Beware of Fake Verizon Calls

A woman's phone was hijacked in a SIM swap scam, giving scammers access to her accounts.

A fake Verizon call can seem real, especially with official-looking texts. This scam is dangerous because it creates panic and tricks you into verifying your identity.

A man from Texas had a close call with a scammer.

The man said he was almost fooled by a fake Verizon investigator who tricked him into giving access to his account. The scammer ordered a new phone for the man's daughter without his knowledge.

The man's story should make us all cautious. He knew about scams but still almost got caught because the scam looked real and moved quickly.

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A Verizon customer in Texas said a convincing fraud caller almost took over his account by directing him through real security alerts.

The scammer called the man at 7:15 p.m., claiming to work for Verizon's fraud department and giving a name and phone number.

The caller gave the man a fake number and cancellation number, making the call seem official.

This is a common move in account takeover scams, where the scammer gives you 'case details' to sound legitimate.

The man received messages about Verizon account security, including a request to authenticate from the Verizon website and a warning about a potential scam.

The messages made the man feel safer, but the scammer was still trying to take over his account.

The scammer asked the man to verify multiple times and click on a link to deny access, which could have been a trap.

Once a criminal has you on the phone, they can walk you through alerts in real-time and trigger account changes.

The man later saw that his daughter's line had been changed to a new iPhone without his knowledge.

The man received an email saying his order was canceled, but the email was not from a verified sender.

The email listed the order details, including an Apple iPhone, but the man knew it was a scam.

A cancellation email can make you feel relieved, but it may also be a tactic to make you think the problem is solved while the scammer tries other account changes.

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Fake Verizon fraud calls are becoming more sophisticated, using real-looking texts and account notifications.

The man knew something was off when his daughter's phone line changed to a new iPhone and her password was changed.

The man contacted the real Verizon fraud team and changed the password to regain control of his account.

The scammer tried to call the man back twice, which is a warning sign that it was a scam.

The real Verizon fraud team checked the fraud case number and cancellation number the scammer gave the man and found they were fake.

Verizon removed the man's My Verizon credentials and told him to re-register using two-factor authentication.

The scam works because it uses the language of real fraud prevention, talking about account security and authentication.

The caller creates confusion and urgency, making the victim follow instructions in real-time.

A phone upgrade can give criminals a clear payday, and a stolen device order can lead to theft of service or deeper account access.

Several details stand out from the man's case, including the scammer's use of real-looking texts and account notifications.

Any one of these details should stop the conversation, as they point to an active account takeover attempt.

Verizon said these kinds of social engineering scams have become a growing problem.

Verizon actively works against bad actors by tracking every case and identifying the hallmarks of social engineering events.

Verizon incorporates these hallmarks into real-time detections to prevent attempted fraud before the transaction is completed.

Verizon shared several steps customers can take to protect their accounts, including using the number on the carrier's app or website.

A few smart habits can make it harder for a scammer to talk you into giving up control of your phone account.

Use the number on your carrier's app, website, or bill, and do not rely on a number the caller gives you.

If a caller tells you to approve, deny, verify, or authenticate through a text link, stop and open the carrier app directly instead.

A button or link that sounds safe can still help a scammer if they triggered the request.

Strong antivirus software can help block malicious links and warn you before you land on a risky site.

A new phone order, SIM change, or line change should trigger immediate action, and customers should watch for texts or emails about unauthorized changes.

Do this from a browser or app you opened yourself, and avoid links from texts or emails.

Treat your mobile and email accounts like bank accounts, and never share passwords or security codes with anyone who calls unexpectedly.

Use the strongest 2FA option your carrier offers, such as a passkey, authenticator app, or account PIN.

Verizon recommends enabling two-factor authentication in the My Verizon app.

Customers can enable Number Lock and SIM Protection in the My Verizon app to stop unauthorized activity.

Many carriers let you add a PIN or security code for account changes, so make sure yours is unique and not easy to guess.

If criminals accessed the account, reduce what they can buy or change by removing saved payment methods.

Check for pending orders or upgrades you did not request, and make sure no phone numbers, devices, SIMs, shipping addresses, or authorized users were changed.

Scammers often get names, phone numbers, addresses, and family connections from people-search sites, so a data removal service can help reduce what is exposed online.

Ask for the fraud department, explain the attempted takeover, and request a full account security review.

Move quickly, but do it through trusted channels you open yourself.

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Verizon warns customers never to share passwords or security codes after scammers used social engineering to attempt an unauthorized phone upgrade.

What is scary about the man's story is how real the scam felt in the moment, with the scammer having a name, fraud number, and security texts landing while he was on the phone.

The safest move is to hang up and start fresh, opening the official app yourself and typing the website yourself.

Have you ever received a carrier fraud alert that looked real, and how did you decide whether to trust it?

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Kurt 'CyberGuy' Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear, and gadgets that make life better.

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