Received a strange call (important)

[macadamias 1]

Its 7:46am here in california and I received a strange call from a guy with an Indian accent, I was confused and groggy so I just followed him throughout the conversation and he kept asking me about a "package" I sent to "USCIS" here in my county for my son..

he sounded like late 20s to late 30s and his english was not good at all, what is alarming is that he knows my sons name and my name..and I just agreed and kept saying yes-yes to him, he said is your sons name ___ ...and he asked about my name. He asked why I sent a package for my son..I was confused because I did not send a package at all for my son (what for?) the filing I did (for my own AOS) wasnt sent to my county USCIS , but rather to TX. So when he asked me about a package he again clarified "you did not send a package for your son?" I said no and he said ok and he hung up.

I googled and realized this is a scam, his number doesnt show up on the cellphone and I am alarmed/confused/scared,, how did this person know my sons name and my name?

Apparently it is a long ago racket and they use it to scam people, they pretend to be homeland security and ask you to deposit money..but the thing is how did they know these info? Its scary

Edited August 14, 2013 by macadamias

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hopefully you didn't give any additional information to the caller.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

That is really strange. Should have (I know, you were asleep) asked him who he was with, and a phone number to contact him back on. Then hung up and called him right back. THEN you could give him info...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

but the thing is how did they know these info? Its scary

Many sources, often as simple as reading your or your son's timeline on Facebook, or following your posts on an immigration self-help website.

[macadamias 1]

i did not give him any, although i clarified the info he had..sigh. i was sleepy and confused, my spouse was the one handed the phone to me too.. so i stupidly assumed it was legitimate.

there is no other way other than facebook, people are annoyingly tagging my son a lot there since he did just got here.

edit

ok now maybe not facebook, cause this guy knew the middle name and all that. its just creepy and i feel very disturbed about it. i wonder if these guys hack into the USCIS database or something.

Edited August 14, 2013 by macadamias

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

i did not give him any, although i clarified the info he had..sigh. i was sleepy and confused, my spouse was the one handed the phone to me too.. so i stupidly assumed it was legitimate.

there is no other way other than facebook, people are annoyingly tagging my son a lot there since he did just got here.

edit

ok now maybe not facebook, cause this guy knew the middle name and all that. its just creepy and i feel very disturbed about it. i wonder if these guys hack into the USCIS database or something.

An amazing amount of government (and private company, medical and legal, etc.) recorded information is transcribed in places like the Philippines and India. My wife worked in one of those places. She signed a confidentiality agreement, but by some of the questions she asked me about what certain words or phrases meant, she was exposed to some sensitive information. Edited August 14, 2013 by The Patriot

[macadamias 1]

Thanks Patriot you make a lot of sense, the person called the beneficiarys number that was recorded in the CFO seminar in the Philippines ..thats the only area that is not really secure and not a part of the US embassy that has sensitive information. The guy only seemed to know the fiancees name, the childs name and the beneficiary's number (in this case, at least).

[Hank_ 9,174]

All the more reason to be very careful with what information is given to CFO. Maybe "create" a disposable phone number with google voice, and for sure no personal information of the vital nature.