Bogus Network Scams Calls
Scam calls are a growing issue in the UK, with fraudsters often pretending to be from well-known network providers such as O2, Sky, Virgin Media, BT and 3 Three Mobile Network. These scams typically involve the scammer trying to trick the user into revealing personal information or financial details.
Common Scam Schemes
One common scheme involves the scammer calling the victim and offering a significant discount on their mobile phone bill. The scammer will then send a text message containing a passcode and attempt to gain access to the victim's account. This type of scam is known as a 'vishing' scam.
Another common scheme involves scammers sending phishing emails or smishing (SMS phishing) texts. These messages often appear to be from legitimate companies and may ask the recipient to click on a link or provide sensitive information.
Example of a Scam Call
For example, an O2 customer may receive a call from someone claiming to be from O2 and offering a 50% discount on their mobile phone bill. If the customer accepts the offer, they will receive a text message containing a passcode. The scammer will then use this passcode in an attempt to gain access to the customer's account¹.
Tips to Avoid Scam Calls
To protect yourself from these types of scams, it's important to:
- Never provide financial details over the phone, unless you are 100% sure you know the caller
- Always confirm the identity of the caller. If they claim to be from your network provider, hang up and call your provider directly on their official number
- Be wary of unsolicited or unexpected calls, texts, and emails. Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information over a cold call¹⁵
- Report any suspicious calls or messagesto your network provider. For example, Three customers can report spam/smishing texts by forwarding them free of charge to 7726
In addition, reporting these scams on platforms like Findwhocallsyou.com can help protect others in the community by raising awareness about these fraudulent activities.
Was showing as "Suspected spam" on my phone screen and I blocked it straight away.
SCAM - pretends to be from your mobile phone company offering a discount. Instead, they are trying to hack in to your account and need you to tell them the one-time passcode that gets sent to your phone. If you give them the code, you will find yourself owing thousands of pounds for expensive new iPhones ordered under your name and delivered to the scammers.
Never heard of this person
Said they were from O2 - they're not! I told them to eff off
This number is claiming to be 02 but connects as a cold call