Over the weekend, I was sitting outside, enjoying a book and the glorious sunshine, when my phone suddenly started ringing. It was a UK number I didn’t recognise, but curiosity got the better of me, and I answered. “Hello,” I said politely. The caller immediately launched into his pitch, claiming he was from the EE mobile network.
The convincing start
That instantly made the call seem pretty convincing. EE is my actual mobile provider, so I initially assumed he was calling to try to sell me an upgrade, change my contract or offer me a new iPhone. Then came the first red flag. I was told my current EE SIM card was about to expire and that I needed a replacement to avoid being cut off from the network.
Worse still, there was a ticking clock. I supposedly had just a few days to act before my service would be terminated.
Red flags and suspicions
As Technology Editor of Express.co.uk, I’ve written about scams for years, so the warning signs were already flashing. For starters, the caller never used my name. I was simply addressed as “Sir”. I also wondered why EE hadn’t already contacted me by text if my mobile service was genuinely at risk. I'm also well aware of the urgency tactic used by online crooks to make people act before thinking.
Things became even more suspicious when the caller asked for my address so a new SIM card could be posted out. That was the moment I knew something was seriously wrong. I haven’t used a physical SIM card for years. I switched to a digital eSIM back in 2024, so the request simply didn’t make sense. At that point, I was certain this was a scam – but I decided to keep the caller talking.
Confronting the caller
I asked for his name and where he was calling from. He was reluctant to provide either. I then asked him to confirm the name of the account holder he was calling about. Again, he dodged the question. Finally, I asked why EE would need to post me a physical SIM when I don’t use one, and why the company supposedly didn’t already have my address on file. I've had numerous letters sent out in the past, so there's simply no way EE wouldn't have a record of where I live. That was when his patience started to disappear. The caller became increasingly agitated, insisting that I had to comply or my phone would be cut off at the start of the week. But I refused to hand over any personal information. Eventually, he shouted a few unprintable words down the phone before hanging up.
Not an isolated incident
This particular SIM scam isn’t new. A quick search online reveals plenty of other people who have reported receiving similar calls. Posting a message on EE's forum page, one customer said: "Hi, I had a phone call from EE yesterday - number 020 8153 3812. Said my SIM card would be blocked in 3 days' time and that I needed a new SIM. Is this a scam?"
EE itself warns customers about fraudsters who claim to work for the company, or simply pretend to be calling from their mobile provider. The firm says scammers may try to obtain personal information, gain access to a computer or mobile device, or even ask for bank details. Its advice is simple: don’t hand over your personal information and don’t give anyone access to your devices unless you are certain they are genuine.
Lessons learned
And that’s perhaps the biggest lesson from my experience. If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from your mobile, broadband or TV provider, don’t panic and don’t hand over any information. Instead, hang up and contact the company yourself using the official number on its website, app or your bill. You can then ask whether there really is a problem with your account. It takes an extra minute, but that simple step could stop a convincing phone call from turning into a very expensive mistake.
