Called by a scam number after ordering PAYG Sim?

[udapud]

I just had a call form 0161 850 2959 from someone claiming to be from O2. He correctly mentioned that I had just ordered a new PAYG sim, and offered me a "better deal".

I smelled BS so didn't offer up anything, but the question I have is:

HOW DID THIS MAN KNOW I HAD ORDERED A NEW SIM CARD?

I purchased through the O2 website securely, so how is it that a known scam number is able to get this information?

[Cleoriff · Accepted solution]

@udapud 

It's a well known scam.

Block the number and report it free to 7726.

DO NOT follow any links or enter any information.

O2 advice here   https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/phishing-and-smishing

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/Phishing-Smishing-amp-Scams-Latest-info-amp-advice/m-p/13...

 How to block a number:

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062352/

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201229

[madasaf1sh]

@udapud 

I can create a CSV file with 100K phone numbers in it, and add to an autodialer in India, and then just ring everyone on that file, and would have a hit rate of 0.5 - 1% of those who had actually bought a new PAYG sim card, and scam people... 

It really can be very random and scarily so... 

[udapud]

@madasaf1sh Nah, these guys knew I had ordered a sim card. I have never received a phishing call like this before. It wasn't random.

And literally 2 days after I ordered it?

[Cleoriff]

@udapud 

If you check this:

https://who-called.co.uk/Number/01618502959 

you will see it is a scam and has nothing to do with O2.

[Martin_888]

This just happened to me as well, so I googled about it and found this thread.

As the OP mentions. This can't be just random as I never had any such calls before. But I ordered a sim card a few days ago and now this spam number has rang me multiple times. Something fishy going on.

[Oxonian]

@udapud  @Martin_888 

I agree that there's something fishy about this but we actually don't know what it is and hence cannot do anything about it. 

If I were in your position, I would just reflect on the fact that you were astute enough not to fall for the scammers' tricks.