Editor:

I received a phone call from a person with an east Indian accent. She said they are sending me a medical card, asked me to verify my address, phone, etc. She asked if I was a “senior,” and which bank I used. I asked why she needed my bank, and then asked if it was Orizon. Even though she mispronounced the name (it is Horizon), I said yes. She asked me to verify the numbers at the bottom of my check, and read off eight or 10 numbers, which were correct. Then she said she needed the rest of the numbers on the bottom of my check. I said “no” and she said she needed those numbers to verify who I am so she can send me my medical card. I said “No, I am not giving you my bank account numbers.” She said I had to give her those numbers to verify who I am, and again I said no.

She then passed my call to a man, also with an accent, who went through the same spiel about having to verify who I am. I again said no. After arguing back and forth, he raised his voice and said I have to give him the numbers. I raised my voice and said, “No, I will not give you my bank account numbers.”

Then he passed me to a third person, also with an accent and we went through it all again.

I finally hung up on him, and within two seconds he called back and said I have to give him my numbers to verify who I am for them to send my medical card, I told him I know he can speak English, but apparently he cannot understand English, so I said very loudly and very distinctly, “I will not give you my bank account numbers.” We yelled for a few more minutes, but this time he hung up on me.

The numbers she read off to me are called “routing numbers.” All banks have their own routing numbers, which are not private.

The number following those are our own individual bank account numbers and are not to be given out to people I have just described. Who we bank with isn’t as private as we might think. These people can find out who we bank with through companies selling customer lists and other “targeted marketing.” If you have a credit card and use it, it is more likely than not that hundreds of companies, legit and otherwise, can find out who you bank with.

I feel sorry for those timid souls who feel they have to give out this information to these very persuasive stinkers.

(Mrs.) Lynne Jansen

Kaysville