Xfinity / FedEx new phone scam

[planbmfg]

Scam alert. I went to the xfinity store and ordered a new iPhone to be shipped to my house here in the villages. FedEx delivered it yesterday. Today I get a phone call from “Xfinity” stating the phone I got was a reconditioned phone sent by mistake. I need to first, send that phone back and then they will send me a new phone plus $100 gift card for my trouble. I told the caller it sounds like a scam and he hung up. I reported the call to xfinity security and after a long call, they confirmed the call was a scam.

[retiredguy123]

Interesting scam. Although, it could not work on me because I would have never sent the phone back, especially since it apparently was already activated and had my data on it. They would have needed to send me a new phone first. I often wonder how some people will fall for these scams. Go figure.

[MrFlorida]

How did the scamer know you got a new phone? Inside job from the xfinity store?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

How did the scamer know you got a new phone? Inside job from the xfinity store?

exactly

[Caymus]

Where did the scammer want you to send the phone?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

How did the scamer know you got a new phone? Inside job from the xfinity store?

We were scammed a bit differently but with an apple iphone we never purchased, and FedEx employees had to be in on it. The first part was a social security number stolen from a Subaru new car purchase which was financed. Then an internet credit card was created for the charge. Then the iphone had an address of our house, and we called Fedex at 7 AM, and they confirmed it was out for delivery . . so how would the thieves get the phone?

FEDEX

[Lovey2]

We were scammed a bit differently but with an apple iphone we never purchased, and FedEx employees had to be in on it. The first part was a social security number stolen from a Subaru new car purchase which was financed. Then an internet credit card was created for the charge. Then the iphone had an address of our house, and we called Fedex at 7 AM, and they confirmed it was out for delivery . . so how would the thieves get the phone?

FEDEX And what made you call FedEx to check delivery if you didn't order a phone, and what tracking number did you provide them? They track by tracking number, not address. Doesn't make sense, and too much trouble for an employee! If they wanted something of value they'd just steal it! No need for a convoluted scam like that.

[Stu from NYC]

Yesterday got a call my phone labelled comcast.

They immediately told me recorded line and told the lady either drop the recording or will not speak.

She told me it was for quality control. I said bye.

No idea if legitimate but no reason for them to record the call.

[ilwitxvafl]

Quantity and anonymity. Hard to trace. They use several different emails and IP’s. They send out a few a day and even with a 15-20% hit range, they could snag a $5-8k monthly tax-free side hustle. They’re all over the place. Be careful out there.

[Bill14564]

We were scammed a bit differently but with an apple iphone we never purchased, and FedEx employees had to be in on it. The first part was a social security number stolen from a Subaru new car purchase which was financed. Then an internet credit card was created for the charge. Then the iphone had an address of our house, and we called Fedex at 7 AM, and they confirmed it was out for delivery . . so how would the thieves get the phone?

FEDEX

Three possibilities I can think of:
1. Sure, the scammers could have a FedEx employee working for them who can identify and divert a package.

2. The scammers could track the package then take the package off your porch before you get a chance to find it.

3. The scammers provided a fake email and fake phone number and were impersonating FedEx in order to get you to call about the unexpected package. Of course, the first thing you would need to do is prove it was really you on the phone by giving them some personal information.....


Do you know that the iPhone actually existed and the credit card was actually created?


I don't know how many times I have received an email from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or USPS telling me a packages (that I was not expecting) could not be delivered unless I called and provided more information. I ignore these.

I don't know how many times I've received emails confirming purchases I have made (usually iPhones, iPads, McAfee products, or Geek Squad services) and noting how much my PayPal account will be debited and giving a number to call if I don't recognize the purchase. These get ignored as well.

I have received several notices from banks (that I don't have accounts at) warning me that my account was about to be closed if I don't click this link and login now. More messages to ignore.

In all these cases there really was no package, no purchase, and no account, only the hope that I would give them information.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Three possibilities I can think of:
1. Sure, the scammers could have a FedEx employee working for them who can identify and divert a package.

2. The scammers could track the package then take the package off your porch before you get a chance to find it.

3. The scammers provided a fake email and fake phone number and were impersonating FedEx in order to get you to call about the unexpected package. Of course, the first thing you would need to do is prove it was really you on the phone by giving them some personal information.....


Do you know that the iPhone actually existed and the credit card was actually created?


I don't know how many times I have received an email from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or USPS telling me a packages (that I was not expecting) could not be delivered unless I called and provided more information. I ignore these.

I don't know how many times I've received emails confirming purchases I have made (usually iPhones, iPads, McAfee products, or Geek Squad services) and noting how much my PayPal account will be debited and giving a number to call if I don't recognize the purchase. These get ignored as well.

I have received several notices from banks (that I don't have accounts at) warning me that my account was about to be closed if I don't click this link and login now. More messages to ignore.

In all these cases there really was no package, no purchase, and no account, only the hope that I would give them information.

Yes, there was a credit card created.
Yes, we were home all day, people working from home
They used an email bomb to disguise the purchase using CoachK's email
Fedex person when we called FED on the phone said that the package was out for delivery, and and converted the order to return to shipper.
Months later, the package tracking number still said out to be delivered.
Got the credit card taken down for fraud.
Got the physical credit card in the mail several days later.

Verizon had an internet special phone deal
However, Verizon still activated the phone and charged us for a month's usage, because Verizons internal systems SUCK worse than Vanguards.
And I am personally witness to Verizons corporate network billing inconsistencies, as well as knowing someone in Verizon who had to stand up a fraud department because people figured out that Verizon was so bad, that vendors started overbilling, etc.

Satisfied Mr Bill?

[Bill14564]

Yes, there was a credit card created.
Yes, we were home all day, people working from home
They used an email bomb to disguise the purchase using CoachK's email
Fedex person when we called FED on the phone said that the package was out for delivery, and and converted the order to return to shipper.
Months later, the package tracking number still said out to be delivered.
Got the credit card taken down for fraud.
Got the physical credit card in the mail several days later.

Verizon had an internet special phone deal
However, Verizon still activated the phone and charged us for a month's usage, because Verizons internal systems SUCK worse than Vanguards.
And I am personally witness to Verizons corporate network billing inconsistencies, as well as knowing someone in Verizon who had to stand up a fraud department because people figured out that Verizon was so bad, that vendors started overbilling, etc.

Satisfied Mr Bill?

What is there to be satisfied about? In your case the phone and the shipping messages were real and you were able to stop the box from being delivered. (Other questions would be: Delivered to where? and, How would the scammer get the phone if you were home? but those don't matter now)

Other, similar message might not be as real. Since creating that post I have received:
- A notice from "Citibank" about a Coinbase purchase
- A notice from "PayPal" about a gift card purchase
- A notice from "McAfee" about a subscription renewal

All three helpfully provided phone numbers to call in case I didn't recognize these transactions. Your experience notwithstanding, I don't plan to dial any of the three numbers.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Other questions would be: Delivered to where? and, How would the scammer get the phone if you were home?

The delivery was scheduled to our address, per FEDEX, so that's why I believe the FEDEX driver was part of the heist, probably a percentage cut, to drive by the house, stop, not get out of the truck, fake a signature and keep the phone. If we didn't notice the delivery in the email blizzard, we wouldn't not be looking for a FEDEX delivery and he could stop, sign as delivered, and continue on, and the GPS tracking would validate the delivery.

I refused a delivery once two decades ago, and didn't sign. . . The delivery man signed as delivered and kept the product, and i got charged. don't remember what the item was, but it was a computer part of some sort.

Freedom depends upon trust, and many fraud prevention / trust supporting efforts are being eliminated in the current environment, and scammers will be having a field day.. . . so it's only going to get worse. .

you have to think like a criminal to figure out their scams. . helps with lots of corporate fraud training.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Which is why the OP scam is just a variation of the phone delivery scam, from people at Fedex or who work in the shipping department who have access to the delivery contents, and the address/email telephone information. If enough Fedex employees got fired after people reporting it, like we did, then drivers would be not interested in participating, so then they switched to the post delivery OP scam, trying to get a fake return and free phone.

Just be very skeptical of random calls, especially if they know you just completed a mailed purchase.