Millions of Virgin Media customers across the UK have been placed on high alert following a fresh wave of scam attempts. The company has issued an urgent warning, urging users to stay vigilant as fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive and exploit unsuspecting victims.
Customers are being targeted by scammers through convincing phone calls. The warning comes as the popular service provider shared there has been a massive spike in the number of scam calls. The company said: “Every day, people receive calls that appear to be from us. Fraudsters are increasingly using spoofed numbers to impersonate Virgin Media and try to trick you. So even if the number calling you appears genuine, it’s critical to know the warning signs of a scam call.” It stresses the importance of staying vigilant, as phone scams have become a frequent tactic used by cybercriminals to access bank accounts, email credentials, and other sensitive personal information, reports The Sun.
1. Unexpected calls:
A sudden phone call claiming problems with your account or service should raise suspicion. Customers are reminded not to give into pressure and to hang up right away if anything feels off.
Virgin is urging customers to stay vigilant, especially if they receive an unexpected call from the company.
2. Request for full passwords or PINs:
Customers are advised not to share their full passwords or PINs with anyone over the phone. Virgin Media emphasises that it will never request this kind of information over the phone.
If anyone does, it’s a strong indicator of a scam.
3. Urgency or fear tactics:
The company also cautions against tactics that create a false sense of urgency to pressure people into hasty decisions. Fraudsters might claim your service is on the verge of being disconnected or that your account has been breached.
These scare strategies are intended to trigger panic and prompt you to share personal information without taking time to verify.
4. Requests for remote access:
Granting such access could allow scammers to take complete control of your computer, smartphone, or tablet – potentially leading to the installation of malware or theft of sensitive data.
Customers are also urged to be cautious of anyone requesting remote access to their device.
5. Robotic or scripted callers:
Virgin advises customers to stay alert if a caller sounds robotic, uses a scripted tone, or comes across as unprofessional.
Such behaviour may indicate the caller isn’t genuine.
6. Unknown numbers:
If you get a call from an unfamiliar number, it’s important to verify it through reliable sources.
Virgin Media suggests checking platforms like Who-Called.co.uk or browsing their Community Forums, where users often flag suspicious numbers and share their encounters.