I got scammed!

[Number23]

Hi Folks

I'm new to O2 having just been switched over from Virgin Mobile.

I was contacted whilst at work by somone claiming to be from O2 saying they could offer me a discount on my bill and a new handset and airtime deal...

40% discount on my bill and a new Samsung S23 and airtime deal for £18pm

I can't believe I fell for it but I did

However, I checked my O2 account and saw that a iPhone 14 had been ordered and just knew something was not right.

I immediately changed my account password and security question / answer.

I contacted O2 directly via 202 and spoke with a great customer service advisor. I told him I was the victim of a scammer and he helped me report it as fraud and gave me advice on what to do and what would happen next.

I had explained to him that the scammer had offered a Samsung S23 but the order showed an iPhone 14. He explained that this is what the scammers do, they offer an item but order a different one so that they can pretend there has been a mistake with the order and ask you to send it back to them and they'll sen you the correct item.

They don't, they keep what you sent and you get billed for it!

So, he advised me that when the item is delivered that the scammers will call to say that they have seen that the item has been delivered and apologise for the mistake and that they'll send you the correct item and offer you a compensation credit etc.

They'll say that they will send you a pre-paid mail bag for the item so that you can return it.

The mail bag will send it straight to the scammer, not to O2.

The O2 advisor told me that the O2 fraud team would contact me for the details of what happened and advise on how to return the handset to O2.

The advisor managed to put a block on the handset so it cannot be used.

I was glad that I quickly locked down my account. However, when I'd finished speaking with the advisor I went back into my account and then I noticed that as well as ordering the iPhone the scammer had also messed with my Tariff!

I was on an excellent tariff from my change over from Virgin to O2 but the scammer messed with that changing it to a more expensive one with a lot less service...

I contacted O2 again, this time via web chat, and explained to the advisor what had happened. Thankfully they had the details from their colleague so knew what I was talking about.

He advised that once the fraud team had completed their investigation and the handset had been returned to O2, they'll sort out my account back to what it was.

So folks, remember, O2 do not cold call you with offers!

It's the old adage, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is!

I've learned from this and hope that by passing on this that other folks might be able to recognise the scam and avoid being stung.

Just waiting to hear from O2 fraud team to get things resolved now.

[ZiggyMoon]

I've had this same call twice in two days.  I suspected it was a scam and didn't give any information away, but what is concerning me is that the scammer said he would need to go through some security checks and that he would send me a code in a text message to read back to him.  

A text message did come through but the worrying thing is that it came from the SAME sender as the texts  from O2 when I had to set up my O2 account after being switched from Virgin.

I've tried to call O2 to check whether this was a scam or not and the call sounded like it was being taken in the same callcentre as the scammer was calling from, so noisy I couldn't hear what the call handler was saying.

Despite also being on an excellent tarrif (£7.50 for sim only with unlimited calls texts and data) I think this is too much hassle and I'm gonna move somewhere else.

[Enlli]

The text will have appeared to come from O2 as the number will be spoofed to fool both you and your phone if it is already in your call list

[ZiggyMoon]

What does spoofed mean?  The text with the passcode came in amongst texts from o2 with set up info from my migration.  They all came up in the list of messages from O2?

[madasaf1sh]

@Robbob123 

It is quite easy to get all the Virgin Numbers into a spreadsheet and call them, as the VM Migration is well publicised in the Tech Media. 

You can get the National Dial plan from OfCom, of the MISDN Prefixes owned by Virgin Media, have a spreadsheet created in an hour with every number from 000001 to 999999 and then get a dialer software and call you, saying we are from O2 and get a hit rate of 1% 

Or scrape this forum for the idiots who post there phone numbers on here, and ring them.

Definitely not a data breach

@ZiggyMoon 

You can use tools to make a text look like it comes from an organisation.  Unless you use something like PhoneLink on Windows you wont see the real number.. 

The text with the Passcode comes from o2, and it tells you specifically not to share it, even with o2, if you ignore that warning I'm sorry but you are then liable, and a lot of companies are now taking this view..

[Newhere355]

Im an ex virgin mobile user too and was scammed last Tuesday in exactly the same way as the o/p. Called O2 who seemed to be aware of this scam and was told not to accept the Iphone but ask DPD to return Iphone to O2 depot which I did while they raised issue with their fraud. Also changed O2 account details etc. However:

I received a letter from O2 the previous week (dated 15th July) regarding the direct debit but I recall receiving text messages from "O2 UK" from 13th July so I assumed this was O2. But the scammers used this to send their six digit codes. I have since blocked/reported this. Then a few days ago I received a missed call from 0131 358 4573. Then a text message regarding six digit codes. Did a search and turns out other people received same missed call, appears to be a landline number in scotland. So blocked again! Oh and I have two sets of text messages from "O2 UK" (blocked) and "O2".

Seems to be too much of coincidence that the 'scamming texts' start two days before the date of the letter from O2 - unless thats the scammers too. If so, how did they obtain my direct debit details to put in a fake letter?

[Newhere355]

EDIT - the text messages werte from "O2 UK" (blocked) and "O2UK".

[madasaf1sh]

@Newhere355 

Quite easy to do as everyone knows Virgin are migrating to o2, and I can knock up a calling list in 10 minutes from publicly available information as I have previously said, so they are working on the probablity that you have been migrated. 

And all I need to get a OTP is your phone number and the lost password page, and then ring up people and say I am from o2 and get the OTP and change your password I then have full access to your account.. 

The direct debit change is also part of the migration process..

[Mrsb123]

I have been moved over from virgin exactly the same im 99% sure it was the same guy I spoke to the weds to complain about no service on all 4 phones as I was told I would be called back to discuss what was happening as a mast was down.

Again busy mum exhausted from my nursing shift fell for the offer of discount and loads ordered and even delivery address changed in app.

Now despite calling within minutes  of the scam everything was ordered regardless of me cancelling and tariff changed and already billed .

I understand a lot of virgin customers have been done but the effect this has had on me the lack of help the fact the devices were back at 02 warehouse weds still not sorted my account but all this was done despite my notifying of the fraud within minutes is disgraceful. 

[madasaf1sh]

@Mrsb123 

That means nothing and until o2 and maybe the police and other authorities have concluded there investigations then nothing will happen, as they are not legally allowed to tell you anything.

I am afraid to say you may be found liable for the fraud, as you gave someone access to your account, ignoring the warnings on the texts which specifically call out not giving the code to anyone not even o2. 

You can keep trying o2 on the contact numbers here Guide: How to find help & contact O2 # but until the fraud team conclude there work dont expect to hear anything..

[Beemore]

I am also a virgin customer who has been scammed in the same way. O2 are no help at all, and it is quite clear that they are telling different people to do different things. I phoned them and said I wasn't going to accept the phone and was told that I had to accept it and wait till I hear from the fraud team. I had a call from a guy last night saying that he was from the fraud team and he said that they would send a courier to collect it. I then challenged him and asked how did I know that he wasn't part of the scam team, to which he just expected me to take him on his word. He then said that I would get 3 emails before the collection and said that the first one would arrive over night or this morning. We are now late afternoon and still nothing from O2. In fairness the call was from the O2 number but saying that the way they do the scam is also very convincing. Having looked into this on various IT forums the scammers will also have all our bank details and they say that we need to change bank accounts. They can also do something called a SIMswap where they can see and access our phones so intercepting authorisation codes from banks etc. This now means that in order to stay safe the best way is to change bank accounts etc yet you also need to change your mobile number as if you don't the scammers just collect your new information.  This scam is apparently rife and is part of an alleged data breech that O2 are supposedly trying to cover up. I think it is appalling that O2 have not even bothered to send customers an email warning them of the potential scam, and the way they treat you once you have been scammed is diabolical. They genuinely just don't care. My scam only happened 3 days ago and I would love to hear how those that were scammed over a longer period of time are getting along and if their issues have been resolved.