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Cell Phone Fraud: We Were Victims

By
Real Estate Agent with Remax First Realty II 0790808

Yesterday I logged in to our AT&T Mobile account to look into upgrading our son's phone. When I got in, I noticed that instead of three phones (mine, Jean's and our son's), there were EIGHT phones tied to the account.  Three of these mystery phones had a Mississippi exchange and two had a North Jersey exchange.  

I quickly opened a new browser page and looked up a customer service number for AT&T.  It only took a few seconds before I was connected to an actual person.  I explained to her that there were new 5 phone numbers associated with our account.  She confirmed my identity, listened to my story, and then transferred me to their Fraud Department.  

The man in the Fraud Department asked me again about adding a tablet or laptop.  I reiterated my answer. He then explained that on September 24th the lines were added through a retail outlet in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  He explained that someone (not a good person) must have gotten the last 4 digits of my Social Security Number and added the phones to our account.  Obviously this was a case of fraud, and any charges made would be credited back to us. 

While the second agent was doing his thing (he didn't talk much) I checked my email, and it turns out that on September 24th I got an email from AT&T with a subject of Information About Your AT&T Plan.  I didn't think much about it at the time, as they periodically send us emails. 

After almost a total of 40 minutes on the with two different reps at AT&T, the fraudulent phones were removed from our account.  The agent directed me to AT&T's Fraud Prevention Website which contains lots of information on how to PREVENT being a victim of identity theft, email. phone and other types of technology related fraud. 

So I urge you to look at your cell phone bill when it arrives or go online and check your account periodically to make sure that you do not fall victim to a similar type of attack. 

Posted by

 

 

 

~ Wayne & Jean 

Union County, NJ - a great place to live and work!

If you're looking to buy or sell a property in Union County, call us at 908-917-4189 or email TeamZuhl@gmail.com.

 

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All opinions, information and data provided is deemed reliable but is subject to errors and omissions. Not intended to solicit other Brokers' clients. We cooperate with them fully. 

Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Wow. that is crazy stuff. I'm glad to hear ATT worked it out for you. I have not heard of this fraud scam before. 

Oct 17, 2015 06:10 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Wayne and Jean. Will be looking at my AT&T emails closer in the future! Enjoy your day!

Oct 17, 2015 09:45 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Good that it was rectified and bad that it is that easy to add those. I hope they cut the service off and can track those hackers.

Oct 17, 2015 10:34 PM
Maria Gilda Racelis
Home Buyers Realty, LLC-Manchester, Bolton. Vernon,Ellington - Manchester, CT
Home Ownership is w/in Reach. We Make it Happen!

Good Morning Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl. Perhaps, this could explain why telemarketers have phone numbers tied to an individual when they make their calls which led me to believe they were from prospective clients.

 

Oct 17, 2015 10:54 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good Sunday morning Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl -

Yikes!  I can't believe you weren't contacted about adding so many lines.  Debbie is great about staying on top of our phone bills online.  I'm passing this one on to her.

Oct 17, 2015 10:58 PM
Wayne Zuhl

We had the same thought - why didn't they contact us?!

Oct 17, 2015 11:11 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl ,

Deeply concerned that AT &T didn't call to verify you added the lines (which I'm sure is why they worked so hard to remove those added lines). Fraud is everywhere! We check our bill every month and especially when we pay for an overseas plan while we are out of the country..they always have it wrong!

Oct 17, 2015 11:11 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I am glad I didnt miss your post, thanks to Kathy!  Happy Sunday!~

Oct 18, 2015 12:06 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

So I'm confused by one thing....the email you received on the 24th....was it from At &t  checking on the added lines?  Or...was it something you replied to and that's how they got your info? 

Oct 18, 2015 12:47 AM
Wayne Zuhl

Hi Sharon Tara - it was a form letter that, apparently, they send whenever there's a change to the account. But it didn't state that there was a change to the account, just gave instructions on how to verify the account. So we ignored it. Never again.

Oct 20, 2015 08:37 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I'll have to check into that... this is scary as hell.  I get the occassional email from Sprint... but I'm always so nervous that they're phishing scams that I don't pay much attention to them.

Oct 18, 2015 01:15 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Yikes! That email from AT&T could easily be overlooked as just another piece of junk mail. Glad you got everything straightened out, but a good warning to everyone to use caution when sharing private information and to monitor our statements.

Oct 18, 2015 01:34 AM
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

That is crazy, I did not even know this was a thing that was happening. Thanks for sharing and glad it got taken care of quick.

Oct 18, 2015 02:28 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

What if it was just AT&T screwing up? And they by mistake added somebody else's numbers to your account? Because it doesn't make sense. Why would anybody pay for somebody else's phone? You would definitely catch it when you got your bill. I smell something fishy. But that could just be my cynical nature.

Oct 18, 2015 08:18 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Don't know why people are so compliant when supplying their social security number.   They don't call it "phishing" for nothing.  Sorry to read about this scam.

Oct 18, 2015 08:57 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

I usually never look (simply pay, usually within the same narrow range monthly).  Maybe I need to pop over to see if someone's been shopping for me.

Oct 18, 2015 10:07 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

It's likely the devices were just sold.  But how worried are you that someone knows the last 4 digits of your SSN in another state. Yikes.

Oct 18, 2015 11:06 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

That is horrible.  I had a passcode set up for my accountjust to prevent this happening

Oct 18, 2015 01:30 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Wayne and Jean Marie Zuhl I find this very interesting as I go into the AT&T company-owned store on a fairly regular basis. They ALWAYS require a current government issued picture ID to do anything on my account. How did it happen?

Bill Roberts

Oct 19, 2015 12:21 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Yucks. I hope, they removed any additional charges too. It is ridiculous that one needs just 4 last social digits to add a line.

Oct 20, 2015 07:24 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Thanks for the heads up on this fraud. I do check my bill monthly.

Oct 22, 2015 12:09 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

That is excellent advice and I will certainly be checking our cell bills. Thank you.

Oct 30, 2015 10:51 PM