Bank Credit Card Verification process?

Question

Hi Bank Authorities I have a credit card that expired last month. I was given a replacement from the bank, how ever had not activated it yet. I received a call from a cell phone number which stated that they are calling from the Mumbai Credit Card Verification department and that they wanted to transfer my reward point from my old card to the new card. For this they asked me my DOB, expiry dates for both cards and finally the 16 digit number for the new card. When i refused, they passed the call over to 4 other people who sounded like normal customer care personnel and all of them tried convincing me to divulge my card number over the phone. I asked them for an alternate method of verification and even gave the option of going to the bank and confirming. They kept on insisting for the 16 digit number in my voice. I was very suspicious of the whole process and refused to share details. So finally after a heated conversation i terminated the call. Kindly let me know if this is a standard proceedure at your end. If so, there should be better ways of doing the same without raising suspicion and having to force a customer to give out details he doesnt want to divulge. Hoping for a prompt response from you based on which I decide how to take up this matter. Thanks SSK

Answer 1

Dear SSK

I appreciate your alertness, vigilance and awareness.  It was good that you have not parted with your confidential information regarding the credit card and other credentials.  That was a hoax / fraud call, wherein the group tried to convince / insist you for divulging your personal information along with card details.  Please note that Banks / officials would never ask for such confidential details of their customers.  Good that you have resisted their phony calls.  Please do share this experience with your near and dear, so that they too would exercise caution and not get hoodwinked.

RAJA