# Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520 "2014-05-29T01:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/1 "2014-05-29T01:05:33Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/2 "2014-05-29T01:08:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/3 "2014-05-29T01:34:49Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/4 "2014-05-29T01:38:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/5 "2014-05-29T01:38:19Z")
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.](https://ucpi.sco.ca.gov/ucp/) ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/6 "2014-05-29T01:41:03Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/7 "2014-05-29T02:07:13Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > 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. The plot thickens! I looked up the general number for Cigna on their website and it matches the number on my letter. ---
**Author:** ![GythaOgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GythaOgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GythaOgg)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/8 "2014-05-29T02:10:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/9 "2014-05-29T02:25:57Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/10 "2014-05-29T02:38:46Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > 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… 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. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/11 "2014-05-29T03:27:13Z")
The rule of thumb is if you have to ask if it’s a scam, then it’s probably a scam. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/12 "2014-05-29T04:29:38Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > The plot thickens! I looked up the general number for Cigna on their website and it matches the number on my letter. Scammers often have use legitimate information in their scams. As previously stated go to the Cigna web site and contact them. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/13 "2014-05-29T07:44:12Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/14 "2014-05-29T09:48:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/15 "2014-05-29T14:34:47Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > The plot thickens! I looked up the general number for Cigna on their website and it matches the number on my letter. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/16 "2014-05-29T14:37:34Z")
Update: I took a chance and called Cigna. Turns out it was real. I was the beneficiary on a life insurance policy. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/17 "2014-05-29T15:51:11Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > 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? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/18 "2014-05-29T16:32:51Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I was the beneficiary on a life insurance policy. I’m sorry for your loss, whoever it was. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/19 "2014-05-30T03:16:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520/20 "2014-05-30T03:18:01Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam/689520.md?page=2)