Latest news with #phonefraud
Phone Arena
7 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Verizon users should be alert to this new scam and hang up the phone
You can't trust anyone these days, and it's not me getting all bitter and cynical – it's just the way things are as of late. That's especially true with unknown numbers that call you: one never knows if it's a legitimate call, or a fraud attempt. Sadly, many fall for phone frauds and the problem is getting out of hand.A Verizon representative warns on Reddit in a thread called "New Scam!" that, well, there's a new scam that subscribers should know about. Even if you're not on Verizon yourself, it's probably a good idea to learn about it and then tell your family and friends about it, if they're subscribed to the Big Red carrier. Image source – Reddit So, scammers have begun targeting Verizon customers by spoofing the phone numbers of local stores to make fraudulent calls appear authentic. These calls often claim there is suspicious activity on a customer's account or a large order being shipped to an unfamiliar address. According to the OP (original poster) by the nickname of Dependent_Biscotti_5, (allegedly a Verizon store employee), two of their store numbers have already been spoofed. They warned that stores never initiate calls about fraudulent orders and urged customers not to share any personal information if they receive such calls. The discussion, however, took on a different course and confusion about the types of calls Verizon employees may make was introduced. One commenter pointed out that store representatives are required to make daily calls, but others clarified that these calls are usually for sales, promotions, or store-related issues, not fraud alerts. Another Verizon employee stressed that fraud-related calls are handled by the company's dedicated fraud department, not by local sales teams. Another alleged Verizon rep said they had to call an account owner to confirm an order they suspected was fraudulent. However, the original poster explained that such actions are different from what scammers are doing. Local stores do not have the capability to call customers and confirm large suspicious orders. Instead, scammers exploit this assumption by pretending to be legitimate representatives. That's right – if a Verizon (or any other carrier, really) representative calls you, it would typically be a highly personalized call, referencing past interactions and whatnot. Another commenter explained how a fraudulent home internet order was placed on their account, but they were able to cancel it by contacting Verizon directly and changing their account password. There's probably a rise in scam attempts – at least that's what people are observing. One commenter reported receiving multiple spoofed calls that appeared to come from a Verizon store in Utah. Each time, they responded by stating that Verizon would never ask for account access over the phone, which caused the scammers to hang up immediately. My take on things is to never let your guard down. To identify scams, always be cautious of unsolicited calls, especially those claiming urgent account issues or large orders you never placed. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to make calls appear as if they are coming from trusted sources like Verizon stores. Never share personal or account information over the phone unless you initiated the call through an official in doubt, hang up, look up the store or company's official contact number, and call them directly to verify the claim. That's a safe option, even if it takes time. But hey, it's better to lose some time than to lose money and personal information, right? Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment scammer posing as O2 employee makes threats to kill and torture woman who confronted him
A phone scammer threatened to 'sexy' torture and then kill a woman after she confronted him about pretending to be an O2 employee. Zoe Duncan, 24, who had worked for the telecommunications provider quickly realised the call was a scam when the con man asked for her name. The musician confronted the caller, who responded with aggressive threats to torture, go to her house and kill her. 'I will kill you,' he told Ms Duncan. 'But before I kill you, first I torture you,' the scammer added. 'It should be sexy torture.' Throughout the threats Ms Duncan can be heard laughing and even taunting him, at one point suggesting he bring some biscuits when he shows up. Ms Duncan said: 'It was definitely an odd experience. 'I've never had that happen before but I guess this guy woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day. Throughout the threats Ms Duncan can be heard laughing and even taunting him, at one point suggesting he bring some biscuits when he shows up 'I felt comfortable laughing it off because I knew I had given them zero information to be able to actually find me. 'But it definitely made me feel concerned that another person would have believed the scam, especially with the text from O2.' The conversation continued, with Ms Duncan even pretending to be a man at a certain point, but the scammer just kept talking - she eventually ended the call. Ms Duncan added: 'I realised at a certain point that I wasn't going to get him off the phone so I just hung up. 'The phone call took some weird turns, but I feel like scammers like this don't get called out nearly as much as they should. 'They can cause some real harm.' Ms Duncan explained that because of her previous experience working as a part-time retail assistant for O2 she knew it was scam. If O2 were to call, they would already have her basic information so asking for her name was a red flag. Ms Duncan said: 'The initial reason for the call was that all the O2 sims were about to be cut off and they needed to send me a new one. 'They managed to get O2 to send a text to me with a verification code, which is the part I think most people would fall for. 'What they will have done is tried to login to my account on the O2 app, which would have sent the code to me. 'They would then get me to tell them the code, which the text tells you you're not supposed to do, so they could hack into my account. 'Luckily, I knew to not give that over and they were unable to successfully get into my account and scam me.'
Forbes
01-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
FBI And Police Warning—If You Get This Call, Hang Up Immediately
These calls are always dangerous Whether it comes by way of a text message or a call, Americans are under threat from a plague of attacks targeting their cell phones. Fueled by Chinese organized crime gangs and overseas scammers, warnings now come almost daily. It has prompted Google to update Android phones, warning that these cybercriminals 'act without fear of punishment when people are uninformed about fraud and scam tactics.' Nowhere is that lack of awareness more evident than with scammers pretending to be federal, state or local law enforcement officers, demanding payment for fines or to avoid arrest, or asking for personal information. Multiple warnings have appeared again in recent days, with reports (1,2,3) of such attacks targeting various U.S. states. The New York State Police warns there is 'an ongoing phone spoofing scam in which scammers impersonate members of law enforcement or government agencies in an attempt to solicit sensitive personal information from individuals across New York State and beyond.' These calls 'demand personal information such as Social Security numbers and have threatened punitive action against recipients who refuse to comply.' Attacks spoof real phone numbers 'to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted agencies. These scams are designed to create confusion and fear, often leading victims to comply with demands or share information that can be used to commit further fraud.' If you receive any call purporting to be from law enforcement and making any kind of request, hang up right away and call back using a publicly available number. That same warning has been issued to citizens in Virginia: 'If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal or financial information. If you're ever unsure about the legitimacy of a call, you can always hang up and call us directly.' The FBI warns 'of fraud schemes in which scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials in attempts to extort money or steal personally identifiable information.' Again, the bureau says 'scammers often spoof caller ID information, so fraudulent calls appear to be coming from an agency's legitimate phone number.' Their advice is just as clear cut. 'Be advised, law enforcement does not call or email individuals threatening arrest or demanding money.' If you ever receive such a call, 'cease all contact with the scammers immediately' and then 'contact your local law enforcement and file a police report.'
CTV News
07-05-2025
- CTV News
Senior in Montreal out $25K after phone scam
Montreal Watch A 71-year-old from Montreal's Villeray neighbourhood says she was scammed $25,000 in a phone fraud operation.
