Little Bit Freaked Out
10 years ago
So I just got a call from a number in Cambridge, MA. The person claimed to be from Publisher's Clearing House and asked if I could be home to receive a check and a car. Now, if I thought this was legit, I'd say to hell with work and race back home but I just don't remember ever entering this contest in the past 10 years... The guy said to call back when I would be home, I don't really know what to do...
Edit: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-617-714-0766
Edit: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-617-714-0766
What these people are doing is called social engineering. They talk and talk, and try to get you interested enough to give them information that they can use to steal your identity. However, most of them are bad at it, and you can catch them at their game if you try to get them to tell you the info. For example Publishers Clearing House applications require a name and address at the very basic; if they can't tell you these things then they are scammers hands down. Also, these people seem to like offering a big money prize and then asking you to pay to receive it; not realizing that taxes and fees can be (and usually are) taken out of the prize.
Social engineering is a two way street. Never give information freely without first getting some in return.