Possible scam using Spark's name

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Possible scam using Spark's name

StevieT

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#156088 19-Nov-2014 09:20

Hi there

I just received a call from my half sister. They are with Vodafone for internet.

She told me an Indian man called asking for her mum, saying he was from Spark. Because she wasn't home, he asked whether my half sister was a family member; replying yes, the man continued. He said that their internet would be shut down for two months because of some reason (something about spamming/sending packets, didn't quite catch her -- she probably did quite catch what he was saying either).

He then said if she didn't want the Internet to be disconnected, she would need to turn on the computer - I presume to go to some dodgy website where he would gain access. Because my half sister was smart enough to say 'nah, that's okay. Disconnect our Internet' he didn't get very far.

I see no other thread where this is raised, so I thought I better inform you guys, and perhaps someone from Spark can confirm that such a scam is being conducted.

Stevie

vexxxboy

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#1178311 19-Nov-2014 09:28

sounds like it's a new variation of the old microsoft virus call.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

GregV

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#1179348 19-Nov-2014 10:41

Documented on Spark's site - been running a while
http://www.spark.co.nz/help/servicealert/phoneservicealert/

freitasm

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#1179392 19-Nov-2014 11:42

Also reported here: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=17031

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TroyRF

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#1180802 21-Nov-2014 14:43

Hi Stevie,

Greg and Mauricio are right on the mark. I'm writing on Spark's behalf and we can confirm there is a scam going on, very much as your half-sister has described.

We've been advising customers and non-customers alike about this scam for a while now, and while most of the advice here clearly isn't needed by your half-sister right now (good on her for making sure the caller didn't get what they wanted!) it bears repeating for anyone yet to hear it:

Spark will not ring customers out of the blue and ask for any banking details. We'll only ask if you call us.
From this afternoon onwards: If you do receive a call from someone claiming to represent Spark and asking for your bank details, hang up and report it by calling 123 (or *123 on mobile) and choosing option 9.
We understand the scammers may use a fictitious "employee number" to identify themselves with. They don't work for us, nor do they have access to our systems.
It does look like they're monitoring how we communicate, so we get that it might be hard for some customers to tell the difference. (For the big clue, see the first point)
If you think you may have given your bank details to a scammer, contact your bank ASAP.

StevieT

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#1181494 23-Nov-2014 07:10

Thank you, all, for your replies.