Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater
How Not to Do It (an ongoing series)
Just now, my phone rang unexpectedly. I glanced at the number: an unknown 1-800 number. I answered tentatively: "This is Ian."
Before I got the second word out, a recorded voice drowned me out: "This is Aetna calling with important information about your..." blah blah blah. Ok, sure. Up next: "This important information is for Ian Johnston. If I'm speaking with Ian Johnston, please say 'yes.'" So I say, slowly and clearly, "Yes." In the middle of this, a triple chime sounds, followed by silence. The voice repeats, "If I'm speaking with..." and I wait for the ill-timed chime before saying "Yes" again.
All fine so far. However, next comes the bit where we cross the line. "We need to confirm your identity by checking some data. Please press or say your birth date..." followed by instructions on formatting.
So, there are some important bits of information which never go from me to you unless you really, really need to know them. They are:
Why? Because that's all data that can be used to steal identity, either establishing credit in my name, or any of a variety of other forms of ID theft. Yes, some of it is widely available, but that doesn't make me any less likely to tell you, unidentified and unidentifiable other party, what it is.
So, to whoever designed this clever system, you really need to work on your etiquette. If you're phishing, good riddance. If you really are Aetna, figure out a less intrusive way of identifying who you're talking to. This felt like a scam in the making.
Posted at 10:38 permanent link category: /misc
Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater