Robocall apparently from Bell - Your network protection has been removed. Is it a scam?

[jamesepatterson]

I just received a robocall which said it was from Bell. It said something like:

We've noticed that your network protection has been removed, which violates the terms of your network agreement. Press 1 to discuss this with an agent.

I hung up; sounds like a scam to me. I happen to be on Bell DSL but I doubt they knew that. Anyone else heard of a scam like this?

[Patsy Lewis]

I jsut got this same call, claiming to be Bell and it said: We've noticed that your network protection has been removed, which violates the terms of your network agreement. Press 1 if you didn't do this. 

I hung up but I did recall to see if it was Bell and it wasn't.   

[MikeD]

Still around - just got the robocall this morning Jan 25

[IAmActuallyKen]

Just got this exact robocall today. It's annoying that it still happens years later, and concerning that they seem to have a list of Bell customer's home phone numbers to go through, even though my home phone isn't with Bell, just my Internet. It's either that, or they just try robocalling everyone even people who don't have any Bell services. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & thank you for sharing this with the community.

Scam call.... a wise decision to "Just hang up!"

It is easy to gain access to a telephone number list when you robocall every number with a computerized autodialer. In many instances, a pre-recorded message is delivered by a scammer trying to defraud you. 

There is no reason for you to talk to fraudsters. They want to talk to you. They want to sell you something, steal something or add you to their live contact list! Next thing you know, you will be getting more & more Robo calls, etc.

When in doubt .......... do not talk to them.

Take care.

[IAmActuallyKen]

I know they are scammers, that much is very clear. I am less concerned about that and more concerned about how they have a list of Bell customers with their phone numbers (what other data do they have access to?). I do not have any reason for them to know that my home phone number, which is not even with Bell, is associated with a Bell customer (me). Maybe they just autodial everyone and hope that they reach Bell customers. Hopefully it's simply that and nothing more.

[dks]

You are correct. Scammers use autodialers from offshore locations. They dial number after number after number. 

[ZaneP]

There are any number of ways that scammers have our phone numbers and/or other personal data. It may have been stolen via breaching security on a server, and then sold on the dark web. The theft may or may not be from a Bell server.

So rather than focusing on how a scammer got your phone number, I suggest not answering any incoming calls unless you recognize the number. Whether it's a legit call or a scam, there may be a voicemail message which you could listen to.

For a phishing email, which has not already been identified as spam but seems suspicious, trash it.