Wierd phonecall today - feeling a bit spooked

[tallmummy]

I had a phonecall today from a some sort of financial advisor firm. They had been given my name by someone who needed a reference, this person claimed I was his sister. I don't have any brothers and had never heard of the guy. They had my name and address and obviously my phone number. What do you think - computer error or someone using my details for dodgy dealings?

You can report such calls to BT - I had a nuisance call from reversed charge - thought it was H at time who was in India, turned out to be some drunken S**. BT has a special freephone number you can ring. I would do so. Could be part of a phishing campaign, similar to one running over here that gets details and then tries to applies for loans in your name. Write it all down, ring BT and maybe your local crimestoppers. Can you imagine if an elderly person got such a call - they could give out all kinds of information.

I think the company was legit. I wrote down the number (did 1471) and phoned back, got a different guy, he said that the person applying for the loan had supplied my details on his application as a referee, he also said people try this often, thinking the references won't be followed up.