wrote: I add this here, because this specific scam is really a computer access/internet based scam, the method of attack starts as a phone phising attempt, but if they get into your computer, it becomes a classic computer hack scenario. Do not be fooled, the phone call is the start of the scam, but the goal is to try to gain unlawful access to your computer system.
They start by spoofing the Spectrum support number, 800-892-4357. Then they explain that your computer is compromised. Do not believe it, do not give them any access to your computer system in any way, do not accept emails or links they provide, for example.
The typical call, is of poor qualify and suffers from significant background noise, this not the case with a true Spectrum support call. Moreover, Spectrum never initiates calls, from technical support, only billing reminders, so it they say they are from technical support, or the service center, this is a falsehood, if you have not initiated the support effort yourself in very recent time proximity.
The people on the call often have bad accents and/or bad grammer, and if you ask some pointed questions about why they are calling or for validation details, they will typically get confused and sound lost, because when you ask probing questions, this gets them off their predefined script, resulting in hang ups or resorting to nasty threats. Again Spectrum customer support would never do this.
Unfortunately, Spectrum can not easily stop this type of call, since a valid phone number is used, and the caller id is misleading and often spoofed as well. It is best that you are on guard for this type of scam. They will have your name, address, maybe some other public information about you, but nothing of a truly sensitive nature, so do not agree or volunteer any information they ask of you, or too confirm our identity, since this confirmation process is how they gain more information they do not already have. Never accept anything from a suspect caller (or email sender), never provide any information about anything about you, your family, friends or life situation.
Again, honest and valid technical support centers will always respond to your request for ticket number, trouble topic, and provide their name and validation information, which only exists when you initiate a support call in the first place. No technical support center will cold-call you on any issue, they will only follow up with support when you request it. And they will never ask for any information they do not already have on your account, they will always use address and name information for validation but never any information that might be of a financial nature or leading to financial information, for a technical support call. For example, they will hever ask for a credit card number as validation, in a technical support call.
This specific scam is making the rounds at several cable companies beyond Spectrum as well, this is typical of such email and phone scams, just the latest gimmick to try to trick you into giving access and information that you should never volunteer.
Good advice!
Did you know that Spectrum provides a service that you can opt-in to stop spammers and telemarketer calls like this? It is called Nomorobo and is available from Spectrum if you have Phone service from them. It is free and goes on your landline with a few simple steps:
1.) Log into My Account just as you do at the forums.
2.) Select Spectrum Phone (Voice) Service
3.) Go to "Peace and Quit."
4.) Turn on Nomorobo
5.) Say yes to turning on Answer Anywhere if prompted. (Needed for Nomorobo to work.)
6.) Save your changes.
Nomorrbo will now automatically screen your calls after the first ring for safety. If it is a telemarketer, robocall, or spammer, the system will drop the call after the first ring so that the spammer/telemarketer/robocaller can't leave a message. Legit calls from schools, doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are always allowed through.
Users with Cable TV will see the calls on their Caller ID prompt. But complete silence as far as the bad calls are dropped after the first ring. (Sometimes on the second ring.) We activated this on Spectrum's My Account three years ago, and only ONE Robocall has gotten through in the last three years! I wish that Spectrum would promote this more because the service is that good!
Additionally, you can report calls to Nomorobo that are not being blocked or calls that should be getting through that are being blocked. But I only had to do this one time in three years. It really is a "Set it and Forget it." system. But you must opt-in to your Spectrum Phone Settings to activate the service. You will only need to do this a second time if you get a new phone number, or want to add a second phone line to the Nomorobo service.
Satch