Reports from people receiving calls from possible scammers claiming to be from a Sky contact center still continue on despite the recent conviction for conspiracy of 14 people who used the same trick, as sentenced by the Swansea Crown Court.
The latest report came from the victim who was advised to wait for a replacement viewing card to be inserted in her Sky box. The next scam caller told her that she was also entitled for a refund for the overcharging of Sky. After the victim gave her bank details to the caller, she then discovered that large sums of money had been withdrawn from her account.
The number 01332387203 was reported in tellows as a scam similar to this method:
PapaEllis said:
Despite leaving Sky and starting a new account at our new home, they keep calling trying to get us to sign up again
…while user Walter was also called by this number 01275390573:
Called asking for me by name in connection to my Sky TV. They reckon the service plan had expired.
Told them I didnt have sky, never had either – found similar numbers online with similar reviews so thought I would add this one to the list.
Other accounts from target victims start from a call requesting for a feedback on the service of Sky. This is just to confirm if they are really a customer or subscriber. If yes, then they get a follow-up call from the billing or sales department of Sky offering upgrades or cover plans.
The group of fraudsters who was sentenced by the Swansea court for 21 years in prison sold victims Sky insurance policies amounting from £69.99 to £99.99. These scammers used phone books covering all of Wales, and some parts of England to target their customers. The whole sales pitch sounded real and credible so they were able to get the credit or debit card numbers of the victims.
Those who did fall for the offer found that money was taken without their knowledge before the 12 month renewal date came around. In some instances three, four or five extra payments were taken within the year. Some customers had money taken twice on the same day by different members of staff.
Normally, if your Sky equipment is already out of warranty, you can get an insurance plan so that you can get it repaired or replaced if damaged. The service is actually provided by a 3rd party not by SKY themselves. And this opens doors for scammers.
The call would sound valid since fraudsters would know your:
- name
- the first 4 digits of your debit card
- that you are a sky customer
- that you had a protection plan
- that you had recently renewed it
- that you had not made any claims since renewing it
However, you should know that: when someone confirms your card details to you, they should give you the last 4 digits and not the first 4 digits. The first 4 digits are not unique but are in fact the same for all the other customers of the bank.
What to do if you think you got scammed
1. call SKY to confirm the call
2. call your bank and cancel your card
3. dial 1471 to get the number of the scammer if it’s withhelf and report it to the police
Protect yourself from this scam
Never give out your personal details on the phone to someone who has called you, always call the company back on a known number.
According to Sky, the viewing card does not exist and is just a way to engage the customer, and that if someone does have an issue with their viewing card, an onscreen message will advise them to call Sky rather than the other way round. If there’s no message, calls from „Sky staff“ should be ignored.
Hang up and call Sky on 08442 414141.
Source:
www.theguardian.com
www.actionfraud.police.uk
www.michaels.me.uk
www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk
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Ive had two calls in the last two days supposedly from sky when i said i didnt have sky they immediately hung up
the number left on 1471 was 01387 267 706 the 1471 voice tells you to hang up not to call the number press 3
if the call was genuine sky which is doubtful as sky dont call customers the call would not be terminated abruptly
I was called today by a foreign man saying he was from Sky and that I needed a new viewing card which I would receive within the next few days. It would not cost me any more and I was just to replace it in my machine after taking the old one out. He said his name was Sam Edwards and his phone number was 08442 414141. I asked him if it was a free phone but he could not tell me that. I asked him if this was a scam and he said no, no, no. I then told him I was hanging up and I have not had another call. I then telephoned Sky and reported it and the genuine operative told me it was a scam. What are they trying to get out of me. I don’t understand. Perhaps he would have asked me to confirm my account details but I didn’t give him a chance
I had 2 phone calls before I took the bite on the third phone call. The called for insurance for my sky box at 99 pounds for the year. After given my details I received an email and the next day or 2 days later I see that my credit card has been charged for the 99 pounds by Kodi Estates ???? I am not sure if this is written correctly cause all original papers I gave to a neighbouring Police Inspector. I called the credit card company for the refund cause this is obviously a scam. Later at the Police they said they have contacted various national fraud alerts and there are loads of other complaints and the fraud action team of police are on top of it. Also other victims their credit cards have been charged for Sky Insurance on behalf of „Mitchell or Mitchells“. Hang up or be aware if they call you and always ask for their name and phone number and tell them if they can call you back the next morning. Reason for this is that these scammers, mostly working from little offices, start calling from halfway the afternoon till early evening hours.
Had a ‚phone call at 11:55 today. Caller claimed to be Paul Watson from SKY. Wanted my bank card details! Apparently I (and, supposedly, many others) am owed £107. Yeah, right! As if I’m stupid!!!
I demanded to speak to the supervisor. „Paul“ put me through to someone called Jessica. She gave their address as 28 Station Road, Potters Bar, EN6 1TL.
I suggested tht I was happy to receive a cheque for said amount. She told me that she would have to discuss this with the manager, because they only refund to your bank online! I retorted that I was happy to await a cheque. „Jessica“ said she would ring me tomorrow around the same time!!
Yeah right!
I ‚phoned the number given to me 033 033 31 250. This was, so it transpired, for SKY insurance. When I asked did they know customers were being contacted about £107 refunds, I was informed that several other people had contacted them. Surprise, surprise….it’s all a scam.
BEWARE!!
My parents were scammed, exactly as described, today. They followed up all the sky stuff with calls pretending to be from their bank. They have managed to get away with &8.5k.
I too have received a SPAM call this morning purportedly from SKY wanting me to renew my contract with them – which incidentally is done automatically through the bank!
These SKY scammers are at it again!!!! A male claiming to be from the SKY billing departrment ‚phoned me this morning and I took great delight in deliberately keeping him on the ‚phone for 25 minutes (IT IS THEIR PHONE BILL AFTER ALL). Surprise, surprise I was told that (apparently) I am owed £200!! Clever „t..t“ at the other end said that he needed me to divulge my date of birth and 16 digit bank card number before authorising release of the refund (of course they don’t issue cheques because everything is done on line these days!!!!!).
I took great pleasure in winding them up, knowing that they were wasting their time, but asked to be put through to a supervisor (named Peter, how sweet, but definitely not a saint… more a sycophantic moron. In fact I hope he reads my rant). I told Peter to put it all in writing and asked why he needed my sensitive details which the genuine SKY company would NOT demand. Peter eventually realised that I had reached checkmate, so he terminated the call!!
BEWARE people! These idiots will keep trying to rip off unsuspecting folks. For the record, Peter gave the billing department’s number as 0871-245-3468. However, don’t bother trying to ring because all you will get is a message in an Asian (?) dilalect. This will be followed by a message telling you that the number is switched off.
Happy days!!
I received an overseas call this morning purporting to be from Sky, telling me I was due a refund of just over £200. She then began asking for my date of birth and bank details to „confirm my identity for their records“. I terminated the call.
Had a phone call from someone pretending to be from sky tv. I was told I was due a refund for a monthly overpayment. They asked for my 3 digit security number on the back of my card. I gave them 3 choice words instead.
I have been called 3 times by a lay „from Sky“ advising me that my viewing card will soon be replaced. In addition they will be transferring me to a new category of „pensionerSky“ and I will be credited with a repayment of £150 into my bank account. They know the details they said so it will happen automatically. All they need from me is my bank sort code and my account details. Once I have confirmed the info they hold they will transfer the £150 to my account. What a load of tosh I told them it was a scam and that I never give anyone, not even the Queen, my bank details so please go away. I now await to see how many more times they will call me. The number they were calling from was 08707777216. I used another phone about an hour later and it was operator intercepted saying service to that number will not be answered.
Received an international call from a lady from „Sky“ claiming that I was due a refund of £200. I explained that I was a BT customer and that I paid for my Sky channels through them and was advised the refund due had dropped to £150. Was asked for debit card details which I refused to give.
I have just had a call this morning……saying I am due a refund for £202. I was suspicious when they asked me to confirm my expiry card on my debit card. I asked for their name, address and phone number……all the details were given and were the same as the above comment, with the exception of the first name, which was Jennifer Watson! I said I would check it all out and call them back. She was quite persistent, but I insisted on calling her back later. Did 1471 and the number flagged up as 008142983021! Beware!!
Address given by ‚Jennifer W.‘ as 28 Station Road, P*, EN6 * !!!
Tel: 033 033 31 250 !!!
Should you be have an interest in subscribing to the Sky
TELEVISION service or are already a subscriber and wish to
incorporate in your viewing bundle You’ll be
able to deal with the various decisions obtainable by calling the Sky Customer Care number provided by ContactHelpline.
3 calls a day received from sky refund department, 03303331258, 28 station close, potter’s bar. Apparently they owe me £202 which cannot be paid by cheque only debit card. They seemed shocked that I was only 2 years old, didn’t have a debit card, and my sort code was 200202. Peter Hein declined to give me his bank account details so I could invoice him for my time
I was called today by someone supposedlying from Sky, telling me that I was due a refund for being overcharged a few years ago. (We’re now with BT). I told them I’d never had an account in my name, but he wanted my date of birth. I asked if he could give me a number to call him back when I’d made some checks. He was reluctant to do so, but calmly continued to persuade me & said that he understood my concerns. I ended the call. PLEASE BEWARE!
I have had 2 calls asking for my date of birth and expiry date of my debit card telling me that I am due £202 refund from Sky. Next time I will be giving my date of birth as 22/06/17 as they clearly think I was born yesterday because I don’t even have Sky !
I received a call today from a foreign woman saying she was from Sky,and they had over charged me by £202 I sussed it was a scam,and the number she called from was 006752984632,I have now barred this number.
006752984632 called stating I was due a £202 rebate from sky. Times are getting hard for these people.
Called at 9.40am by a southeast Asian female saying she was from Sky and that I was due a refund of £202. She asked to confirm my name, which I did not, and she gave my postcode. I halted the call and said that if she had my address just send the refund through the post. Watch out! I did 1471 and the number that rang was 006752984632
Same profile. Clearly from somewhere in Asia, knowing my name and address but asking for my date of birth. Kept them talking to waste their time for about 10mins before asking for the precise details of the months for which the bill was wrong, then they hang up…
Asking questions are truly good thing if you are not understanding something entirely, however this post
provides good understanding yet.
Another scam call today from Sky refund dept wanting to give me back £202 and requesting my d.o.b. Call was from 006752984632.
I was phoned today and last week said I had a refund of £205 from sky but they needed my passport or driving license details to confirm it was me I played around for awhile they asked me to send the details to email refundaskyuk.co yeah ok I think not
chap phoned today phone number 022034510061 said he was from sky checked with sky he’s not beware scam
I have just received a phone call from someone claiming to be from sky and asking me to turn on my laptop so he could talk me through a fix for my broadband. I refused to do so and my broadband is still working. I believe this may well be a scam and would like to report it as such. The number according to 1471 call back is 01655626483.
Had a scamp call from Sky today, why couldn’t someone refund money to account# and sort code, I refused to give out more details. His name was Joel W. Don’t fall for him. go by your instinct. If something is too good to be true then you know isn’t true
I have also been contacted by a number in glassgow
who said they were from sky who said i was due for a refund unwisely i gave them my card details . had second thoughts rang the number back and it was not recognized ..so cancelled bank card and got away with it very lucky..also suggest getting a free online credit check so you can have a warning of id fraud..
Just received a call from someone saying they were from Sky and that I am due a £200 refund. They asked for my date of birth. I said I don’t give out my date of birth and that I would ring Sky TV directly. I hung up.
The number they rang on was 07412525262
SOME ONE HAS ATTENDED OUR CLUB AND SAID WE WERE SCREENING A FOOTBALL MATCH. HE TOLD THE MANAGER THAT THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID A PROSECUTION WAS TO TAKE A SUBSCRIPTION . HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THIS. WE ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A SOLICITOR IN LONDON.
I thought that I was wise to potential scammers – but truly caught out today. Call from „SKY“ to say that as a long term subscriber I would receive an upgraded sky box free of charge. I was given a time and date for delivery and installation to be undertaken by Philip who would have an identity badge. My direct debit would also be reduced. (I wonder if he will turn up!)
Yes you have guessed – I was completely taken in by the professional presentation and apparent knowledge of detail by the caller – eg part of my bank details which they had on record. Reluctantly I confirmed the remaining financial details – perhaps due to the temptation of a new box at reduced cost!
After hanging up I began to have doubts – contacted Sky who confirmed no one from their office had contacted me.
I immediately transferred most of the money in that account to another account on line – then contacted my bank to cancel the card before any money could be withdrawn. Call received from: 0345 9410041
Several times recently I’ve received calls when an automated voice tells me my internet connection is about to be terminated and therefore asking me to press certain numbers to rectify this. I have ignored such requests.
I have been scammed today first on my phone and then on the computer a very new customer to sky but so difficult to talk to anyone in person at sky
Had a telephone call today at 8.30am. Caller said that they were my server and that my telephone line was going to be cut off today. Said that they were a scam and put telephone down. Checked the telephone number and found it was from a firm called Aluminium Fold Doors – Telephone 0744579394
This has happened to my Mother December 21. Numbers 0204 577 1016 – 0204 577 1770 Sky Insurance for equipment she doesn’t have.