Mobile Phone Upgrade Scam

Our Super Sleuth, John from Blacon, has been hard it and providing us with more, valuable scam alert and safety messages. Thanks John. This one relates to a mobile phone upgrade scam. Have a read of the article below and take note. And, as ever and as it is a scam alert, please spread the word if you can. Thanks.

Mobile Phone Upgrade Scam

Here’s the article John sent through.

“The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau are aware of an ongoing scam where consumers are being cold called by individuals impersonating employees of legitimate mobile network operators and suppliers. Victims are offered early handset upgrades, or new contracts, at significant discounts.

Once customers have been convinced that the deals are genuine and agree to proceed, suspects then ask for their online mobile account credentials, including log-ins, address and bank account details. Suspects then place orders with genuine companies on behalf of victims. However they select a different handset to that requested and have it shipped to the customer’s address. Upon receipt, suspects assure victims that this has been an error and instruct them to ‘return’ the handset to a different address not affiliated to the mobile company.

These addresses are usually residential. Upon intercepting the ‘returned’ handsets, the suspects cease contact and victims find themselves stuck with no phone and liable for the entirety of a new contract taken out in their name. The NFIB have received over 300 reports since January 2020 with reported losses in excess of £86,000.

What You Need To Do

Cold calls about mobile upgrades and contracts. If you’re unsure that the person calling you is an official representative of the company they claim to be from, hang up and do not reveal any personal information. Only contact your mobile network provider on a number you know to be correct.

For example, 191 for Vodafone customers, 150 for EE customers, 333 for Three customers, 202 for O2 customers, 4455 for Tesco Mobile, 789 for Virgin Mobile and 150 for Sky Mobile.

If you receive a device that you did not order or expect, contact the genuine sender immediately. The details for this will be within the parcel.

NEVER post a device directly to a given address. All genuine Mobile Network Operators would send out a jiffy bag for you to return without you incurring additional cost.

If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040. Message Sent By Wendy Leason (Police, Community Support Officer, Saughall)“

Mobile Phone Upgrade Scam Summary

Thanks again John. Another extremely valuable message. You may have noticed that I have highlighted a couple of the sentences in the article in bold. Go and have another look at them. The first one not only applies to this mobile phone upgrade scam. It applies to any and all potential scams. Do not give such personal details to anyone over the phone. A log in request for instance, suggests that they also ask for passwords. An absolute “no, no.” Do not ever give anyone your login details.

And the other highlighted sentence is self explanatory and straightforward I guess. Anyway, thanks for reading my latest article – “Mobile Phone Upgrade Scam” – and thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website. It’s much appreciated.

Please stay safe everyone.

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