Fraud Alert - Seniors discount scam

[Alin100]

A man called my phone number and said that he was from Bell calling to give me a 35% senior discount for the same internet, cable etc.

I said I don't handle these things. I needed to ask my partner. He said if after, we want to go for the discount, then we can call.

I wish I could ask a Bell representative to verify this but I couldn't as I was prompted to robochat.

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Bell does not offer nor give out 35% senior discounts!

Fraud.... pure fraud! Phishing, etc. etc. Remember one thing .... Do not give out anything to anyone you do not know or trust! Do not share personal information. Do not open links or messages in Emails or text messages!

Reputable companies such as Bell, banks, utilities & highly regarded services & institutions do not send you messages or make calls such as this! They do not call you asking to provide personal information. Hang up! Report the fraud! & Delete!

Caution is the better part of valor! STAY SAFE & BE CAREFUL!

Thank you for sharing this with The Bell Community Forum!

[Ismat]

I got a call....they said they were calling from Bell.....regarding updating profile for the ACP....which was affordable connectivity programme ...whereby 35% discount would be given to senior citizens....they had all my details  such as name address bell bill amount.....i beieved them and gave all the personal info....then called bell when saw the bell bill on my e-mail.....was suspicious and to my great suspicion and fear...that call was a scam.i had to report this to the anti fraud center....and have the fraud alert activated.....very very scary....i was told by the fraud alert staff that this has been going on with several Bell customers.....and they took my complaint....Pease I beg of BELL CANADA to look into this matter ASAP and take action.....on priority basis. Being a senior with fixed income I was taken away by the 35% discount thing.....my mistake....never ever again...the name they gave was Jennifer Willaim and then next person named Alex....phone number was 1 226 *** ****....Once again a sincere request to Bell Canada to take up on this matter on priority basis....NOW.......

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

You did everything right except for one thing. Never, never give out anything to anyone you do not know. Share nothing! Hang up & report the problem.

If it is too good to be true... then it is probably not true!

Reputable companies such as Bell, banks, utilities & highly regarded services & institutions do not send you messages or make calls such as this! They do not call you asking to provide personal information.

I wish I could give you a simple solution to this expanding problem. It is very, very frustrating to say the least. It is like trying to plug the leak in the dike with one finger & then the water pops out in another spot! These calls keep coming & coming. There needs to be an all encompassing Canadian National telecommunications strategy set up that monitors, polices & establishes guidelines in terms of what calls can go though or are blocked.

These calls need to be stopped before they reach you; not by you trying to block one here or there.

You can add your number to the Canadian Do Not Call List.

You can also Contact the Fraud Reporting System (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) or call toll-free at 1-888-495-8501. You can also file a report of a misleading or deceptive marketing practice with the Competition Bureau using the online complaint form.

There are all kinds of ideas & tips out there. None of them seem to work in stopping these fraudsters.

When you figure this one out.... patent the idea. You will make millions if it works.

It is now time for the Federal & Provincial government to take affirmative action ensuring these perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I do not work for Bell.

Thank you sharing this experience with the Bell Community Forum.

Take care.

[AGBinCA]

Yes, I just got the same call and the "agent" asked me for my postal code and street address and date of birth. I really hesitated over the last one, but foolishly gave it to him. He tried to get my Bell account number: I gave him the last 4 digits, and PIN, which I lied about and said I could not find it. I am now waiting for the call back from "agent" number two. 

My "too good to be true" radar was pinging the whole time. I should have followed my gut. Ah well,  I guess I will have to be on the lookout for ID theft more than ever now.

[stuart jackson]

I ended up getting the same call from the same person and I got scammed with the discount thing too but they didn't get too far you got a far as sending me out a very high-end cell phone a way above my vehicle Ford importantly I returned it to Bell and put me I got  valve for it and and and all that too  made one dumb mistake. Sennt by United postal service I was  to get the tracking number. That day you address to north northern Telecom on Sussex road London Ontario no longer exist  hey you and my old UPS account never been  not out acting.  Can I watch that have manager of that location many years ago  how do UPS send it back to the Bell Warehouse in Mississauga  

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

You did everything right except for one thing. Never, never give out anything to anyone you do not know. Share nothing! Hang up & report the problem.

If it is too good to be true... then it is probably not true! It is far better to play it safe rather than than being sorry.

Caution is the Better part of Valour!

Thank you sharing this with the Bell Community Forum!

Take care.

[jane5]

This just happened to me and there was three different number that they called from.  Before I gave them any info, I decided to call bell and of course a 40% discount for loyalty and being a senior is not something they offer.  

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

You did everything right. You called Bell to confirm there was no such offer. Kudos to you!

Scam artists & fraudsters are persistent. They will try every trick in the book to steal from you.

Never, never give out anything to anyone you do not know. Share nothing! Hang up & report the problem.

If it is too good to be true... then it is probably not true! It is far better to play it safe rather than being sorry.

Caution is the Better part of Valor!

Thank you for sharing this with the Bell Community Forum!

Take care.

[SWTXPRSN]

I received a call offering me a 50% discount as a senior and long term customer. Followed by 2 text messages with Bell confirmation codes. Also my password was changed on my MyBell account. Couldn’t access with my original password during the call, tried the new password after the call and got in. 

[Maria1926]

Just got a call from a man saying he was from bell. Offering 30% discount for 13 months to seniors on their phone/internet. Had my first/last name, then asked me to give my address and DOB.. I hung up without giving any information.  I understand bell doesn't have a 30% discount program for seniors.

[Tina5]

I just recieved a call from a man saying that Bell was offering loyalty and senior citizen discount.  it was a fraud.   But they did have some of my Bell information (i.e. billing, etc.)   The number was a 1-788-....  They than asked for personal ID information - which i did not provide.  

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum

Thank you for your input, feedback & the concern you have shown.

Fraud.... pure fraud! Phishing, etc. etc. Remember one thing .... Do not give out anything to anyone you do not know or trust! Do not share personal information. Do not open links or messages in emails or text messages!

Reputable companies such as Bell, banks, utilities & highly regarded services & institutions do not send you messages or make calls such as this! They do not call you asking to provide personal information. Hang up! Report the fraud! & Delete!

Next time, say nothing, share nothing & hang up! Never give out any personal information to anyone you do not know or trust.

In today's world, there are numerous fraudsters & scammers masking their identify & falsifying who they are and the company they represent. They are contacting you directly & indirectly with every method at their disposal.

Please have a look at the following:

Service provider impersonation scam - Bell

 "If it is too good to be true, it is probably not true!"

Caution is the better part of valor! STAY SAFE & BE CAREFUL!

Have a wonderful day.

Take care.

[Bearristers]

My same experience.  Unfortunately Bell customer service is non-existent and there was no way for me to reach a live person. 

[dks]

Assume calls like this are a fraud. Just hang up.