Forum Discussion

Cactus3963's avatar
Cactus3963
Settling in
3 days ago

VM helping keep my account secure

Hi,  does anyone know a way to contact someone at VM regarding account security?  Not on my part, I'm very switched on and have a cyber security background.

Twice in the past 2 weeks someone has called VM impersonating me and managed to get the login email address and password changed on my account despite not possibly knowing the memorable word.  The call handlers I spoke with when I called to regain access were no help with suggestions on how it can be prevented from happening again.  I feel I've done all I can on my part but now have no confidence in VM keeping my account secure.

7 Replies

  • Hi Cactus3963 ๐Ÿ‘‹ Thank you for your post and welcome to the Virgin Media Community ๐Ÿ™‚

    We're really sorry to hear about what's happened and that you feel this way ๐Ÿ˜”

    Is there anyone you can think of that would be able to successfully answer three secondary security questions in relation to your account?

    If you're adamant nobody could possibly know your memorable word, that's the only way someone could pass data protection and request the changes described.

    Please pop back to us at your earliest convenience.

    Regards,
    Daniel

  • Hi Daniel, thanks for the response.  That would be unlikely.  When I regained my account after the first time I only remember having the option to set one security question?  I deliberately used an incorrect answer but took a note for my future reference (not stored digitally).  After the second time it happened I've now changed my email login to another address as another security measure.

    Is it possible to set something on my account indicating to any call handlers to only accept security changes/access to my account if I call from my VM landline?  The only time I wouldn't use my landline would be to report a landline fault and wouldn't be looking to change any login information.

    • coenoby's avatar
      coenoby
      Very Insightful Person

      Cactus3963โ€‹ 

      Your experience was obviously very worrying and stressful so I have to stress upfront that I am not doubting you at all.

      However, I would respectfully ask whether you know for certain that the scammer/hacker changed your sign in account and VM account password by contacting VM support staff?

      The reason I ask is that if the hacker had been able to gain access to your VM account, (perhaps using your VM credentials taken in a data breach for example) then they could have made those changes to your VM account without any help from VM support staff and without having to answer any security questions whatsoever. 

      If that was the case there is still a big security issue to be addressed but the focus of attention changes.

      Switching your account sign in to a different address was a great move and in view of your experience that sign in email account definitely  needs to be one that's protected by 2FA or similar.

      If the hacker used VM support to make the changes to you account, it's worth mentioning that the 3 security questions that Daniel_Et refers to in his post often include a question about the bank account that you use to pay VM.

      VM staff never ask for the full sort code and account number but the fact that they knew enough to pass those security suggests the hacker has a considerable amount of information about you.

      Finally,  with your security background I am sure that you have already:

      1. checked your credit reports for any changes that might suggest you have already been  affected by identity theft.
      2. you have also run extensive malware checks on your devices to ensure that the hackers are not able to pick up your VM credentials from your devices via malware.

      I really hope that you can get some sort of closure to this, as it stands it is clearly a big worry whether the hacker/scammer can do the same again.

      Coenoby

       

       

  • @Coenoby

    Thanks for your response.  My devices are definitely clean (I use Win Server Hyper-V virtualization and setup a new Win 11 Virtual Machine after the first incident).  I also purchased a new mobile phone just a week ago.  I also took numerous other precautions after the first incident.

    There is more to this and taking control of my VM account was part of it.  I've joined most of the dots but it wouldn't be sensible to post it all in a public forum.

    If you'd like a lot more detailed info I could give that in a private chat.

  • @Coenoby  Apologies, I just noticed you're not a VM Forum team member.

    I'm happy to give details to any forum team member though in chat.

    • Akua_A's avatar
      Akua_A
      Icon for Forum Team rankForum Team

      We can understand your concern. In this case, to further look into this for you, we are sending you a private message. Please keep an eye out for an envelope at the top right corner of your Forum page. Let me know if you have any issues locating this.

      Thanks,