I just read an article in our local newspaper about a couple that was awakened at 2 am by the phone. The person on the other end announced that they represented a hospital and were holding an emergency call for them and only needed a credit card number and PIN in order to forward it on to them.
Their son was on his honeymoon and they panicked. They gave the credit card number and while they were searching for the PIN the line went dead. By this time they were starting to get their wits about them and realized that it was a scam.
Caller ID is a wonderful thing. If my telephone rings at that hour, I let ring, then let it go to the answering machine then listen to the message. If action is needed, hit redial.
But there is no stopping the inventiveness of the human mind.
But But But never give your credit card number over the line if you don’t know who you are talking, especially if someone asks for it specifically. Tell them that you will call them back. Bet they won’t give you a telephone number.