U.S. Virgin Islands – Consumers are being urged to remain vigilant following reports of a phone scam in which criminals impersonate the telephone provider representative to gain unauthorized access to customer accounts.
According to reports, scammers contact individuals by phone and falsely claim to be representative from a telephone company or security department. During the call, the scammer sends a verification code to the victim’s mobile device and instructs them to read the code back over the phone.
By obtaining this verification code, the scammer may be able to bypass security measures, gain access to the victim’s wireless account, make unauthorized account changes, transfer phone numbers, access personal information, or potentially facilitate further identity theft and financial fraud.
Consumers should be aware that legitimate representatives will never ask customers to disclose one-time verification codes, passwords, PINs, or other security credentials over the phone.
Individuals who receive such calls are advised to:
• Hang up immediately if asked to provide a verification code or account security information.
• Contact your mobile provider directly through official customer service channels to verify any account-related concerns.
• Monitor account activity for unauthorized changes.
• Update account passwords and security PINs if suspicious activity is detected.
• Report scam attempts to their wireless provider and local consumer protection authorities.
“Verification codes are designed to protect customers, but scammers are increasingly using social engineering tactics to trick individuals into sharing them,” said [Spokesperson “Consumers should treat any unsolicited request for security codes as a potential fraud attempt.”
Anyone who believes they may have shared a verification code with a scammer should contact their wireless provider immediately to secure their account and prevent further unauthorized access.
For more information, call the Economic Crimes Unit at 340-774-3942, extension 5618.
