A new scam is targeting SFR subscribers. Fake advisors are calling the operator’s customers under the pretext of a network problem to encourage them to call premium rate numbers. And the bill is steep!
As we know, telecom operators are often the target of scammers, who seek to recover personal information (phone number, identifiers, passwords, etc.) from their subscribers to set up new scams, as well as to seize their bank details. And it is the turn of SFR customers to pay the price! On RED forumthe operator’s low-cost brand, a customer complained about receiving a call supposedly from an SFR advisor, who had come to inform him of a network problem. He asked him to dial a telephone number to carry out tests in order to relieve the network. Bad surprise: it was in reality a premium rate number, which generated a large overcharge for the victim. The scam was repeated several times.
SFR scam: beware of premium rate numbers
However, several signs should have alerted the victim. In fact, the first time, the fraudulent call came from a mobile number located in the Republic of Congo. The victim remained on the line with the premium rate number for about 20 minutes, listening to the music on hold. Subsequently, she received several calls making the same request, each time with a different number to call. One of them was located in Nigeria, and another even began with 0892.
It is important to know how to recognize the signs of a phone scam. If you receive a call claiming to be from SFR or any other operator, be vigilant. As a member of the RED by SFR team indicates, a company representative will never ask the customer to dial a premium rate number to resolve an issue. Also be wary of any calls that create a sense of urgency or panic because, even if the motive is different, the principle remains the same: to extract money and personal information. For example, it could be the modified contract scam, where the victim receives an email pretending to have a contract change and inviting them to consult their bill. It could also be a message pretending to pay a reactivation fee in order to be able to continue to enjoy the operator’s services without interruption, accompanied by a link to renew their subscription.
Remember that you should never share personal information, especially banking information, over the phone. To limit this type of inconvenience, it is recommended to use call blocking applications. If in doubt, do not hesitate to end the call and contact the operator’s customer service yourself. In the event that you receive a call of this type, immediately block the number from your mobile phone’s call settings and report it by SMS to 33,700the platform specialized in reporting scams. You can also report fraudulent messages to the site internet-signalement.gouv.fr.