Scammed by call from Sky

[rcflyer]

Would Sky phone me to say my router had a virus? Yes or no?  I know my bank would never phone - but Sky? I was held on my landline phone for 2/ 1/2 hours while they dictated IP addresses etc. apparently needed by a Sky engineer coming to my house next Saturday,  gave me a Sky ID number for him - and at the back of my mind, although suspicious, - my Sky App constantly tells me there is an issue with my broadband. So, I carried on, doing what they asked ( Asian or far-eastern accents -as always) including putting my phone next to the router.. They knew my Bank- not the one to pay Sky, and offered a £400 compensation for my compromised router - the bank showed an authorisation to pay £400 to Amazon! I queried this to be told Amazon was Sky's " Business Partner" and the £400 was to verify the account. I refused, and hung up.  They called me back to again convince me that they were Sky, and trying to help me. So this time I authorised the £400 transfer, and yes, they sent it back as a credit! While they were still reeling of IP codes and addresses, ( and I should be clear, I have no banking on my phone) - another £ 400 went out - and was returned - but another £400 was not - so I. am £400 down, and 4 £100 Apple gift cards have been bought on my Amazon account. I was stupid- they were clever - they got into my account with a bank - now all cancelled - into Amazon - now all changed. So beware and Sky - make it as clear as the Banks do - you will never ring up?

[PandJ2020 · Accepted solution]

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@rcflyer wrote:

Would Sky phone me to say my router had a virus? Yes or no?

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No.

[Daniel0210]

@rcflyer 

With any calls saying they are from 'Sky' (especially unexpected calls) if the caller asks for your previously agreed telephone password to confirm you're the account holder (which I would expect a genuine Sky agent to do) initially give an INCORRECT one on purpose. If the caller doesn't challenge it then you know it will be a scam call.

[rcflyer]

Thanks. I'm .not sure if I have a telephone pin number

[rcflyer]

Sorry, it's a password, not pin. I have a Sky password.

[caesarome]

@rcflyer 

It is a password not a pin. if you receive any calls that say they are from Sky the chances are they are not so just hang up on them and don't give them any information they ask you for.

[Daniel0210]

@rcflyer 

Call Sky and when prompted for it say "forgotten it" or similar. Sky should be able to verify your identity as the account holder by other means and then set up a new telephone password with you.

[TimmyBGood]

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@rcflyer wrote:

Would Sky phone me to say my router had a virus? Yes or no? 

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Absolutely not: ISPs never make such calls.

The scale of their deployment means if any ISP router model was actually hit by malware* it would be a very major cybersecurity incident and attract significant publicity: the response would have to be overt and high-profile (network level blocking of affected devices, for example) and not ad-hoc outbound contact.

As soon as any financial transaction is mentioned in such a context it's definitely a scam.

* which would be a worm rather than a virus 

[rcflyer]

Thanks, I'm  learning - but £400 down at the moment. It is obvious that those on this forum are savvy and knowledgeable - I am new to Sky, having, in my opinion, been Hijacked by Sky from Nowtv ( always knew Sky were there in the background) but contract renewed by Sky direct, needing Hub, new Router, and different landline number. All my troubles started then. But now I know how clever these scammed are, and how stupid I was. Could be a lesson for the " not so savvy" who just want to watch TV.

[MrRichAllen1976]

@rcflyer These scammers aren't daft, they know most of the older generation wouldn't know how to switch a PC on much less use something like an Internet forum.

They prey on the vulnerable.

[rcflyer]

You're right.. In my case, how would they know I am part of an older generation? I use a laptop, tablet, smartphone, build and fly radio controlled aircraft, and am pre-war. The MySky app keeps telling me there is an issue with my broadband, even though the speed-test app I am clever enough to use, tells me that speed is up to contract. So, I stayed with the scammers.  Old -yes.  Stupid- possibly.  As vulnerable as most of the public now forced to go about their lives digitally.