Scam Telephone Call Pretending To Be Virgin Media ?

[RobCheatle]

I am getting repeated calls, clearly originating in the Far East, suggesting that I have a problem with my Router and wanting me to give them access to my router.

This felt like a scam. I have had three calls just today.

The number given after calling 1471 is 01472325599.

Any ideas?

[mkneafsey]

Hi Lisa,

Than you for such a fast response. So it's just the device that was used that would be in any sort of danger? If I use different device would I need to change log in details as well?

[Lisa_CC]

Hi mkneafsey,

If the caller asked your friend to open command prompt, they may have wanted your friend to visit a link or gain remote access. It does sound like they didn't get very far. I'm not too clued up on the various techniques they use but the best way to keep all your accounts safe as possible is to periodically change all your logins every now and then (making sure it's not the same password too) and be careful with what links you open and what you divulge online.

If you change your details on one device such as your Virgin Media online account, the new password will apply if you was accessing your account on a different device. You may also review your websafe settings via your online account and see this link on security.

Thanks,

Lisa

[bw41101]

I was targeted five times (all within the space of one hour) today - the first call at 07:45 hours - an obvious scammer!

However I tried a new tactic when answering the last call. When I answered the call, instead of saying hello, I just listened out for the usual call centre background noise and when the scammer spoke I replied "good morning Blackpool police how can I help" I then heard the scammer in a panicky voice say "oh my god" and hang up very quickly.

I've not received another call since then.

Might be worth a shot for those being inundated.

[hopondown]

I just received the same call, clearly from an Indian call centre. I was pretty suspicious but played along up untli the point when she asked me to go to a specific website... it was something hub19.web.com, obviously nothing to do with Virgin. At that point I said bye and hung up. Prior to that she had got me to open up the Windows configuration program to show that some services had stopped. I asked what that had to do with router troubles and she failed to give me an answer. I have to say I had my guard down a little simply because she was a woman. Woman can't be scammers, surely?! Oh well. 

[AS000]

I had a call today from an Indian lady saying she was from Virgin Media from this number - 01692 813389. I knew it was a scam right away but didn't let on and i wanted to see how far she would go. She said that hackers had gained access to my passwords and personal info and were using it for fraudulant activity! She asked if i shared my passwords with anyone and if i do online shopping or banking. Then she said she would have to connect me to security at which point i said if this was genuine then i would call Virgin back myself as there are alot of scammers out there. She was then 'no no no' and i repeated what i said. Then as i was hanging up i could here her start to say she was going to switch my internet off! Which didnt happen of course. If you see this number on your phone, please ignore. 

[mhallinan]

yes i had the same here, had 13 calls from all over the UK each time insisting that i had a problem on my router. the thing is they had all my account details and even told me what bank my payments were coming from. So i let them talk me through what they were trying to do. they basically got my to download AnyDesk and then teamviewer. at that point they got me to run the "tree" command from inside a CMD prompt. I ran it and the last message said my router was invalid and that they owed me £304.65. They then insisted that i logged into my bank from the PC, which i refused. at this point they started trying to say i had to do it or the could not refund me my money. Since i am an internet security person i just refused.   they then said they were sending an engineer to replace my router. they provided a ref number and engineers name.. lol.. lets see if one turns up. I called VM and spoke to a very helpful person who said they had no record of any issues with my router. 

Its very strange how they had all my details, a bit worrying as they could tell me which bank i was with.

I am waiting for them to call back again and i will have a bit of fun with them. This is a SCAM. 

[dazseaton]

Getting unindated whilst trying to work from home. Why can't anything be done about this.

I am at the point of any line that goes quiet when you answer and then goes to a indian call centre gets a "[DELETED]"

Pity any genuine calls, but that's how it gets you. 3 in last half hour......

Wonder if they annoy you if they know your onto them.

OFCOM should be onto this surely!!!!

 [MOD EDIT: Inappropriate language removed, please review the Forum Guidelines]

[Usion]

I just had a phone call from a lady with a strong Indian accent. She told me she's from VM (although I' a Sky customer, just signed up to share my experience) and that she can help me with a slow connection. She asked me what lights am I seeing on my router. Also how many people are connected to the router. I told her they're all green and there are 9 of us, my wife and 7 kids (just a lie). She asked me to sit in front of my laptop/computer. I told her that I'm already on it. I did explain to her that I was watching a porn hub and it is slow and I cannot climax. Also that I have to wipe now all vaseline of my palm. I asked her what she can do for me. I'm glad she didn't disconnect at that point. She then asked me to click windows logo and R (command window) and type "EVENTVWR". I said I did it and my screen started flashing big red alert "Indian Scam". She replied that it is not possible. Then I told her that this is an MI6 computer hence I cannot control it and will get sacked for that from work. She then said to me that she needs to disconnect. Of course I didn't type anything in the command window. Don't get yourself fooled people. Stay Safe!

[micbea]

Just had 5 calls within 1 hour, all from different numbers, all claiming to be Virgin Media technical team. They said that my internet connection is slowing down at times and that it is a problem with my router. When I said that my connection is as good as ever, an Indian lady told me that it is not, that is very slow, especially at night. When I replied that at night I do not use my internet connection so I don't care, she said that they will send a technician to replace my router. I replied that I do not want to do it, as I have formed a very emotional bond with my current router and it would be heartbreaking for me and for the router to part ways. That seemd to confuse her a little bit, but still she went back to her usual "sorry sir, but we need to replace the router, etc...". I then asked her to find an honest job instead of trying to scam people. The other callers disconned as soon as I started asking probing question (some lasted just one question 'how do you know my number', others where more resilient, but in the end they all gave up).

So anoying, when you are working from home, have Teams meeting and the phone rings every 15-20 minutes...

[Scotlass1959]

I've just experienced 4 of these calls today, all within an hour. All with Indian accents, two male and two female. All stating it seems I'm having issues with my internet connection. Um, no I'm not. I let them waffle on for a bit and then just hang up. All using different UK numbers. Wish Virgin Media could do something about them.