Call from Sky a fake and if so, why?

witchypoo

Yesterday my husband answered a phone call claiming to be calling from 'Sky'. It was very unusual, all they wanted to know was:
a) is our Sky working fine for us?
b) he had my husband's initials and surname and wanted to check the spelling of his first name
b) he had our address but wanted our postcode.

That was it, my husband was on alert not to give out account/viewing card number or bank card or account details but none were asked for.
I told him I thought they'd call us back for sure with some scam offer.
I found the recent letter that came with the Sky magazine and it clearly has the account in my name only. Also did 1471 but "we do not have the Caller's number to return the call".

I just rang Sky and asked if they have any record of calling us yesterday. They did not. He said under no circumstances would they call to ask spellings of the account holder's name. He also confirmed that the account is in my name only. He told me to ignore the call!

Does anyone else have any similar experiences? I often get people claiming to be "sky warranty" people and offering to provide warranties which I always turn down. It just seems so strange to only want the spelling of his name and our postcode!

Kurtis_Blue

"It just seems so strange to only want the spelling of his name and our postcode! "

No they also got you to confirm you were current Sky subscribers.

witchypoo

Good point!

System

witchypoo wrote: »

b) he had my husband's initials and surname and wanted to check the spelling of his first name
b) he had our address but wanted our postcode.

At a guess the telephone and directory entry is in your husband's name?
The info they had can be got from there. The info they were 'missing' doesn't appear in a telephone directory.

sadie11

We also have had a call from someone saying they were from Sky last week.
My husband answered the phone they just asked if we wanted to take up any special offers at the moment. My husband said NO and they hung up.
Our phone has caller display which said "Out of Area"
Not sure if Sky has any call centres abroad but the call we recieved was not a UK call

Pokerlad

Could be part 1 of a 2 part scam. Beware if you receive a second call in a few days saying your bill has not been paid and to avoid being cut off you must pay with your card now. The details you gave in part 1 are used as a convincer that it is sky calling.

Kurtis_Blue

They are probably going through and cleaning up a mailing list.

Even answering NO to whether you want to take up any sky special offers will mark you as active and current.
Silence is golden.

brewerdave

I had a "courtesy" call about 1 month after I had my Sky+ system installed last year to check that everything was satisfactory - he confirmed my name and address and then wished me good day!
Initially I HAD assumed it was Sky as it was so soon after installation but now I'm beginning to smell a rat ! .... wonder when I'll get the call " your warranty is running out in XXXX" !!!!

mrsormrod

i had a call today asking for me but using my maiden name, i have only ever been known to sky in my married name. plus i have tld sky only to contact me via letter.
i told the scammer that i knew they wasnt from sky as they had my name wrong (didnt give correct name) and they know not to call me. and to shove the replacement card they were so called selling me up their !!! and hung up.
i then called sky to double check i hadnt just been rude to one of them lol

Kurtis_Blue

mrsormrod wrote: »

i had a call today asking for me but using my maiden name, i have only ever been known to sky in my married name. plus i have tld sky only to contact me via letter.
i told the scammer that i knew they wasnt from sky as they had my name wrong (didnt give correct name) and they know not to call me. and to shove the replacement card they were so called selling me up their !!! and hung up.
i then called sky to double check i hadnt just been rude to one of them lol

And again they have got what they phoned for, admission that you are a current Sky subscriber, welcome to the list.

mrsormrod

and do what with that info? they still have the wrong name