I got a letter (apparently) from Cigna. In it they claim they have some funds due me from a Cignassurance accout. They go on to say if they don’t get in touch with with me the money will default to Unclaimed Dept of California.
I’m to call a toll free # and leave a message if I reach their machine.
Of course it sounds fishy but looks semi-legit (Cigna letterhead, etc). Maybe I’m just jaded.
Suspicions:
Contact name uses last initial only.
Capitalized my name everywhere.
Can’t imagine why Cigna would owe me “funds”
What say the teeming? Real deal or phishing expedition?
Have you ever had any account with Cigna under your SSN? If no, it’s scam.
Why would Cigna use an answering machine? A company that big would have a phone tree and voicemail. The number would have an extension.
Fake.
I can think of a situation in the past that might, possibly be applicable here. But mostly I can’t think of a reason they might owe me money.
There was an extension number. Honestly the thing that pings my bullshit meter is that it is signed Tammy D. 5059410. Seems a rep from a big company like that would sign their full name. On the other hand, if it is a scam they would just make a name up.
What about trying to contact Cigna some other way and asking them about it? E.g. find their main inquiry number and call that. If you mention the details of the letter and they don’t know what you are talking about, be wary.
It’s possible that you do have funds due to you, held by the state, and the scammer is merely reading the public list and attempting to milk you for what you could get yourself, free.
Contact the state’s unclaimed property dept. directly, yourself, or search here.
This is what I’d probably do. Get their general contact number from their website and call them. You’ll get transferred a bunch of times but you should eventually get an answer.
The plot thickens! I looked up the general number for Cigna on their website and it matches the number on my letter.
Their general contact/customer service number is 1-800-CIGNA24.
I work for them in their disease management program. I can tell you the employee id number given does NOT resemble the employee ID numbers I’m familiar with…and they would definitely give you a phone number to communicate with. This sounds very fishy to me, frankly.
One very plausible explanation is that you are the beneficiary on someone’s life insurance account. Has there been a death in your family recently?
D … Like they don’t like to put it because its unfortunate… eg a vietnamese name such Dong, Dung (prouncounced Zung.)… Vietnamese use latin letters, so they don’t change their spelling… and one D (D with a bar ? or without ? ) is pronounced like Z. they should of course have started to use Z’s.
The rule of thumb is if you have to ask if it’s a scam, then it’s probably a scam.
Scammers often have use legitimate information in their scams. As previously stated go to the Cigna web site and contact them.
This. Look up their contact number independently of the letter and call them. Don’t use any of the contact details on the letter until and unless you have first confirmed directly with them that it is genuine.
If it’s a scam, they’ve probably already heard of it and can tell you. But if it’s a scam that they’ve not heard of, they’ll want to know about it.
Well then, either it’s legit or a genuine Cigna employee is running a scam on their own, on company time and company assets.
You could of course just let it ride–if it’s legit, the funds will be sent to California unclaimed property and you can deal with the state.
Update: I took a chance and called Cigna. Turns out it was real. I was the beneficiary on a life insurance policy.
Congrats! When’s the party?
I’m sorry for your loss, whoever it was.
I wonder how long they have been trying to get in touch with you. It seems odd that the first letter you get mentions handing it over to the state. Then again, it could take some time tracking you down if you were named a beneficiary a long time ago and you moved since then.
I’m glad it wasn’t a scam. It’s a sign of the times that “scam” is the first thought whenever something like this occurs.