3 ms·

Not if you’re an app developer on their platform, they make outbound calls to you. I’m sure there are other situations as well.

do_not_redeem 2y ago
If the consequences for letting that call go to voicemail are any less severe than full account takeover by a script kiddie, you're still better off never picking up. Google in particular is famous for making it impossible to contact a human. If Google calls you, before picking up, consider whether you truly believe you're lucky enough to be one of a handful of people in the world to ever get human support from them.
- teractiveodular 2y ago
  I've spoken on the phone with humans in Google support. (You, too, can do this, just pay them enough.) However, they called me after I filed a support case and specifically requested a call, and they started off by mentioning the number of the case I had filed. If you ever get a cold call from "Google Support", it's basically guaranteed to be a scam.
  - bookofjoe 2y ago
    After I got Google Glass in 2013 as one of 8,000 "Explorers" I was given a support telephone number that was always quickly answered by a Google employee knowledgeable about Glass.
    - psd1 2y ago
      Becoming an SME on a Google product - now that's job security
lolinder 2y ago
You still always assume an incoming call is a scam no matter what. Hang up, look up, call back, in that order. Very occasionally you might be making some poor customer support person's job harder, but the vast majority of the time you'll be hanging up on a scammer. You can be polite about it, but firm and brief. "It's my policy to always call back no matter what, nothing personal."
- dawnerd 2y ago
  The problem is verifying which number is correct. In most cases it's pretty easy. Bank? Call the number on a debit card. Google? Good luck even finding their number. But I do agree with you. They can leave a message and a way to contact back if its important and I can take my time doing research. The urgency part is what's caught so many high profile people off guard.
nodamage 2y ago
For what purpose do they make these calls?

do_not_redeem 2y ago

If the consequences for letting that call go to voicemail are any less severe than full account takeover by a script kiddie, you're still better off never picking up. Google in particular is famous for making it impossible to contact a human. If Google calls you, before picking up, consider whether you truly believe you're lucky enough to be one of a handful of people in the world to ever get human support from them.

teractiveodular 2y ago
I've spoken on the phone with humans in Google support. (You, too, can do this, just pay them enough.) However, they called me after I filed a support case and specifically requested a call, and they started off by mentioning the number of the case I had filed. If you ever get a cold call from "Google Support", it's basically guaranteed to be a scam.
- bookofjoe 2y ago
  After I got Google Glass in 2013 as one of 8,000 "Explorers" I was given a support telephone number that was always quickly answered by a Google employee knowledgeable about Glass.
  - psd1 2y ago
    Becoming an SME on a Google product - now that's job security

lolinder 2y ago

You still always assume an incoming call is a scam no matter what. Hang up, look up, call back, in that order. Very occasionally you might be making some poor customer support person's job harder, but the vast majority of the time you'll be hanging up on a scammer. You can be polite about it, but firm and brief. "It's my policy to always call back no matter what, nothing personal."

dawnerd 2y ago
The problem is verifying which number is correct. In most cases it's pretty easy. Bank? Call the number on a debit card. Google? Good luck even finding their number. But I do agree with you. They can leave a message and a way to contact back if its important and I can take my time doing research. The urgency part is what's caught so many high profile people off guard.

nodamage 2y ago

For what purpose do they make these calls?