Sky TV subscribers are being warned about a new phone scam that could expose personal information to cyber criminals. The attack, identified by the Express.co.uk technology team, starts with a call from what appears to be a UK number.
How the scam works
Once the call is answered, the scammer asks if the recipient is happy with their current Sky package. This question quickly filters out those who do not subscribe to the platform. If the answer is yes, the caller asks how much the last bill was, then offers a new price with almost 50 per cent off.
Given the cost-of-living crisis, the offer may sound appealing, but those who agree are asked for personal information such as email addresses and contact details. This is when criminals can send malware to devices or gather payment details to steal money.
How to spot a fake call
If scammers suspect a customer is onto them, they hang up immediately and move on to another victim. A key sign of a fraudulent call is that scammers never address the caller by their real name, as they do not know it. They also lack account details.
Customers who are suspicious can ask questions like "Can you please address me by name?" or "What extra channels am I getting over what I already have?" to test whether the caller is genuinely from Sky.
Sky's advice and similar scams
Sky advises customers to stay alert, stating, "We work to block scam calls and messages and monitor suspicious activity. But it’s still important to stay alert. Scams can happen to anyone. Criminals often try to rush you or catch you off guard and may pretend to be brands you trust."
The company recommends stopping if something feels wrong, not opening links or attachments, and checking via trusted routes like sky.com or the My Sky app. Customers should report suspicious activity via the Report a fraud website. This scam follows a similar attack where calls claim accounts are about to be suspended. Vodafone has also warned about phishing, noting that criminals use emails, texts, or phone calls to steal identity information.
