This morning I received a phone call from a lady who immediately began asking me to verify the last four digits of my social security number and my date of birth. She gave letters as the name of the company she represented. I refused to verify anything and asked the nature of her call. She had, she said, important personal information for me that she could not share until she verified that I was the person she was looking for. That could only be done by verifying my social security number and my birthdate. I told her I wasn't interested in the information she had. Again she insisted that it was important. I hung up.
Call return enabled me to get the originating number of the call. 800-991-5265. A quick search on the internet revealed that no such number is registered to any legitimate business.
I called the 800 number and a man answered. He identified his company as Professional Debt Recovery Consultants located in Durham, NC. Then he called me by name. I had not identified myself. He began the same speel that he had very important information for me regarding a merchant complaint that has been registered with them. I insisted, thruthfully since I am aware of every penny I owe and to whom, that there was no such debt. He replied that he had my social security number, my birthdate, and my address, all of which had been turned in by the merchant. I told him that there was no such complaint or debt and that he was never to call my number again under any circumstances. With my consistent refusal to fall for his scam, he finally hung up the phone.
I believe I received this call because my birthdate identifies me as a senior citizen, and this company sees me as an easy ripoff target.
There is a possibility that unauthorized persons are using Professional Debt Recovery Consultants' name, as the number on their website 800-840-1036 is different from the call return number that I used to make contact.
Margaret C, NC