DirecTV subscribers need to beware unexpected calls about upgrading their receivers. Anyone calling you to upgrade or replace your DirecTV receiver is likely a scammer.
How The Scam Works
A scammer calls and identifies himself as a DirecTV representative. They’ll claim that the DTV receivers in the house urgently need a software update. “We can send a technician to your home to do this upgrade for $300, or I can walk you through it over the phone for only $199.”
Alternatively, the scammer may propose to send you a new receiver unit through the mail. In this scenario, s/he will offer to charge you $480 for the new unit, but mark it down to $200, claiming they “want to do you a favor.” And they may offer to credit your bill $20 for 10 months to offset that fee.
In either case, the scammer is lying. They may have partial access to your DirecTV account, but they are not a company employee. They are spinning a tale, looking to get your money, and once they have it, they will disappear without a trace.
Why This Scam Is Convincing
This scam has a lot going for it, and has the potential to dupe a lot of people.
- If the scammer learns your DirecTV account PIN, s/he may make changes to your account or add discounts to your billing, to convince the victim they are a capable Dish rep.
- The scammer on the phone already knows your name, address and your phone number. This info was likely leaked from one of the many data breaches we see in this country.
- Your CallerID may be spoofed to show “DirecTV” or “AT&T”.
- They may instruct the victim to press buttons and navigate menus on the DirecTV receiver with a convincing level of accuracy.
Do’s & Don’ts
- If you find yourself on this kind of call, hang up ASAP. The less you say to the scammer, the better.
- Never antagonize or berate the caller. Remember: They have your address. These crooks can get hostile and the worst-case scenario could result in you getting swatted.
- Don’t volunteer any extra info, especially your DirecTV account number or PIN. True DTV representatives won’t ask for this info over the phone.
- To verify any DirecTV communications, or to report a fraudulent call, contact them at 1-800-531-5000 or chat them up on their website.
- If you speak with a scammer and feel that they already know too many details about your DTV service, hang up and call the real DirecTV and ask about increasing your account security or changing your PIN and password.
