[jpross]

I am on an Orange contract. This morning I received a call (no caller id but I am currently abroad so it doesn't always work). Woman said this is Orange customer services collection department and we want to go through your account details. First thing she asked was my password. Thinking of recent paypal etc scams I declined to give my password so she said that I should call some short number 2xxx when I got back to the UK. Is this a scam or just some badly trained orange cs bod. Do any orange short numbers start with 2 - if not what was that number likely to be?

[lalaland]

Quote:

Originally posted by jpross
I am on an Orange contract. This morning I received a call (no caller id but I am currently abroad so it doesn't always work). Woman said this is Orange customer services collection department and we want to go through your account details. First thing she asked was my password. Thinking of recent paypal etc scams I declined to give my password so she said that I should call some short number 2xxx when I got back to the UK. Is this a scam or just some badly trained orange cs bod. Do any orange short numbers start with 2 - if not what was that number likely to be?

If you ever think a call like this may be bogus then the safe thing to do it decline to speak to them. In this case you did right, call Orange customer services now, not on the number she gave you, but on their general number and tell them about it. If they know nothing about it then report it to them and don't call the other number.

Did you remember to get the persons name and department? This is always very helpful when reporting this sort of stuff.

It may be legit, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

[sb123]

Sounds well iffy to me.
Most Orange "on network" numbers are three digits. They usually begin with a 1 or a 4. You can see a list here: http://www.studley.co.uk/orange/numbers.htm
although it is a little dated.

What I usually do if someone calls me out of the blue like that is ask for some information to prove they are who they say they are. With a mobile phone I would ask what phone I had and possibly when it was bought. If they are from Orange then that information would be in front of them.
With credit cards I ask them to give me the three digit number on the back of the card.

In both cases, if they ask for any passwords etc from me, then I refuse as they called me. With a withheld number it is even more suspect as they could be anyone.
If they will not co-operate then I just tell them that unless you can prove you are calling from who you say you are I will not talk to you about my account.

Simon.

[msande]

I've never thought of things like that happening. But its obvious it does and sounds really easy to do. What could they do if they got all your details? Password, etc.

[lalaland]

Quote:

Originally posted by msande
I've never thought of things like that happening. But its obvious it does and sounds really easy to do. What could they do if they got all your details? Password, etc.

Gain access to your account for a start. It's not good anyway...

[jra]

I agree, it does sound suspicious.

From my experience, you would normally phone the mobile operator regarding accounts and go through the vetting procedure, rather than them phoning you.

Again, all the Orange network specific numbers I've seen, either start with a 1 (contract) or a 4 (PAYG).

This reminds me of the Post Office scam a few years ago.

Someone claiming to work for the Post Office would ask for your postcode and house number, by phoning you at work. Quite a few people who gave out this information came home to find their houses burgled.

[kev]

I would call Orange and let them know what happens, they can probably trace the number (or get the Police involved to do the same) to prevent less sensible people from being conned.

[japitts]

Orange CS always send outbound CLI as 07973 100194. Try calling the number and you get a recorded message giving it away.

CLI is slowly increasing internationally too - on several European networks, the short dials and incoming CLI now works just as it does within the UK.

[DarkStar782]

I work for Orange, and can tell you that we have NO four digit (2xxx) style numbers, and we have heard of this scam. Don't give them any details!!!

99% of our partner networks support CLI, and any orange employee would happily give you their extension number and allow you to call them back going through 150.

Orange staff WILL commonly ask you for your password when they call you, as they have to be sure the person they are calling is you before they give out account info or modify details, but if they did this to me i'd insist on calling them back.

If that number was DOUBLE 2, ie 22xxx (5 digits), it could well be a north tyneside extension number, in which case dial 150 and ask for that number.

[DarkStar782]

Ok, i was wrong, 22xxx is our plymouth call center, and they dont have an outbound team, so it was definately a scam!

Thanks to a collegue who reads these forums for pointing that one out to me!!

[tjclague]

lol i this isnt relevant really but do u no wen u'll b getting sum more sagem myx-6's in? cos i ordered 1 from a diff compan and they hav run outta stok, nd so hav u. if u cud hep thn tht wud b gr8, but if u cant, thn n/m.
tjc

[DarkStar782]

we hv rplcmt myX-6 in stk bt not upgrd myX-6 hwevr i'd sy u nd 2 by a kbd wth mre lttrs on mre thn a nw phne