# Is this a scam and what is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803 "2023-09-08T22:41:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/1 "2023-09-08T22:41:52Z")
I have been getting this call every day or every other day for a couple weeks. Phone rings, I answer. A recorded announcement starts by saying this is not a telemarketing call, but an important call from RBC (Royal Bank of Canada). She continues with the mailing address of RBC and their phone number. She then asks if this is either [my full name] or [wife’s full name]. Most of the time I have hung up before this. But at least once, I let it play to the end. I said yes and she then announces that I will have to prove my identity by _completing_ my date of birth, suggesting that she was going to give my part of it and I should complete it. At this point I hung up. Anyone have any idea what is going on? As I said I have gotten this call maybe a dozen times in the last couple weeks. I have a credit card (that I use only for people that don’t take Master Card) and my wife has a small CD with them. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/2 "2023-09-08T22:47:46Z")
Sounds like a scam looking for your personal information, like your birthday. But they have been persistent enough that if it were me, i might contact the bank however i usually contact it, and ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/3 "2023-09-08T22:54:30Z")
From the link below: - Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes” or “No.” I’m wondering why that is worse than a more detailed response. > **[View Scam Alerts](https://www.rbc.com/cyber-security/alerts/)** > > Protect yourself against cyber criminals by being aware of the latest cyber scam alerts for RBC clients. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/4 "2023-09-08T23:21:38Z")
Because they can use your Yes/No voiceprint responses for automated phone trees? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/5 "2023-09-08T23:35:23Z")
Block the number. Call the bank. Easy peasy. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/6 "2023-09-08T23:44:56Z")
My daughter had a similar experience recently, but it wasn’t a scam. Our Department of Social Security, or whatever they’re called nowadays, rang her from a private number, identified themselves, and then asked HER to prove her identity. Of course, she said WTF? “You rang ME, and you expect ME to give you private details yada yada” whereupon she promptly hung up. A few days later, she got an email telling her that their previous attempt to contact had been unsuccessful, and would she please respond to any future calls? Yeah, nah, not happening. Want to contact her, or me for that matter, do it by email, but don’t pull that sort of bullshit out of a hat. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/7 "2023-09-09T00:23:14Z")
I’m still unsure how you know that’s not a scam. I would never give that kind of personal info to anybody I didn’t call myself. If they want to talk to your daughter, your daughter should call them up, and not from any number that may be in an email, but a number you know to be the social security admins. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/8 "2023-09-09T00:41:14Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I said yes and she then announces that I will have to prove my identity by _completing_ my date of birth, suggesting that she was going to give my part of it and I should complete it. At this point I hung up. Give them an incorrect date. I suggest an implausible one (they say “August 1st”, you respond with “of the year nineteen aught nine”). See what happens next. > [@kambuckta](#): > > Want to contact her, or me for that matter, do it by email, but don’t pull that sort of bullshit out of a hat. 😛 What was that email address? If it wasn’t a “dot gov”, it’s not real. And I doubt it is. The way the government contacts you is through the postal mail. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/9 "2023-09-09T00:43:44Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > What was that email address? If it wasn’t a “dot gov”, it’s not real. And I doubt it is. The way the government contacts you is through the postal mail. IIRC, @kambuckta is in Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/10 "2023-09-09T00:46:05Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Give them an incorrect date. I suggest an implausible one (they say “August 1st”, you respond with “of the year nineteen aught nine”). See what happens next. No. They will still use the name and date to try identity theft. In the US, the process of recovering from an identity theft is estimated by the FTC at about **six months and 200 hours** of work. Most of the workload revolves around making certain you are not held responsible for the debt incurred by the theft. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/11 "2023-09-09T00:51:04Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > IIRC, @kambuckta is in Australia. Does the Australian government contact people via email? I don’t doubt it’s possible, but it strikes me as pretty scattershot. > [@Duckster](#): > > They will still use the name and date to try identity theft. If they don’t have the correct info, how successful will they be? (I mean, I recognize the point of not encouraging an identity theft, but if they have your name and a portion of your birthdate, but it doesn’t need to be accurate, then why would they need you to help them fill in the gaps?) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/12 "2023-09-09T00:58:04Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Moriarty](#): > > > > If it wasn’t a “dot gov”, it’s not real. > > IIRC, @kambuckta is in Australia. Then the correct domain would be “.gov.au”. As in this lovely informational site. [https://www.australia.gov.au/](https://www.australia.gov.au/) A goverrnment might conceivable contract out with a company to do e-mail contact, but that doesn’t make it right or trustworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/13 "2023-09-09T01:21:02Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > If they don’t have the correct info, how successful will they be? You still answered “yes” during the call. You have no idea that the call may be recorded. At the same time, they have no idea you gave them an accurate birthdate, but you still acknowledged “yes.” Scammers can still be successful even with incorrect data because they can use the same social engineering they used on you with others. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/14 "2023-09-09T01:34:49Z")
Why don’t they use their own voiceprint, and just say it is you? It’s not like they are ever going to take you you to court, produce the voiceprint and say “Gotchaya!” The whole “Never say yes on the phone!” is scaremongering. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/15 "2023-09-09T01:36:41Z")
I thought we talked about the idea that scammers could use a recording of your voice saying “yes” to somehow steal money but no one was able to show that this ever happened anywhere or even how it would happen. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/16 "2023-09-09T01:52:28Z")
Yeah, I have to say, this stinks heavily of UL territory to me. What services use voiceprint technology over a shitty telephone line anyway, and how good/accurate could that possibly be? ---
**Author:** ![Keith1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Keith1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith1)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/17 "2023-09-09T03:04:01Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > saying this is not a telemarketing call, but an important call As soon as it’s stated that the call is important, then you know it’s not. Same for email & regular mail. If ‘Important’ is printed on the envelope - it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/18 "2023-09-09T03:11:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I have to say, this stinks heavily of UL territory to me. What services use voiceprint technology over a shitty telephone line anyway, and how good/accurate could that possibly be? I have two different financial institutions that confirm it’s me by voiceprint. That is now commonplace tech. Some scammer recording me saying “Yes” or my birthdate or my phone number might be exactly the key they need to get into my bank. After of course they have spoofed my phone number in their call to my bank. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/19 "2023-09-09T04:04:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have two different financial institutions that confirm it’s me by voiceprint. From a single one-syllable word? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803/20 "2023-09-09T11:26:41Z")
This is why my phone is set to send any caller not in my contacts directly to voicemail without ringing. I can then delete the message at my leisure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-and-what-is-it/989803.md?page=2)