What are Verizon Phone Scams?
Verizon is an American telecommunications company headquartered in New York that provides wireless network services to its customers. Verizon is among the three biggest telecommunications companies in the US, with about 442.5 million mobile wireless connections in 2019. The organization also recorded about 7.13 million internet subscribers by 2020.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) reported that Verizon had a 74 rating among wireless network providers in 2021. The organization is tied at number one with AT&T.
Verizon is credited for having one of the most advanced security systems to prevent spoofing and phishing scams. However, fraudsters have still been able to wreak havoc on unsuspecting customers through Verizon scam calls. The telecommunications giant has created multiple mediums by which customers can contact them to resolve issues. Verizon customers must be aware of the various tricks orchestrated by fraudsters to avoid falling into their hands.
This is why Verizon's community forum consistently updates its information in a bid to keep its customers abreast of the latest schemes employed by fraudsters.
What Are Verizon Phone Scams?
Verizon phone scams are schemes orchestrated by con artists to get money out of people fraudulently. These phone scams also negatively impact the brand of the company and weaken customer trust. Most times, the scams are carried out through the telephone. At first, the fraudsters may appear friendly and harmless. However, this is only to gain the confidence of victims before they attack. Con artists have developed sophisticated schemes with which they intend to scam Verizon customers. Generally, these scams occur when con artists, impersonating representatives of Verizon, call or message unsuspecting customers to defraud them.
Scammers are always on the lookout for customers to scam, especially citizens who make their issues with Verizon products and services public. The following are some common Verizon phone scams
Phishing Scams
Verizon phishing scams are (usually) email campaigns or scam text messages designed to instill a sense of urgency, fear, or curiosity in the mind of innocent customers. Fraudsters aim to manipulate Verizon users and cause them to expose private information, download malicious attachments, or open links to phishing webpages.
For instance, a US resident could get a notification concerning a policy violation requiring immediate action. That mail will comprise a link leading to a fake Verizon website, where the scammer will prompt the target to enter current login credentials and passwords. Once the unsuspecting customer submits this information, the scammer uses it to take control of their accounts.
Verizon Identity Theft
Identity theft is when a stranger uses a customer's personal information to make purchases or create accounts. Scammers do this through a Verizon email scam or phone call scam. They impersonate a Verizon employee and request the personal data of the target.
At times, fraudsters also perpetuate this scheme through the "Grandchild Scam." In this plot, the scammer calls an elder and claims to be their grandchild experiencing a difficult situation. Typically, these scammers will trick people out of their personal information and even make them send money.
Verizon Technical Support Scam
A standard method used by fraudsters is to claim to be representatives of Verizon and that they have a solution to a network or device issue you might have. The scammer would then inform you of a virus on the device that is causing the problem. Afterward, they would ask for remote access to the device to begin reparations. Soon, the scammer causes some defect on the device for which you have to pay to get resolved.
Verizon Customer Service Scam
Verizon customer service scams happen after the fraudsters already have some details about you. This could result from publicly complaining about an issue with Verizon or filling an email form sent by a fraudster. In this scheme, the target gets a call concerning the matter. The person will get directed to wait in line for a supervisor. The scammers will keep calling and asking the customer to stay on the line. Soon the target is compelled to pay to resolve the issue- only to get scammed.
Users who suspect that they have fallen for a scam should contact their bank as soon as possible. Most times, citizens only find out they have been scammed when they begin to see suspicious charges on their bank cards. Also, citizens can report the phone scam to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) immediately.
What Do Scammers Want from Verizon Customers?
The primary purpose of a phone scam is to swindle unaware individuals into giving out their money or private information. Details such as wireless device information, credit card, banking accounts, username, and passwords are the main target. With the banking details of a victim, fraudsters can steal from customers. They use the details from a credit card to shop online. This web-based shopping usually involves PCs, phones, jewelry, gift cards, and even tools to enhance their work. It's also possible that a scammer might be after industrial information that could be of value to a Verizon competitor. Such data can be sold to a Verizon competitor at a high price.
How to Report A Phone Scam To Verizon
Verizon customers can report a phone scam to the company via any of its customer care mediums. The following are some of the mediums through which a customer can contact Verizon to report fraud:
The general toll-free Verizon customer service number (800) 922-0204 is accessible every hour, every day of the week. Individuals have the opportunity to callback on this medium. However, expecting a callback is risky, especially if someone has initially complained about the problem on a public platform.
- Message an agent via the Verizon Live Chat
Concerned individuals can report a Verizon phone scam by contacting customer support via live chat. You can find the live chat tab on the Contact Us page of the Verizon website. Within a few minutes, you can get connected to a human agent to resolve your issue.
- Tweet At Verizon Customer Support
Verizon customers who wish to report a scam case can also contact a customer support representative by sending a direct message to the Verizon support handle. Granted, calling the official Verizon customer support line is toll-free, and the live chat is fast.
However, citizens must note that the official customer service handle of Verizon has a blue tick that proves that the account is legitimate. It's best to be wary of callers who contact you claiming to be agents from the company. Any Verizon handle without the blue tick is from a scammer, so avoid them. You should report such accounts immediately to Verizon and Twitter.
- Join the Verizon Forum
Another way to report an encounter with a fraudster to Verizon is through its community forum. One significant advantage to this is the fact that customers do not get automated responses. By posting the report on the forum, you can get more perspective from fellow Verizon users who have had similar experiences. Hence, besides getting more knowledge on how scammers operate, you also enlighten other users who have not had such encounters. However, you must register an account on the forum before making a post or report on the platform.
- By sending an email to the Verizon email
This is another way to report a phone scam to Verizon, thus helping the fight against fraudsters. The email to direct your report to is phishing@verizon.com.
When Verizon customers report their interaction with fraudsters, it helps them update their tools and awareness campaigns to prevent further victims.
How to Report Verizon Phone Scams To Law Enforcement
If an individual falls victim to a scammer, it is advisable to report to the appropriate law enforcement agency in the country or region for help. The same applies to people who have noticed signs of a potential scammer.
Concerned individuals can also report phone scams to any local law enforcement authority. This helps the authorities in their quest to arrest fraudsters before they hurt people. There are diverse methods and protocols to report scam cases.
US citizens who have been scammed can report the case to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This can be done by visiting the report fraud page. On the other hand, if the person was not scammed, such a person can still provide necessary details by filling the form on FTC's Do Not Call webpage.
It is helpful to report whatever phone number, fake or real, that you got from the fraudster. With the use of reverse phone search services, the authorities might be able to get the location or true identity of the caller. All phone numbers or contact details obtained from scam reports are released by the FTC to the public every week. This way, phone companies and partners providing call-labeling and call-blocking solutions can effectively do their jobs.
Also, through these reports, law enforcement officials can detect trends and calling patterns that can help find fraudsters. The FTC also uses this information to track and arrest scammers.
How to Protect Against Verizon Phone Scams
You can protect against scammers by first getting familiar with how they operate. You should note that caller ID alone cannot efficiently authenticate a caller. This is because these scammers have tools to help them spoof caller ID numbers. A scammer would look legitimate when phoning with the phone number of a respectable company.
Secondly, note that the most secure way to find official support numbers and details is to look for them on any receipt or software package you bought. Going online to search for such information is not the best way to go about it.
These fraudsters sometimes place online advertisements that appear real to convince individuals to call them. Scammers may also pay to boost the ranking of their phishing websites in search results. Hence, fake websites and company details might rank above legitimate ones.
Typically, a caller that employs high-pressure tactics or instills a sense of urgency in a customer is most likely a fraudster. Fraudsters prefer their targets to act before thinking. Remember that Verizon will never ask a customer to provide private details through email.
Once you feel pressured to buy a Verizon product or service, it is most likely a scammer, so you should hang up the call. With these, you should be better prepared should you encounter a scammer. The following are some steps to take when in contact with a fraudster:
Terminate the call
Instantly Hang up the phone if you notice any of the red flags discussed above. Ensure you guard against giving out any confidential information carefully.
Watch out for strange numbers
Whenever you receive such calls or texts, do not open the links in such emails until the sender's identity is confirmed. If you get a call from the individual who said they sent you a mail, use a reverse phone number search to check the actual identity and location of the caller.
Check the website before you log in or reset a password
First, make sure that that web page is secure. Check the address bar, which should read HTTPS:// and a security lock icon in front of the URL. Do this, especially if you are about to submit sensitive information online.
Switch to another mobile carrier
Sometimes you should try switching to another mobile carrier to avoid receiving calls from fraudsters. This is because the fraudster might already have the number on your current mobile carrier. Hence, switching to a new supplier is an effective way to prevent more calls.
Try call blocking
At times, call-blocking is the best defense for Verizon users against unwanted calls. One scam block service that works for one customer might not work for another. Therefore it all depends on the phone as the technology varies from a home phone (VoIP), a traditional landline, to a cell phone.
Make a report if there are multiple logging attempts on your account
Whenever an individual gets notifications of multiple logging attempts on the account from Verizon, report it.
What To Do If You Fall For Verizon Phone Scam
If you discover that a fraudster has conned you, there is still a chance that you might not lose your money if you act fast. Regardless of the payment method used or the details, the sooner the victim acts, the better.
A person who paid a scammer via a debit or credit card might be able to block the transaction from going through. You have to contact the appropriate card company or the bank that issued it instantly. Inform them of the situation and request for a chargeback. This may reverse the charges.
If the scammer's objective was to gain remote access to the individual's computer, such a person should immediately update the security software of the computer. Afterward, that citizen should perform a scan and delete anything identified as a problem. If the detail disclosed to the con artist is the username and password to a banking account. The owner should change the password immediately. If that is the password on other accounts, it is advisable to do the same for all the accounts with that detail.
Suppose the information given to the scammer is the Social Security number (SSN). The victim should visit the Identity theft page of the FTC and learn how to monitor a credit report to prevent illegal use.
The Bottom-Line
Despite the amount of information on the internet concerning scammers, many people still inevitably fall victim. Verizon customers should be wary whenever they receive calls from strangers.
