The first comment in response is probably the most important bit:
In addition: trust no inbound communications. If something is in fact urgent, it can be confirmed by reaching out, rather than accepting an inbound call, to a number publicly listed and well known as representative of the company.
If they can’t give me a callback number that is publicly listed on their web site, then they’re most likely a scammer.
With Google, however, this is a scarier proposition than with most companies. If someone from my phone company, or my bank, or my insurance company called me, I could very easily call the actual company and talk to a human to confirm. I have no idea how I could ever talk to a human at Google. I’m not sure they even have a public phone line.
The first comment in response is probably the most important bit:
My bank is continuously surprised that I understand this. It’s probably a bad sign.
I was about to say this.
If they can’t give me a callback number that is publicly listed on their web site, then they’re most likely a scammer.
With Google, however, this is a scarier proposition than with most companies. If someone from my phone company, or my bank, or my insurance company called me, I could very easily call the actual company and talk to a human to confirm. I have no idea how I could ever talk to a human at Google. I’m not sure they even have a public phone line.
Or if there are any humans there at all…