Home News Technology Virgin Media warns all customers and ignoring them can be costly

Virgin Media warns all customers and ignoring them can be costly

Virgin Media warns customers to beware of cold calls (Image: VIRGIN MEDIA)

Virgin Media users should be careful if they are approached by the company when they were not expecting it. The broadband and TV provider says scammers are actively trying to exploit customers through fake phone calls using sneaky tactics called Vishing in an attempt to steal personal information.

Sounding friendly, polite and professional makes it easy to think that the person on the other end of the phone is from a real company, but this is often not the case. Cold calling is a long-standing technique that can be very effective for scammers. Once a person has been defrauded, hackers can eventually gain access to bank account information and, if they hand over IP addresses online, they can also be granted full access to a personal PC.

These types of cold calls continue to increase and it is vital to be aware of the consequences. Virgin says anyone in doubt about a call they receive should simply hang up the phone.

However, there are also a few things to look out for to make sure things are real. If you have a pre-arranged conversation with Virgin, the company says it will ask you if you are the account holder and to confirm three random characters of your account’s memorable word (no more, no less).

READ MORE: Sky TV’s biggest uproar in years removes one popular channel, but adds two for free

If you don’t have a memorable word on your account, or you can’t specify the three random characters, Virgin will ask you to answer a security question, which you set yourself when closing the account.

When Virgin calls you about an offer or move, they ask you to confirm two of the following: your zip code, the first line of your address, your account number, your email address or your date of birth.

Anyone who thinks they have been scammed can still prevent hacks from happening.

Virgin is giving this advice to anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud.

1. Contact your bank if you believe you have provided financial information

2. Change your account password

3. Forward free fraudulent texts to Virgin on 7726 and they will look into it

4. Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040

5. Call Virgin Media on 150 from your Virgin Mobile phone or 0345 454 1111 from another phone if you believe someone has contracted us with your details

Virgin Media isn’t the only clear warning about the dangers of cold calling.

Microsoft is warning users of its popular Windows operating systems to look out for increasingly sophisticated scams that can end up being costly. The Redmond-based company says it continues to be informed of a growing number of attacks that attempt to trick users into handing over personal information and credit card information through fake tech support alerts.

The latest trick that scammers have employed uses a pop-up window that suddenly appears on computer screens. The terrifying message suggests that the PC has been compromised with a technical support number redirecting users to a fake call center.

Once called, the user is asked to pay for help that they do not actually need.

Microsoft says it receives about 6,500 complaints from people who have been victims of tech support scams.

Check all Technology News here: Gaming Ideology

Source

No comments

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Exit mobile version