FBI Calling

[Ginny Favers]

I was just checking my email online, and I have the Comcast bundle, with phone, though we don't even have the phone hooked up because we use our cells. Today, there was a message there. Someone from the FBI in my state, calling. They left a message to call back.

WHY IS THE FBI CALLING ME? I am kind of freaking out.

And why are they calling a # I never use?

Is it a scam?

Or am I in trouble?

I keep thinking of things I *might* have done. Last week at the supermarket, I tried to use a coupon that was expired. Am I done for?

 

[sissy_ib]

I was just checking my email online, and I have the Comcast bundle, with phone, though we don't even have the phone hooked up because we use our cells. Today, there was a message there. Someone from the FBI in my state, calling. They left a message to call back.

WHY IS THE FBI CALLING ME? I am kind of freaking out.

And why are they calling a # I never use?

Is it a scam?

Or am I in trouble?

I keep thinking of things I *might* have done. Last week at the supermarket, I tried to use a coupon that was expired. Am I done for?

Did you do a reverse look up of the number to be sure it is the FBI and not a scam? If you do and are still not sure call the local FBI headquarters and ask about the call. Or just call the number back and don't give out any personal info.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Thanks for the info... I did a reverse lookup and it appears to be from the FBI office in my state. I am going to call the general number before calling the direct number and see if they have any info. Thanks!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I just called them and they said that it sounded odd because he doesn't know anyone from there with that name. The agent I spoke to said he would call me on my cell if it was anything that I should be concerned about.

Anyway, beware of people calling and claiming to be from the FBI!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Yikes that is crazy. I was going to say maybe someone put you down as a reference to get a job with them but I see it was a scam.

 

[packofjedis]

Strange but yesterday I got this from my mom's work - their security people put it out. Snopes has it as real but older and still active. I don't know if this applies to you since how would they get the FBI number to show up on caller ID, but then again, technology is great these days. I just thought of you since you mentioned FBI.....



Please pass this on as appropriate. It is spreading fast so be prepared
should you get this call. Most of us take those summonses for jury duty
seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty that a new and
ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.

The caller claims to be a JURY DUTY coordinator. If you protest that
you never received a summons for jury duty, the Scammer asks you for
your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify
the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this
information and bingo, your identity was just stolen. The fraud ha s
been reported so far in
11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado, AZ and more.
This
(swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over
the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending
they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system
have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers
about the fraud.


Check it out here:

(didn't know if I could list a link...google FBI jury duty scam and it will take you to the FBI's site)

 

[cabanafrau]

I do think you're right to be very cautious, but it is also very likely they are contacting you as a part of a background check on someone. They wouldn't have to be applying to work for the FBI. The FBI does background checks for some military clearances and even for some investigative positions with the Postmaster that I am aware of and there's likely more.

If it is part of a scam, alerting the agency the way you did was definitely the way to go.

 

[Disnydad]

Years ago whenever my dad called from his home in Vermont my caller ID would say US Imigration.

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks for the info... I did a reverse lookup and it appears to be from the FBI office in my state. I am going to call the general number before calling the direct number and see if they have any info. Thanks!

Honestly I would call it back - if the number appears to be from the FBI office in your state then why not.

Calling the direct line - its like calling Disney's direct line when someone in accounting at Disney has called you because you have a refund. The standard direct line is going to have no idea why whatever more specific idea called you....well they might if you are on the most wanted list but aside from that I think you are being overly cautious and need to call back the line that called you. Heck the line that called you may not even be located in the same area as the direct line that called you.

Liz

 

[Robinrs]

I was just checking my email online, and I have the Comcast bundle, with phone, though we don't even have the phone hooked up because we use our cells. Today, there was a message there. Someone from the FBI in my state, calling. They left a message to call back.

WHY IS THE FBI CALLING ME? I am kind of freaking out.

And why are they calling a # I never use?

Is it a scam?

Or am I in trouble?

I keep thinking of things I *might* have done. Last week at the supermarket, I tried to use a coupon that was expired. Am I done for?

Then we're ALL done for!!!!

 

[Revulkcor]

My family and I have gotten that same e-mail (that was posted by a PP) but we've occasionally gotten Air Force One calling. LOL When our caller ID reads it out loud, it's actually hilarious but we don't answer it.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Ginny Favers - that expired coupon crime sounds quite suspicious to me. I believe that's fraud!

 

[RitaE]

Do you know anybody with a job that requires a security clearance?

They'll call around and interview neighbors, ex-neighbors, family members and acquaintances for background checks.

 

[sbell111]

My family and I have gotten that same e-mail (that was posted by a PP) but we've occasionally gotten Air Force One calling. LOL When our caller ID reads it out loud, it's actually hilarious but we don't answer it.

Why not? If someone from Air Force One (or the White House) rings my phone, I'm going to answer.

Honestly I would call it back - if the number appears to be from the FBI office in your state then why not.

I agree. Once you've verified that the call did come from the FBI, I don't see the problem with calling it back (assuming that you haven't been bad).

 

[Ginny Favers]

I am pretty sure that I read recently that hackers are getting more sophisticated and can make it look like a call came from a certain number, even when it does not. The number the caller gave me to call was a similar, but not identical, number.

Well, now that I called the main number and left my info, I am sure they will call if they needed anything important.

I doubt it was a background check and I don't know anyone going for a job. My husband was a federal agent and he told me it was very suspcious of the message. The caller said, "Hi, this is Sean from the FBI." My husband said that if someone is calling you from the FBI, they will say, "This is Special Agent So-and-So" or at least leave a last name.

 

[momrek06]

My 23yo niece is an Agent with the FBI….actually started working for them just before her graduation from college (2010).

She lives in a different state then her parents. LAST MONTH my SIS gets a voice mail … "this is the FBI, please call us" … of course having a daughter an Agent now going on 2 years with them she FREAKED thinking something was terribly wrong. She called her DD FIRST, DD answers … DD said NOPE, no one called from her offices …

All they could come up with was indeed it was some scam call … but that being said it was still ODD that of all people to get a scam call from the FBI, is my SIS whose DD works for them. ODD.

FF a month and nothing more has come of it. ODD.

 

[MickeySP]

I was just checking my email online, and I have the Comcast bundle, with phone, though we don't even have the phone hooked up because we use our cells. Today, there was a message there. Someone from the FBI in my state, calling. They left a message to call back.

WHY IS THE FBI CALLING ME? I am kind of freaking out.

And why are they calling a # I never use?

Is it a scam?

Or am I in trouble?

I keep thinking of things I *might* have done. Last week at the supermarket, I tried to use a coupon that was expired. Am I done for?

That must be it - put you hands up slowly!!!

Do you know anybody with a job that requires a security clearance?

They'll call around and interview neighbors, ex-neighbors, family members and acquaintances for background checks.

I needed clearance and my neighbors freaked when the FBI started asking about me. It was kinda comical after the fact.

I am pretty sure that I read recently that hackers are getting more sophisticated and can make it look like a call came from a certain number, even when it does not. The number the caller gave me to call was a similar, but not identical, number.

Well, now that I called the main number and left my info, I am sure they will call if they needed anything important.

I doubt it was a background check and I don't know anyone going for a job. My husband was a federal agent and he told me it was very suspcious of the message. The caller said, "Hi, this is Sean from the FBI." My husband said that if someone is calling you from the FBI, they will say, "This is Special Agent So-and-So" or at least leave a last name.

ITA - no LE agency personnel is gonna say "HI this is..." they def use title and usually their section as in "Hello this is Agent Jones from the FBI Ballistics section"

 

[sbell111]

My 23yo niece is an Agent with the FBI….actually started working for them just before her graduation from college (2010).

She lives in a different state then her parents. LAST MONTH my SIS gets a voice mail … "this is the FBI, please call us" … of course having a daughter an Agent now going on 2 years with them she FREAKED thinking something was terribly wrong. She called her DD FIRST, DD answers … DD said NOPE, no one called from her offices …

All they could come up with was indeed it was some scam call … but that being said it was still ODD that of all people to get a scam call from the FBI, is my SIS whose DD works for them. ODD.

FF a month and nothing more has come of it. ODD.

This really is the same scenario as the OP. Since you didn't call them back, you don't know tht it was a scam.

Honestly, I don't understand why people don't return these calls. It's not as if the mere presence of you on the phone is going to cause you to be scammed.

 

[sbell111]

ITA - no LE agency personnel is gonna say "HI this is..." they def use title and usually their section as in "Hello this is Agent Jones from the FBI Ballistics section"

Based on the OP and my experience, I suspect that this would depend on the purpose of the call and the position held by the caller.

 

[cornflake]

They absolutely identify by title, as in 'this is Special Agent Jackson of ....' not 'Hi, it's Bob calling from the Fibbies.'

So certainly sounds like a scam. However, for a background check, wouldn't necessarily be someone you know now, could be someone you once knew, once worked with, taught, etc. They will go on back if they have any desire/cause to.