I had a guy call me asking if I wanted to install an alarm system. I asked him point blank: "How do I know you're NOT a thief casing my joint?" He responded, "Funny, no one's ever asked me that before..." It seems he was a legitimate alarm installer, but his reaction to my question was interesting. Too many people are too willing to give out information and/or welcome strangers into their home.
If someone contacts me (they initiate the call/contact) I will not give out information. I once had my credit card company call me on some suspicious charges on my card. I would not answer their 'verification' process questions. Gave them quite a hard time, since they would not verify my information until I verified that I was me. So I wound up calling the number on the back of my CC, and then I knew the call was legit.
What happened was that indeed my CC number was actually lifted at a shady gas station and used the night before. Within 2 hours of the first charge, the CC company already suspended my account - after 2 hours of the initial not-authorized-by-me transaction - a $700.00 charge at a K-Mart 2.5 hours away from my home. The card company: Citibank. I will be a lifetime member.
Now, have I got an alarm system for you - first you need to show me where you keep your jewlery, and your cash. Wall mounted safe? I'll need the combination in order to configure our system to integrate with it...
-Z-man.