Friday 22 June 2012

Cold caller asked me to prove my identity

Cold called by the Vodafone retentions team today. 

My Samsung Galaxy S1 Android  is out of contract and I'm putting off the upgrade until the iPhone 5 launches. Going Apple.

They called me, then asked me to prove my identity to them for "data protection".

I'm not going to give out my date of birth and post code to a cold caller and why are Vodafone trying to encourage their customers to behave so irresponsibly?

Their agent seemed puzzled when I asked him to prove his identity to me first.

I've had a few spam callers before, mobile resellers pretending to be the network, I pointed out to him that dealers often guess when a phone is out of contract by looking at the number ranges issued. I asked him to tell me something that only Vodafone would know e.g. my bill amount. 

We went round in circles a few times then he relented and told me my name and email address. Not really strong evidence as anyone can get my details on the web but i was getting bored with the game by now so I gave up and proved my identity to the stranger who had cold called me.

Then to finish off on a high he couldn't email me the offer as they don't have email! Obviously Vodafone retentions get their IT systems from the same provider as the tax office.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Lost Hawk/Bird of Prey sighted Shrewsbury, Shropshire 14/06/2011

Hawk type bird with bells sighted 08:00 AM 14/06/2011 in woods next to old riverbed off Corporation Lane, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury

Please contact me for more details or if you know where I should report this sighting to assist the owner recover the lost bird.

Thank you