identifying phone scam

bjlockie

How do you identify a phone scam?
I recently received a call from “Telus” offering to save me 40% on my cell phone plan and selling me a phone for $10/month for 2 years.
It sounded legit but I hung up because I don’t really need that.
If I was overpaying for my plan I can see how it would interest me.

Dks01

bjlockie You just did. If it sounds too good to be true, it is,

koira

bjlockie so the phone is going to cost 240$ over two years, is that comparable or too good to be true. My plan is BYOD, no charge set up and sim, 35$ for unlimited text and calling , 60 gigs 5g data in canada, us, mexico , call answer etc. can they knock 40% off that ?
Do they have a physical presence anywhere close to home that you can visit or is it just some random guy calling from a boiler room in New Jersey

Thane_Bitter

bjlockie Caller ID number can be a tip off, yes numbers can be spoofed but at least it gives you something to call back or look up.

Avernar

bjlockie How do you identify a phone scam?

With the last phone scam my dad got, he hung up and called Bell himself. They told him that the number the scammers were calling wasn’t Bell’s. He then proceeded to negotiate with Bell continuing from the scammers offer. Managed to actually get some deals from Bell.

TeaL;DeeR: If someone calls you with an offer, tell them to put a note it in your file and that you’ll call them right back (at the official number for that company). If it was scammers, try to get a deal anyways.

taraf

Telus does actually proactively reach out to long time customers for that kind of thing – at least their flanker brand Koodo does. I’ve gotten some really good deals that way.

But yeah, if you’re happy with what you have, there’s no reason to change. You could always ask them to send it to you in writing so you can review it – that will usually scare the sammers off, and if it doesn’t it’s usually very apparent that it is a scam when they actually do send it.

px_eliezer_

koira Do they have a physical presence anywhere close to home that you can visit or is it just some random guy calling from a boiler room in New Jersey

Hey us joisey guys do much bigger stuff, not penny ante. 😉

Donoreo

I know if it is Rogers, it is not Rogers Corporate, but it may be a Rogers dealer.

Donoreo

Avernar He then proceeded to negotiate with Bell continuing from the scammers offer. Managed to actually get some deals from Bell.

Well played.

Dks01

bjlockie That’s a classic phone scam. Once they have your account deets and your credit card number, they will lock you out of your account, use your credit card to order a new iPhone and stick you with the bill. Then they will charge you card up your wazoo. You did the right thing by hanging up. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/News/MediaReleases/cellphonecompanyscamDec27

urbanriot

bjlockie

How do you identify a phone scam?

I started using Truecaller after getting a lot of scam calls but not setting the app to outright block, but treating the “block” mechanism as muting the call just in case it’s a false positive, which the app does from time to time.

Another way I identify the caller is the call display, usually legit outlets will show “Bell” or “Telus” or “TD”. Of course than can be spoofed but I haven’t really seen it happen. Also Truecaller shows the location and you get a questionable VoIP service name or something not-Canadian

Aside from that, one really good way to confirm the call is legitimate is to ask them what information they have on your account. I’ve found that the third party resellers who are selling you a deal on behalf of Bell don’t have your account information which is a dead giveaway.

Dks01

urbanriot I have a Telus Business service. Their sales calls (they call multiple times a day) always come from the same number but are not identified by the name Telus

urbanriot

Dks01

I have a Telus Business service. Their sales calls (they call multiple times a day) always come from the same number but are not identified by the name Telus

Interesting. When I get a call from Telus it appears with a name that includes Telus and some other letters / acronyms which I can’t recall at this time. Rogers too. I’m sure there are a lot of calls that don’t have this feature which is why I wrote “usually”. Bell always says “Bell”. The CRA often says “CRA” as well, CRA like “GC CRA/ARC”.