Scam Telephone Call Warning

[Fibre-Elf]

I thought I'd share my experience of scam phonecalls I received this morning. The caller claims to be from Sky Technical addressed me as "Madam", no name, and says my broadband is being used by more than 10 devices from as far away as the U.S. which is resulting in slower speeds and could be gaining information to be used for illegal activity. The caller then askes me to download an App called SKYANYDESK from Google Play. I went along with the call as far as this, not downloading the App, obviously, thinking all along it was a scam. When I said I was hanging up to check with Sky directly, he got aggitated insisting I was talking to Sky Technical. I blocked the mobile number he used but got a call half an hour later on a different number to see whether I had checked with Sky so I asked him not to call again and hung up. 

At no point did he address me by name. 

The info on Sky doesn't offer any way to report such calls to Sky but does offer a list of authorised numbers and these mobiles are not on the list. I cannot post the numbers used but they are mobile numbers and not hidden..

I hope this is useful information and will save someone being scammed.

[JimM1]

@Fibre-Elf It was a scam, trying to take control of your device by remote access which that program is so you were 100% right not to download and give any access to anyone.... Chancers / Scammers have all the tricks down pat so guard has to be up all off the time!👍👍

The sky help info, do think you can report this though to sky!

Scam calls, emails, texts or online impersonation | Sky Help | Sky.com | Sky Help | Sky.com

[Fibre-Elf]

I used the link and it takes me to the info I have already accessed but I can only seem to report it to  a Fraud website who then forward it to the police rather than just to Sky. I can't get over the cheek of the man phoning a second time to see whether I had checked with Sky that it was a genuine call when it so obviously wasn't. I hope he doesn't keep ringing and especially not at night!

[caesarome · Accepted solution]

@Fibre-Elf 

Try this email address - abuse@sky.com 

[Fibre-Elf]

Thankyou, I'll do it now.

[TimmyBGood]

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@caesarome wrote:

@Fibre-Elf 

Try this email address - abuse@sky.com 

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Typically that's an address used to report administration issues such as spam source, phishing origination or policy violations to a website owner or hosting company: I'm not sure it will get anywhere for scam phonecall reporting.

[Fibre-Elf]

Worth a try. It' doesn't really matter. I'm concerned there is an app available on Google Play that can be used to gain control of Sky customers' computers. Sky should surely be concerned too. I've sent an email anyway.

[JimM1]

@Fibre-Elf There are app's available for virtually everything, but the remote access take control is one off the most dangerous for anyone who uses/installs/and does not know or aware off what is going on or may happen!

[TimmyBGood]

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@Fibre-Elf wrote:

Worth a try. It' doesn't really matter. I'm concerned there is an app available on Google Play that can be used to gain control of Sky customers' computers. 

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Remote access apps are entirely legitimate (and AnyDesk is a major commercial provider) : it's some of the uses they get put to that aren't.  It's extremely unlikely that Google will take any action.