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Discounted phone, TV, or internet services if you pay with a gift card? No, it’s a scam

Have you gotten a robocall about a discount on phone, TV, or internet services? Scammers are pretending to be businesses and making robocalls about “discounted services” if you pay with a gift card. It’s a scam. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.

You get an unexpected robocall from someone who says they’re with a company like AT&T, Spectrum, or Comcast Xfinity. They say there’s a 40-50% discount available if you act now. They might say the discount is for future bills, service bundles, or even products like a new Apple Watch  but then they say you have to buy a gift card and pay them up front by giving them the gift card numbers to secure the offer. That’s a scam. They might also ask you to confirm your account information to apply the discount, but if you do, they could use that info to hack into your account.

To avoid a scam like this:

  • Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast. They don’t want you to have time to think about what they’re saying. Take your time to be sure you understand the offer.
  • Check it out. To confirm the offer is real, reach out to the company that’s supposedly offering the promotion. But use a phone number or website you know is right — not the number in the robocall message.
  • Know how scammers tell you to pay. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. Only scammers will tell you to pay with gift cards.


Beware of Unverified QR Codes

Think before you scan  cybercriminals can create fake QR codes that lead to malicious websites, steal your data, or install malware on your device. Only scan codes from trusted sources, and always preview the link before opening it. Stay smart, stay safe! 

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