ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Fraudsters Call Subscribers Promising Heavy Discounts in the Ongoing TV Subscription Scams

Customers should be suspicious of anyone requesting a specific form of payment, or personal information such as usernames and passwords.
PUBLISHED AUG 5, 2023
Image Source: Central TV
Image Source: Central TV

In an era dominated by digital streaming services, cable TV subscriptions remain a popular choice for millions of households seeking a diverse array of entertainment options. However, amidst the convenience and wide-ranging content, a disturbing trend has emerged – the cable TV subscription scam. As people pay a considerable sum for the cable TV subscription they are easily lured by calls that promise a good discount in price. Most of these callers make an upfront offer, mostly to elderly people, and the transaction has to be completed on an immediate basis to avail of the fake offer. Therein lies the whole catch. A lot of scams have been reported where the users were caught unawares. 

Mark Mechum, a resident of Annville in Lebanon County, received a call claiming to be from Comcast. The caller reached out to him with an enticing offer, claiming to provide all of his current services for a red-hot price of $79.99 for a month. To get this offer, Mechum had to pay six months of his bill in advance using a $480 Target gift card.  After purchasing the gift card, he called the scammers and naively provided them with the card's numbers on the back.

As the scammers demanded yet another gift card, Mechum realized that he had become a victim of a scam and the $480 he had spent on the gift card was gone, reports WGAL.

Image Source: ISTOCK/RODRIGUEZ1
Image Source: ISTOCK/RODRIGUEZ1

Reason for cable TV subscription scam

There are suspicions that the recent surge in cable TV subscription scams might be linked to Comcast's recent nearly 4% price hike. Scammers seem to be capitalizing on this information, targeting customers who are looking to lower their cable bills with fraudulent offers.

After reaching out to Comcast, News 8 received confirmation about the existence of the scam. The company emphasized that if customers come across any suspicious activity or suspect a potential scam, they should promptly get in touch with Comcast to verify the authenticity of the call.



 

Statement of Comcast

"If customers suspect a potential scam or anything suspicious, they should contact Comcast immediately to verify the legitimacy of the request. Customers should be suspicious of anyone requesting a specific form of payment, or personal information such as usernames, passwords, account numbers, or any other personal data. Customers can report alleged scams to our Comcast Security Assurance team, which is a dedicated group of security professionals, at abuse@comcast.net. Or, for additional support, customers also can contact us at https://internetsecurity.xfinity.com/help/report-abuse or 1-800-565-4329.

How do you protect yourself from such scams? 

1. Be cautious of unexpected calls offering lower payments or immediate payment demands.

2. Request written offer details before taking any action.

3. Avoid making payments through gift cards, wire transfers, or unusual methods.

4. Independently verify your provider's customer service line and report any suspicious outreach.

5. Never share account details or passwords over the phone.

6. Identity through an official contact number obtained independently.

7. Check your monthly statements for any promised discounts after unsolicited calls, and don't assume they took effect automatically.

8. Consider setting up an account password or security question with your provider for added protection.

So, Be aware and keep your eyes open!

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Belz later said that nothing is as good as the win and it was his dream to be on the show.
4 hours ago
Several commenters pointed out the possible reasons behind this issue.
6 hours ago
Her technique was unusual but it did the trick and everyone was elated about the spectacular win.
8 hours ago
Seeing others win big may be exciting but not many people quite the tax burden that follows.
1 day ago
The host was asked about the possibility of four $100,000 wins in a row, but said that it was virtually impossible.
1 day ago
The shopper was alarmed after seeing what she thought of as objects crawling around.
1 day ago
The player had proceeded to the bonus round after simply adding one letter to another contestant's guess.
2 days ago
Steve Harvey's facial expressions are gold especially when he is geuinely shocked by a contestant.
2 days ago
The host regretted celebrating the answer as it could put his relationship in jeopardy.
2 days ago
Plinko is believed to be a game of luck by many but Carey might know a few things that we don't.
2 days ago
She was again approached by the employee who had first stopped her, and hoped that the one who helped her won't be fired.
3 days ago
Turns out the player earned the quick-witted host's respect with a shared love for football.
3 days ago
Turns out the host of Family Feud is a stickler for the rules and went on to roast the woman.
3 days ago
Viewers and the host were astonished to see just how Veonn finished with the exact sum she needed.
4 days ago
Mark Cuban said he could be the bigger person and let it go, but added that he wasn't.
4 days ago
Zoe Grobman who appeared on the show's Second Chance Tournament, addressed the issue on Reddit.
4 days ago
Cody Munger who won the "Big Tournament Championship" last year, shared his insight on Reddit.
5 days ago
The creator posted a video sounding an alarm against certain objects found in the "Great Value" cheese of Walmart. 
5 days ago
The player was left with very little to work with as most of her letters weren't on the board.
5 days ago
With two $1 million dollar deals on the table, entrepreneur Chet Beiler managed to pull off a blunder.
5 days ago