Beware scam phone calls claiming to be Internet Service Provider

Cyber crooks are calling Internet users claiming to be their Internet Service Provider, warning them that their Internet connection will be disconnected unless the recipient of the call follows the caller’s instructions.

In most cases, this scam comes in the form of an automated phone call saying the recipient’s Internet will be disconnected. The phone call will ask the recipient to press 1 on their keypad or call another number to speak to a customer agent to solve the problem.

These scams can vary but the most common variants are –
– A phone call claiming the Internet will be disconnected due to illegal activity
– A phone call claiming the Internet connection has been compromised
– A phone call claiming the recipient’s router has been compromised

In the UK, the crooks often claim to be representing BT, Virgin or Sky, but any Internet Service Provider from around the world could potentially be targeted.

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How does the “Your Internet will be disconnected” scam work?

The scam is designed to either trick a recipient into installing malware onto their computer, or trick a recipient into giving away personal details about themselves over the phone.

If a recipient contacts a “customer agent”, they will actually be talking to a scammer. The scammer may claim the customer’s Internet connection, router or computer is infected with malware or has been compromised by crooks. They may also claim the connection is being disabled due to “illegal activity” detected on the recipient’s Internet connection.

This is to panic the recipient and trick them into following the scammer’s instructions over the phone. The scammer may ask the recipient to install remote desktop software, which gives the scammer access to a person’s computer and can allow them to install malware.

Alternatively the scammer may ask the recipient to provide sensitive and personal information, including banking information and passwords, which can subsequently lead to identity fraud.

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Avoiding these scams

If you get an unexpected call either from a real person or an automated messages claiming that your Internet connection will be disconnected for whatever reason, hang up the phone.

You can contact your Internet Service Provider from their official website or any documentation you have to check if the call was genuine, and because it is you that called your ISP, you know it really is your ISP that you’re talking to.