Episode 31 — Alexandria: Citi Credit Card Offer Impersonation (August 20, 2024)

Excerpt (bullets)

• August 20: called number on flyer multiple times about new credit card benefits.
• One caller placed on hold without music—could hear chair move, nothing else; disconnected.
• Second time: person said would be transferred to someone with knowledge of offer.
• Instead transferred to Costco technical assistance.
• Connection: had just fixed flat tire at Costco.

Full Narrative

On August 20, 2024, a number of times I called the number on the credit card flyer where I could speak to someone about the new credit card benefits. One caller placed me on hold but without music where I could hear a chair move. Nothing else happened so I disconnected the call. The second time I called the person said I would be transferred to a person with knowledge of the offer. Instead I was transferred to Costco technical assistance. Connection? I had just fixed a flat tire at Costco. The call routing revealed surveillance—my recent Costco visit was known and used to make the fake transfer seem plausible.