A week doesn’t go by without reports of a fraud scheme targeting consumers. Fraudsters are getting more and more sophisticated — and we’re not just talking about the almost daily “scam likely” calls. They use all sorts of playbooks on how to deceive and take advantage of their targets. Companies like DIRECTV are stepping up to do their part to combat these scams, including giving you the tools to protect yourself and your loved ones. By staying informed, learning how to avoid fraudulent activity, and knowing the agencies working to keep you safe, you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Fraud is a Widespread Problem
Fraud is a growing trend and seemingly affects everyone. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 2.8 million consumer reports of fraud, with imposter scams being the most reported category. This reflects a 70% increase between 2020 and 2021, totaling $5.8 billion in consumer losses.
Not only are the cases growing, but those who perpetrate these crimes have gotten better at it, concocting more sophisticated schemes to trick their unknowing victims. And what better way to fool consumers than by posing as a trusted business. WMC Global is a cybersecurity company that’s identified more than 800 brands impersonated in attempts to defraud consumers. The customer experience backs that up — the FTC received more than 2.8 million consumer reports of fraud in 2021, with the most reported category, once again, being imposter scams.
Nearly every industry is targeted by imposter fraud. It not only hurts consumers financially, it erodes the trust they have in reputable brands, which suffer their own financial losses. This fraud often forces business to reallocate resources that would otherwise be used to make products and services more affordable and improve customer experiences.
Don’t gift your info to scammers. Learn how to protect yourself at directv.com/stopfraud.
What’s DIRECTV Doing About Fraud?
Earlier this year, DIRECTV joined Microsoft, Apple, Somos, YouMail, USTelecom, the National Association of Broadcasters and others in supporting the Federal Trade Commission to combat imposter fraud. DIRECTV went on record encouraging the agency to undertake consumer education campaigns and host public events and awareness campaigns — all to help ensure that fewer Americans fall victim to impersonation scams.
DIRECTV also works closely with law enforcement, regulators and industry groups to combat imposter fraud while dedicating resources to uncover and take legal action to address this widespread issue.
DIRECTV continues to circulate fraud alerts to its customers and the public to educate and encourage consumers to be aware of the potential dangers. It’s also taking the following three tangible actions to further protect DIRECTV subscribers and help stop this widespread problem.
Online Resource Center
A dedicated Fraud Awareness & Prevention resource center is now live on directv.com. It’s available to the public and provides current information on trending scams, resources to report fraud, and fraud prevention techniques. It also offers the convenience of filing an identity theft claim if someone suspects fraudulent activity on an account under their name without leaving the site.
Awareness Campaign
Using traditional marketing and social media tactics, DIRECTV is kicking off an extensive consumer-focused awareness campaign, “Don’t Gift your Info to Scammers.” It’s intended to educate and inform consumers about imposter fraud and other scams, and how best to avoid becoming a victim. This campaign will run over the holidays, a time of year when scam attempts generally spike.
Two Lawsuits Against Perpetrators
DIRECTV is holding fraudsters accountable by, among other things, taking legal action against two different entities they’ve identified as malicious actors targeting the business and its customers. The lawsuits follow an investigation that lasted several months that uncovered the methodical approach these entities took to defraud consumers, involving offering bogus discounts if people paid with prepaid gift cards.
Remember: DIRECTV does not accept gift or prepaid cards as a form of payment, so any claims otherwise are fraudulent, including the DIRECTV 50% off scam.
The business has identified other bad actors – and it won’t be long before they hear from DIRECTV too.
How to Avoid Fraud
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of imposter fraud is by protecting yourself and your information. Practice good fraud defense by doing the following:
- Stay informed. Add the DIRECTV Fraud Awareness & Prevention site, the FTC, and the FCC to your web browser bookmarks. Check back often to stay up to date on the latest threats.
- Think critically. When a deal sounds off or appears too good to be true, it usually is.
- Double-check. Call DIRECTV at the number on your verified billing statement, or the number listed on the official DIRECTV website to confirm any offers or deals. This goes for any other company as well.
- Protect your information. Secure your DIRECTV account with a complex password and only provide personal information to verified DIRECTV employees.
The Bottom Line
These days, fraud prevention takes a little bit of work. It’s important to keep your data safe and investigate anything that seems suspect. Use the resources available to you to check on common scams and stay aware of potential risks. DIRECTV will continue to fight fraud by empowering and protecting customers through awareness, education, and working to shut down fraud networks by going after the fraudsters themselves.
Stay safe and aware with the DIRECTV Fraud website: directv.com/stopfraud.
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