A Verizon customer warns others about a recent phishing scam targeting them.
Verizon's fraud department does not make outgoing calls. Keep that in mind!
I immediately suspected a scam when I received a call, which disconnected before it could begin. Hours later, another call came from "James" claiming to be from Verizon's fraud department, who said there was suspicious activity on my account.
"James" from Verizon stated that two people had supposedly placed orders for two Apple Watches through the account (likely the new Series 11 model). I was disappointed that the thief didn't order the Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead.
At this point, I ended the call, telling "James" that no one ordered an Apple Watch on my account. I then contacted Verizon, who confirmed that no one had attempted to call me and no Apple Watch units had been ordered.
Had I continued the call, the scammer might have tried to pull off a scam we reported on last year. Similar to my experience, individuals claiming to be from Verizon call repeatedly, informing you of a suspicious iPhone order on your account, using almost the same script as last year. In my case, the supposed order was for two Apple Watches instead of an iPhone.
The next part of the scam, which I avoided, involves the fake Verizon expert promising to cancel the order and protect your data. One customer was instructed to turn off the FindMy app for five days to ensure data safety. Never do this, as it disables the Activation Lock that connects an iPhone to your Apple ID. With the Activation Lock off, the thief can use the phone, change passwords, access financial apps, and more.
Verizon does not have a fraud department that calls customers due to the high volume of calls required. Also, Verizon will not call back more than twice, as they consider it harassment.
If you receive a similar call, hang up and contact your carrier directly.
In other news, we are excited to announce that our passion project, "Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips," a coffee table book about the 21st century's technological revolution, will be released in a few months. Follow the link below for more details.