An update to my previous post: This is legitimately WAMU. I went to check my account online after seeing the previous posts and saw that my account was suspended until I called them to verify. I figure no one can suspend my account if they don't work for WAMU. When I called them, they didn't ask me to provide a thing except the last 4 digits of my SS#. Other than that, they provided every bit of information and I verified. I definitely trust that this was legitimate to keep me from being a victim of fraud. The reason they were calling me is that I made a purchase online from a company I thought was in the US and it turns out they are in China. I have ordered from them before, but the amount of today's purchase was considerably larger and WAMU was scared someone was using my card. SO...don't worry about this number if you've recently made a weird purchase.
It was an automated message from Washington Mutual Check Card Security calling to verify recent activity on my Mastercard. I checked my account but there everything seemed to be in order.
So my cell phone starts ringing at 7:05 this morning--
California 924-738-0213
Hum....okay....I only know a few people in California...NONE of them would be calling me at 5am their time and I was driving to work...so I let it go to voicemail-- they chose not to leave a message.
Later this morning, I decided to go online and pay some bills and I can't get onto my Washington Mutual account. WTF?? I got a big red message to call xxx-xxx-xxxx for assistance.
I call--wait on hold-- and finally I get an official sounding lady that says she is with the fraud department. I ask what this is about and she says there has been too much activity on my card- my account was frozen until I could prove who I was.
I play 20 questions--- name, phone number, address, last 4 digits of my SSN,account password.... blah, blah, blah. She then goes on to ask if I can explain the last 3 charges:
1. $10.94 from Taco Bell
2. $24.00 from Shell Gas Station
3. $207 from Lowe's
I told her yes---those are ALL ours-- and she states my account history does not show that I use my card at those locations on a regular basis??? WTF??
Is this credit card big brother??
I have had this credit card for NINE YEARS....and if you look at my "history" I go in spurts of using it. I also play the credit card rewards game where I swap out what card I use when I have maxed out the cash back rewards. It was WaMu turn to get a little usage. UGH!
So then--- she decides she has to ask me more identification questions- I ask why and she says because I have to prove you are who you say you are. Uhm...didn't I JUST do that???
So I get asked the following questions??
What age bracket is Lynn X??
How they know my mother's name and age I have no clue!
Which companies have you worked for?
Butcher former employer names
What county did you have PO Box 8081?
are you kidding me?
We go through all that...and she finally says okay...I will reactivate your account.
I asked WHY WHY WHY was I not notified that my credit card was being frozen
( after all-- you expect those things to work when you are checking out)
and she says they tried to call me this morning.....
yup....that California number.
She has no explanation of why a message was not left on the voicemail or how I was supposed to know my card was frozen. She could care less that I would have been in deep [***] if Tom went to Home Depot to get the rest of the fencing supplies and could not get them.
She said this was for "my protection"
Uhmm.....hey Washington Mutual...I'll protect myself...
your card is now on my " DO NOT USE LIST"
We received a similar call from the same number. Didn't give any info but called WaMu ourselves. No such call from them. No such account activity posted. These guys are fishing. The questions aren't to verify your information, but to gather it. Never give your information on an in-bound call.
This "company" calls on a bunch of numbers and calls a few times (like breakfast and dinner) each day . I don't have a WaMu card and never have. I asked them to stop calling me. I am on the Do Not Call List.
They wanted me to send a letter WITH MY INFO to WaMu Box 2430 Charlesworth CA 91313-2430 . I asked for their fax number and was told THEY DON'T HAVE A FAX ! What bank doesn't have a fax ?
The callback number on the message was 1-866-565-5785. The second number they used to call me was 925-738-0227 - see the page on that number. I don't believe they are WaMu or they would have been more professional. Go to the FTC - I am.