I got scammed!
I didn’t think this could happen to me! I know better for Pete’s sake!! But I was caught off guard and was scammed by a fake Verizon call. Here’s what happened and what you can do to prevent it. This is not exactly a health topic, but it impacted my mental health that day, so I’m sharing my experience.
Last week I was expecting a call from a friend in Virginia but my phone was being weird. He called and couldn’t get through, so I called back and couldn’t get through. Then I got a call from an unfamiliar number with the 804 area code, which is Virginia, and I thought it was the call I was expecting, calling from a different number, so I answered it. I almost never answer a call from 804 area code unless I know the person because it is almost always a scam call. When I answered the call, a computer said that my Verizon account had been suspended and press “2” for customer service. So I followed the prompt because my phone seemed to have been not working right. First mistake was answering the call, second was continuing on with the prompt. So the customer service person was very kind and helpful and asked questions, ultimately needing my PIN in order to check my account. He texted me verification codes in order to proceed which I read back to him, believing he was a legit Verizon rep. He gave me some tips about avoiding fraud, like turning off your WIFI when you leave home etc. At the end of the conversation he gave me a confirmation number to document the investigation that was going to happen and explained I would get a letter in the mail if I wanted to press charges. I was not thinking clearly, obviously, because having my account compromised is upsetting.
So I get off the phone with fake customer service dude and check my email only to find that my Verizon password had been changed and someone had purchased 2 sets of Air Pod Pros at $280.00 each, billed it to my account and shipped to an address in Worchester, Massachusetts! Seriously!! I was livid! While I was on the phone with fake dude, he was hacking my account and ordering products. I was angry with him for his fraud and angry with myself for falling for it. I know better! But I still got drawn in.
I got on the phone with the real Verizon, by calling 611, and after a very long wait finally got through to a person and reported the fraud. They cancelled the order for Air pods, but the charge will still show up on my bill until it gets refunded. They helped me change all my security settings and recommended a service called “call filter” that supposedly screens scam calls so they don’t ring through. There is an app for that but it has to be activated with Verizon. Then I got a text from Fedex that “my” order had shipped-the air pods were shipped to the fraudster anyway!! So I drove to Fedex here locally and asked if they could intercept the shipment and return them to Verizon so the thief would not receive what I paid for. They said they did, but I really don’t know if the fraudster got the air pods or not. He probably ordered hundreds of them from other marks like me and then sold them on eBay.
Lessons learned:
Don’t answer calls that you don’t recognize- if it is important, they will leave a message. Google the phone number and if it still doesn’t identify a person you know or business you want to talk too, block the number. Verizon would not call your phone to tell you there is a problem with your phone. They email. Or text. And that’s the other weird thing. When Verizon texts me to tell me my bill is available, the number looks like this:+90 (008) 000 40 00 or something similar. Scammers usually text from a phone number. But this one texted me from a Verizon number like the one above- apparently a new hack for scammers. Was the scammer that called me a Verizon employee with a side scam gig going on? Makes you wonder.
Add a call filter to your phone so scam calls are blocked
Don’t give out any information on the phone like I did. Either hang up or call the real Verizon number back to see if there is an issue with your account. You can also ask for their employee number which will probably result in them hanging up. Same applies to banks or credit card companies.
There you have it. My scam story and warning for the day. I wish I could say the scammer was caught and had consequences, but unfortunately, they probably just got away with it. I hate that it is so prevalent and apparently easy.