s cell phone records.
How to Protect Yourself from Pretexting
- Do not give out your personal information over the telephone or in email unless you’ve initiated the contact.
- If you are called by someone purporting to be from your bank, credit card company, a surveyor, your internet service provider or even a government agency, ask for a telephone number to call them back. Before doing so, check the telephone number on a free reverse lookup service online.
- Ask your financial institutions specifically about their policies to prevent pretexting and about their policies for sharing your personal information. Be wary about institutions that allow you to verify your identity with easily obtained information.
- Make sure that all your family members know what pretexting is, and understand that no one but a responsible adult should give out personal information over the telephone.
- Password protect your telephone account, bank accounts and credit card accounts. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess like the last four digits of your social security number or your mother’s maiden name.
