Verizon security quesion vent! <m>

[mjkacmom]

I got an email from Verizon, stating changes were being made to my account, and a link. To access the information, I need my password, which I forgot (probably haven't used it in over a year). So to reset my password, I have to answer a security question: What is your favorite book? First of all, I don't remember ever giving the answer to this question - I'm an avid reader, and don't have a favorite book. What's wrong with concrete questions like "what is your mom's maiden name" or "what city were you born in?" No, they come up with a question that might not have a definite answer. Might as well asked my favorite food, color, or actor.

I tried to contact them, but in order for me to send them an email, I need to put in my account number. Don't have a bill handy, maybe I should check online - but wait, I don't have my password!

 

[FireDancer]

Sounds like you just got phished. Instead of clicking the link close the browser, go manually to Verizon, and enter your password to review your account.

Never use emailed links to get to login sites. I just posted on a thread earlier about user behavior causing identity theft...this would be a great example of what I was talking about.

 

[DebbieB]

Sounds like you just got phished. Instead of clicking the link close the browser, go manually to Verizon, and enter your password to review your account.

Never use emailed links to get to login sites. I just posted on a thread earlier about user behavior causing identity theft...this would be a great example of what I was talking about.

I agree, it sounds like a scam.

 

[lillygator]

I would be careful I have verizon for years and have never had an email from them re passwords.

 

[ohiomom28]

Could someone have been trying to access your account? I ask because we have Verizon here at work and I registered recently with my work phone number so that I could send a text to multiple people. I don't have texting on my phone so I have to do it online. Instead of manually typing everyones numbers in over and over again, I registered my phone and it changed the password for the whole company and sent an email to my boss. She knew I was doing it but we can't figure out how it even let me register, much less change the password. The security doesn't seem all that great...

 

[mla1977]

Sounds like you just got phished. Instead of clicking the link close the browser, go manually to Verizon, and enter your password to review your account.

Never use emailed links to get to login sites. I just posted on a thread earlier about user behavior causing identity theft...this would be a great example of what I was talking about.

Frank! You're on just about every thread I go to!

 

[agnes!]

I got an email from Verizon, stating changes were being made to my account, and a link. To access the information, I need my password, which I forgot (probably haven't used it in over a year). So to reset my password, I have to answer a security question: What is your favorite book? First of all, I don't remember ever giving the answer to this question - I'm an avid reader, and don't have a favorite book. What's wrong with concrete questions like "what is your mom's maiden name" or "what city were you born in?" No, they come up with a question that might not have a definite answer. Might as well asked my favorite food, color, or actor.

I tried to contact them, but in order for me to send them an email, I need to put in my account number. Don't have a bill handy, maybe I should check online - but wait, I don't have my password!

I can practically guarantee that the e-mail you received was a SCAM or a 'phishing' attempt, a fraudulent e-mail masquerading as coming from a legitimate entity. The crooks were attempting to obtain your account info so they could charge stuff on your account or so they could use the info to establish credit in *your* name.

Do you know how to ennable your e-mail headers? If you don't I suggest you learn how to do this on your system. NEVER reply to an e-mail from any possible business/a bank/FBI/IRS/etc. You can always go the business or government website from your web browser and check out what is going on with your account.

I would run a malware/virus scan on your computer and delete all cookies.

agnes!

 

[FireDancer]

Frank! You're on just about every thread I go to!

Is that because you are stalking me

 

[Starbrite]

I can't help with the Verizon part....it may or may not be a scam.

But, I work for a similar company and our "secret" questions are ridiculous!! Take your pick...... Favorite Color? Favorite Vacation spot? Favorite Movie? Favorite TV Show? or Favorite Animal? Those are things that could change I never understood & have personally complained about them here.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I got an email from Verizon, stating changes were being made to my account, and a link.

99.9999999% likely that this is just a phishing scam.

I got a similar email a few days ago and I was pretty sure it was a scam because I'm not a Verizon customer and haven't been one for YEARS!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Sears MasterCard once set up a security question on me without my knowledge (or someone did)! I'd been having problems with them, so I called to cancel the card...and I was asked to answer a security question. I thought, "Oh, no problem, it's either the last 4 digits of my SSN or my mother's maiden name..." Nope, the rep asked me for my best friend's name. Huh??? She said, "Well, you set up a security question and we can't do anything unless you can answer it." Uh, first of all, I never had occasion to deal with them over the phone or online. And I know I wouldn't have written a note on the statement to establish a security question like that. I told her that I had no idea what she wanted. She said, "I need the name of someone you know; it's four letters long and starts with a V." Okay, I don't know ANYONE who has a four-letter name starting with a V! We went back and forth for a minute; she kept telling me that I set it up, and I kept insisting that I didn't. She finally gave me to a supervisor who was able to use other information to ascertain my identity and close the account.

To this day, I have NO idea who set that up - or what the answer was!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Sounds very much like a phishing scam. I work for our state's Attorney Generals Office. We have Verizon here and I oversee our Verizon account. Even if you forgot your online password, you can call them and they will reset your password for you. There is a security question they will ask you. If you don't remember that answer, then they will ask you to verify information they have on file.

FireDancer is correct though. Do not reply to such e-mails. Go directly to the site, or call the company in question. They will let you know if this was indeed, a legitimate e-mail.

 

[mla1977]

Is that because you are stalking me

I say you're stalking me! I've been a member of the boards longer!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

While Verizon will send out an email stating something on your account has changed, they will not include a link. It simply says to get in touch with them if you were not the person who initiated the change.

I would call them. You shouldn't need an account number, I have always just given them my 10 digit cell number and the last 4 digits of my SS# and they have been able to access my account.

 

[Traveliz]

I can't help with the Verizon part....it may or may not be a scam.

But, I work for a similar company and our "secret" questions are ridiculous!! Take your pick...... Favorite Color? Favorite Vacation spot? Favorite Movie? Favorite TV Show? or Favorite Animal? Those are things that could change I never understood & have personally complained about them here.

I tried to set up an account for a student loan repayment and I gave up because the security questions were crazy hard -- who was the first person you kissed was one of them!

I also have trouble because one of the questions on many is what was your high school mascot and mine is now considered a derogatory term so it won't allow me to enter it - I CAN'T HELP that that was my mascot! And I can't just make up something else that I could really remember.

Liz

 

[mjkacmom]

Thanks everyone - I don't know if it is legit, but when went to the Verizon website, I got asked the same dumb security question. Here's the email:

The following is an outline of an important change to the Verizon Online Terms of Service, which is effective as of November 30, 2009. We have described this change in general terms below and recommend that you review the complete Terms of Service to determine how this change applies to you or your use of the Service. The Terms of Service can be accessed by clicking on the "Policies and Terms of Service" link
(www2.verizon.net/policies) at the bottom of any page of our Website.
The Terms of Service, as revised, will govern your rights and obligations, and ours, with respect to your use of the Services we offer. As set forth in Paragraph 3 of the Terms of Service, your continued use of the Service after the effective date of this change will constitute your agreement to the change.



1. If you are on a term plan and Verizon ceases offering service to your location prior to the end of your term commitment, you will not have to pay an Early Termination Fee.



Please take time to review the complete Verizon Online Terms of Service.

Thank you for being a Verizon Online customer.

 

[FireDancer]

I tried to set up an account for a student loan repayment and I gave up because the security questions were crazy hard -- who was the first person you kissed was one of them!

I also have trouble because one of the questions on many is what was your high school mascot and mine is now considered a derogatory term so it won't allow me to enter it - I CAN'T HELP that that was my mascot! And I can't just make up something else that I could really remember.

Liz

From a security standpoint it is best not to answer the questions truthfully. With a little social engineering I can find your H.S. mascot and many of the other questions. It would hard for me to figure out that in the spot asking for your H.S. mascot you put the name of the street you grew up on.

It is always best to answer a question with something other than the truth as that makes it harder to guess or deduce the answers. Just make sure to remember them of course.

 

[Green Tea]

OP, does that link you provided take you to a page that looks like your Verizon always does? It looked NOTHING like the Verizon page I go to when I sign in to my account. But, even if it looks right, it usually isn't if you receive the link via email. It has become such a prevalent way to scam people that businesses are rarely sending links in email anymore.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I say you're stalking me! I've been a member of the boards longer!

FireDancer has a higher post count, and a higher per-year post average - I say he's the stalking victim here So there