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Fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics to steal money, personal information and account credentials. That’s why staying informed is one of the best ways to protect yourself.
Whether you’re looking to learn about the latest scams, recognize warning signs or report suspected fraud, this article can help. You’ll find information about common fraud schemes, identity theft, phishing attempts and practical steps you can take to protect your accounts and personal information.
When it comes to DIRECTV, remember:
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam, stop communicating with the suspected fraudster and verify the request through official DIRECTV channels.
Report a potential fraud/scam now.
Explore the topics below to learn about common scams, how to recognize warning signs and where to find resources to help protect yourself, your information and your accounts.
Fraudsters use a variety of tactics to trick you into giving away your personal and confidential information. They might use lies, threats, and even sophisticated technology. Visit USAGov for the most current information on trending scams. Some common tactics criminals use include impersonating a company like DIRECTV or another service provider and offering deep discounts on services. Keep reading to learn more about common scams fraudsters may use, and how to keep yourself safe.
Fraudsters may call claiming to offer significant discounts on DIRECTV services if you pay upfront. These callers often create a sense of urgency and may request payment using gift cards, prepaid cards or other non-traditional payment methods. Their goal is to convince you to act quickly before you have time to verify the offer.
Fraudsters may create fake websites or post fraudulent customer service numbers in online search results. They may pose as customer support representatives and attempt to collect personal information, account credentials or payment information. In some cases, they may even claim they can resolve account issues or activate special promotions.
Fraudsters may go door-to-door claiming they are in your neighborhood and offering equipment upgrades or special discounts, including senior discounts. They may ask to see a copy of your bill or request your account number to verify the offer. Some customers have reported individuals wearing DIRECTV-branded clothing or displaying branded IDs. If you’re unsure whether an offer is legitimate, contact DIRECTV directly using the official website.
Fraudsters often impersonate legitimate businesses and offer discounts on products or services if you pay upfront using a gift card or prepaid credit card. They may provide a toll-free number to make the process seem legitimate. Once you provide the card number and PIN, the funds are typically unrecoverable.
DIRECTV will never ask you to pay for products or services using a gift card. We’ll also never ask you to pay up front for discounted services or to activate promotions. If someone asks you to, it’s a scam.
A fraudster may contact you claiming your equipment is outdated and needs to be replaced. They may insist that new equipment is required to maintain service or access enhanced features. These scams can occur by phone, email, text message, online chat or social media.
DIRECTV may reach out to customers to ensure they have equipment capable of supporting available features and services, but we will never ask you to pay up front to replace or upgrade your equipment.
Fraudsters may send text messages or emails pretending to be from a legitimate company. The message may thank you for purchasing a product or service and provide a phone number to call if there has been a mistake. If you call the number, the scammer may attempt to collect personal information, account credentials, credit card information or banking details under the guise of processing a refund.
A One-Time Passcode (OTP) scam occurs when a fraudster contacts you and asks you to provide a verification code that was sent to your phone or email. They may claim to be from DIRECTV, a financial institution or another trusted company and say they need the code to verify your identity. In reality, the fraudster may be attempting to access one of your accounts by completing a login, password reset or account recovery request.
DIRECTV representatives will never ask you to disclose a one-time verification code sent to your phone or email.
Social engineering is the use of deception and manipulation to convince someone to share information, send money, grant access or take another action that benefits a fraudster. Rather than exploiting technology, social engineering scams exploit trust, fear, urgency or curiosity.
Fraudsters use these techniques to gain access to your personal information, accounts, devices or finances. Social engineering tactics can include phishing attempts, fraudulent phone calls, fake websites, pop-up ads, text messages and impersonation scams. These scams are often designed to look and feel legitimate.
Social engineering attempts often involve fraudsters using the following methods to get your information:
Fraudsters may already know some of your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number or email address. This information may have been obtained from public sources or previous data breaches and can make a scam appear more legitimate.
These scams can be highly convincing, and fraudsters may outline various scenarios to encourage you to share even more private information. For example, a scammer may tell you:
If you believe you’re a victim of social engineering, consider placing a fraud alert to help prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name. Contact one of the three credit bureaus listed below to place the alert. The bureau you contact will notify the other two bureaus on your behalf. You should also monitor your credit report for suspicious activity.
Identity theft refers to someone using another person’s personal or financial information without their permission. Fraudsters may use personal information such as your name, address, Social Security number, account credentials or financial information to open new accounts, gain access to existing accounts, make unauthorized purchases or commit other forms of fraud.
Account takeover occurs when a fraudster gains access to an existing account using stolen usernames, passwords or other credentials. Fraudsters may obtain this information through phishing scams, data breaches or password reuse across multiple websites. Once they gain access, they may change account information, make unauthorized purchases or use the account to commit additional fraud.
If you suspect your personal information has been used to set up an unauthorized DIRECTV account, you can file an identity theft claim for our fraud team to investigate.
You should also report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a claim on their website and find helpful information on steps to take to recover from identity theft.
Consider placing a fraud alert to help prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name. Contact one of the three credit bureaus listed below to place the alert. The bureau you contact will notify the other two bureaus on your behalf.
Phishing is a type of scam that uses deceptive messages or websites to trick you into sharing personal information, account credentials or financial information. These scams are designed to appear legitimate and often impersonate trusted companies, organizations or individuals.
Phishing attacks most commonly arrive through email, but they can also come in the form of text messages, sometimes called smishing, or phone calls, known as vishing. Fraudsters use these tactics to steal information, gain access to accounts or commit identity theft.
Phishing messages often tell a story to get you to take some sort of action. Look out for the following signs of a potential phishing attack:
If you receive an unexpected email, text message or social media message that asks you to click a link, open an attachment or provide information, stop and verify the request before taking action.
Businesses can be frequent targets for fraud because they often have multiple employees, vendors, invoices and payment approval processes. Fraudsters may impersonate trusted companies, service providers, executives or employees to steal money, gain access to sensitive information or disrupt business operations.
Fraudsters don’t limit their efforts to individual consumers. They also go after businesses, hoping to steal from them. They may reach out pretending to call from a company like a utility service, claiming your service is about to be interrupted. Their timing is often carefully planned to create urgency.
Fraudsters may also use business email compromise tactics by impersonating executives, vendors or employees to request payments, redirect invoices or obtain confidential information. Visit the Federal Trade Commission for tips on protecting your business.
Staying informed and establishing clear procedures can help reduce your organization’s risk of fraud and improve your ability to respond when suspicious activity occurs.
Report a potential fraud/scam now.
