Three urges mobile customers to dial four-digit code after ‘large discount’ text | Personal Finance | Finance
Three is urging its mobile customers to dial a four-digit code if they receive a suspicious text offering them a ‘large discount’ on their bills.
At this time of year, all sorts of scams fly around on text, including delivery scams from conmen pretending to be couriers with a parcel to collect, or from a number claiming to be HMRC with a tax bill to be paid, or claiming to be from Three and asking for your passcode or password.
Other scams involve phone calls, such as telling the recipient that someone has been arrested, or urging them to claim a payment owed to them.
Three says one scam hitting its customers involves fraudsters pretending to be from Three and offering a ‘large discount’ off your mobile bills in exchange for your passcode.
Now, Three has sent a text message to customers warning them how to report fake, scam or phishing calls or texts by reporting it to a four-digit number.
It says that 7726 is the number to call to report suspect phone calls, or text 7726 for scam texts.
Three said: “Avoid fraud – Three will never contact you and ask for your One-Time Passcode (OTP). Anyone asking is a fraudster. The only time we’ll ask for your OTP is when you contact Three directly.
“If someone contacts you by phone or social media claiming to be from Three, please do not share any OTP that we send to you via text or email. Fraudsters may be attempting to access your account and may try to tempt you with a large discount on your current price plan before asking for the code.
“If you receive a suspicious text, please report it by forwarding it to 7726. For a suspicious call, text the word CALL and the number to 7726.”
It comes as the Department for Work and Pensions warned of a 150% surge in Winter Fuel Payment scam activity over the winter. These scams see fraudsters pose as Government officials or payment providers in an attempt to trick people into sharing their personal information, right at the time when payments are being made.
As payments have been sent out, pensioners are being urged to continue to look out for these scam messages and remember that they will never be asked to provide bank details to receive the payment.
Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it, including clicking on links, and instead forward it to the same four digit number: 7726.
