The ‘security loop’*
So, picture the scene: you’re sat at home nomming on some tasty food, sipping a delicious beverage when the phone rings (most likely landline as no-one seems to call my mobile anymore 🙁 ). You pickup and get some phonemonkey asking for security details before they can discuss your account.
I find it hilarious to bring out the following routine:
Me: “How do I know you’re who you say you are?”
Phonemonkey: “Well, we have your phone number and know your name.”
Me:”Um…so does half of the subcontinent of India it seems at times.”
Phonemonkey:”Ok, well, verify your secret password and we’ll give you pertinent details to identify we ARE from ‘company name/bank/whatever'”
Me:”Hmm, well if I can’t guarantee you are who you are before I give a SECRET password – why would I give it out? that wouldn’t be too secure would it?”
Honestly, try it – 5 minutes of increasingly frustrating call for them, ending only when I tell them to write to me and I’ll call them 🙂
I bet there’s hundreds of voodoo dolls of snee out there…
* There’s an episode of ‘Coupling‘ that mentions ‘the giggle loop’ – thought it’d fit well here 🙂
And for your viewing pleasure, I give you ‘The Giggle Loop’:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iKjkPgVQcE
Incidentally, speaking of quality TV programs (and we all know there’s not nearly enough good ones out there), everyone been watching Shameless?