ERD50
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Yesterday I get a call. Caller ID says BLUE CROSS (my health ins is through them), number is 630-328-4400. The caller started asking me for information to validate my account. I said - you called me, I'm not going to give you any information, who are you?
This went on, I said I would only call a number on my card or the web site, they said they would give me a number to call, but I won't call a number they give me, that could be bogus as well.
I checked on-line, I don't have any messages, so I assume this was a scam. If it was legit - they need to do this in such a way that people can verify it. Giving info out to a cold call is just not good security, and should not be encouraged.
I left an inquiry for them regarding this. So we will see. They knew my name, I'm leaning to thinking it was legit, but these companies should follow good practice - asking for info on a cold call just makes it seem more normal, and someone will be more likely to do it for a scammer, if it becomes 'normal'.
I didn't get around to having them give the number they wanted me to call, wish I had now. The number from caller ID doesn't come up with much on a search, but this could be a third party survey company or something.
Just bad practice.
While I'm at it, I'll rant a bit. I can't believe how many separate mailings I get from them. I've probably had a couple dozen in the last month. I got ID cards for DW and myself, a week later more cards - then I look closely, the first cards were for last year (why do I get more in DEC, for a policy about to expire, I already had two sets?). And multiple sets for Dental, which we don't have - we self-pay. But I guess the ACA covers dental for children, but they should know we don't have any children on these policies.
Every little notice, another mailing. Then they say there was an error on the cards, so another whole set come. While the cost of mail might not seem that big a deal, add in all the cost of processing this stuff (and I assume laminated, individually printed cards aren't exactly cheap), and it makes you wonder. But I'm also assuming this is just a symptom of mass inefficiencies, and just the tip of the iceberg. But maybe all this is due to legal requirements? I dunno, just frustrating to see this waste knowing how high our premiums are, and how little they cover.
-ERD50
This went on, I said I would only call a number on my card or the web site, they said they would give me a number to call, but I won't call a number they give me, that could be bogus as well.
I checked on-line, I don't have any messages, so I assume this was a scam. If it was legit - they need to do this in such a way that people can verify it. Giving info out to a cold call is just not good security, and should not be encouraged.
I left an inquiry for them regarding this. So we will see. They knew my name, I'm leaning to thinking it was legit, but these companies should follow good practice - asking for info on a cold call just makes it seem more normal, and someone will be more likely to do it for a scammer, if it becomes 'normal'.
I didn't get around to having them give the number they wanted me to call, wish I had now. The number from caller ID doesn't come up with much on a search, but this could be a third party survey company or something.
Just bad practice.
While I'm at it, I'll rant a bit. I can't believe how many separate mailings I get from them. I've probably had a couple dozen in the last month. I got ID cards for DW and myself, a week later more cards - then I look closely, the first cards were for last year (why do I get more in DEC, for a policy about to expire, I already had two sets?). And multiple sets for Dental, which we don't have - we self-pay. But I guess the ACA covers dental for children, but they should know we don't have any children on these policies.
Every little notice, another mailing. Then they say there was an error on the cards, so another whole set come. While the cost of mail might not seem that big a deal, add in all the cost of processing this stuff (and I assume laminated, individually printed cards aren't exactly cheap), and it makes you wonder. But I'm also assuming this is just a symptom of mass inefficiencies, and just the tip of the iceberg. But maybe all this is due to legal requirements? I dunno, just frustrating to see this waste knowing how high our premiums are, and how little they cover.
-ERD50