https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/gardai-warn-of-scam-calls-about-broadband-issues-905569.html
Gardaí warn of scam calls about broadband issues
Gardaí are warning people about a phone scam.
The warning, which comes in association with the FraudSMART, a fraud awareness
initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), is advising
people to be on the alert for fraudsters who claim to be calling from utility
companies, for example a telephone/mobile phone provider, broadband provider or
software company.
The warning says that the fraudsters pretend that there are issues with the
customer’s broadband service.
The scammers will offer to "fix” computer or broadband problems and in the
process try to trick people into revealing their banking or card details and
provide codes from your card reader.
Customers may also be asked to allow the caller to take remote control of their
computer to "assist" you, but this could allow the fraudster to show the
customer fraudulent screens.
The warning also says that the callers are professional and will be able to
transfer customers to their "supervisor” should they request this.
Detective Superintendent Gerard Walsh of the Garda National Economic Crime
Bureau said: "If you have received a suspicious call, hang up and phone the
company the person is purporting to be from directly yourself."
"Do not use a number given to you by the caller and make sure you hear a dial
tone before making the call. If you are concerned that you may have fallen
victim to a scam contact your local Garda Station and also your bank.”
Niamh Davenport, who leads the BPFI FraudSMART programme, said: "Always be wary
of any unexpected calls or texts especially those asking for personal details
or payments. Never give your financial or personal information in order to
release money, refund fees, or access to your computer.
"Fraudsters are very convincing but don’t be afraid to take the time to make
the relevant checks. The caller will try to rush you or make you feel foolish
and negligent if you don’t follow their instructions, but this is all designed
to panic you into doing something you wouldn’t otherwise do.”
FraudSMART Advice:
Never give out personal information until you have checked that the caller is a
genuine representative of the organisation they claim to be from. Advise the
caller you will call them back once you have checked their identity. You can do
this by:
Looking up the organisation’s phone number using a phone book or website and
calling the number yourself directly. Make sure you hear a dial tone before you
dial. Do not use a number the caller has given to you as this could be a fake
number.
Don’t assume you can trust caller ID. Fraudsters can spoof a number, so it
looks like they are calling from a particular company or bank, even when they
are not.
Remember it takes two people to terminate a landline phone call, you can use a
different phone line to independently check the caller’s identity or at least
make sure you hear a dial tone before you call anyone.
Fraudsters may have basic information about you in their possession (e.g. name,
address etc), do not assume the caller is genuine because they have this
information. They source this information from publicly available information
e.g. social media, phone books, websites
Don’t allow yourself to be rushed. Take your time and do the relevant checks.
Sent from my iPhone
