Sometimes the Calls ARE legit
I got a call from this number this morning around 13:35 GMT, and, as the rest of you have noted they ask you to verify transactions.
If you wait long enough, you can fail out to a live CSR, who, in my case, was polite, very understanding about my suspicion, and forthright about who they are and what they are doing.
Company Name: First Data Corp
www.firstdatacorp.com
On behalf of almost every bank out there they verify transactions using this automated call/reply platform, and are VERY understanding about anyone who calls in and refuses to divulge ANY information to them. They will advise you who has asked them to call you, based on the number you were called on. (In my case the number in their database didn't match, but the forward from number did!) They completely understand if you reserve your right to then contact the requestor directly through a vetted known legitimate inbound contact number, for that requestor.
In addition to this service, this company does voice verification of credit card transactions, and similiar related services serving the credit card clearing industry.
Some of you who are concerned about spoofing are justified in that concern, but for the scam to completely go around this company, the scammer would have had to game the national 800 network ( or at least a portion of it near you ), to redirect the call to a point they control.
Still in all, it is wise to be suspicious, and if you do make contact with First data, they will provide you with the requestor's information which you can use to contact them directly.
Personaly, I think they would save themselves some grief if they provided more information to called parties about who/what they are, and perhaps, alternate ways for us to validate their notices.
FWIW !
