I just got a call on my cell from 512-795-6439. The guy “John” was heavily accented, and wanted me to provide a credit reference for a company I’d never heard of. He thought he was calling some company I’ve never heard of. Fine, it was just a wrong number, no big deal. Then he wanted my fax number, and my full name. If it’s a wrong number, hang up, that’s the end of it. I asked to call him back, he gave me 866-843-5950 and a 9 digit reference number to use. He always referred to his company as D&B, was it really Dun & Bradstreet? It really did not feel very professional or legitimate.
I just did an online chat with someone at Dun & Bradstreet:
Amanda: Hi, how can I help?
You: I just got a strange phone call from someone claiming to be with “D&B”
Amanda: Ok…
You: They were wanting me to provide a credit reference for some business I never heard of, and thought I was some other business I never heard of.
Amanda: So we called you in error?
You: well, someone did. But he wanted my fax and company info to confirm he called incorrectly.
Amanda: Ok, let me check your record.
Amanda: What is the companies name and the state it is in please?
You: he gave me a reference # of ###-###-###
Amanda: Right…BUT you said he was calling the wrong company.
Amanda: So I would check you file to ensure there are no alerts on your file
You: Umm, no. I have no D&B account
Amanda: ok.
Amanda: So what exactly do you need from me then?
You: Am I being scammed? heavy accent, odd phone number, a wrong comapny name – it all felt like a scam.
Amanda: The company affiliated with the Duns number above is: (odd company name) NOV 24 2010 RATING DS
Amanda: Ph: TEL: ### ###-####
You: nope, never heard of them.
Amanda: Well, is the phone number similar?
You: nope! I asked for a number to call back, what number would I have been given?
Amanda: I have NO idea…we are a Global organization.
You: ok, thanks for your help. It really felt fishy, you know? Have a good Thanksgiving.
So, basically, it felt like a scam; but it might not have been one. But asking a wrong number for details about a business that you call as a wrong number is really sketchy.
I just got a call from “Shirley” asking me to call back and update their records from the same number. Thick accent.
they called me as well. sounds like they are farming info for websites used to give company profiles. ill update once i get to the bottom of it. it is fishy and that they call themselves D&B sounds like they are trying to trick people into trusting them