Have you received a cold call from BT threatening that your broadband will be disconnected if you don’t pay a fee? Or a suspicious email asking for sensitive information? You may be at risk of being scammed.
But how can you distinguish legitimate BT communications from scams?
That’s where we can help. Our guide covers red flags to watch out for, how to report BT scams and what to do if you’ve been scammed, including seeking legal support.
What’s a BT Scam?
A BT scam refers to a type of scam where a fraudster intends to con you out of money or your personal details while impersonating BT Group, formerly British Telecom, the major UK telecommunications company.
Even if you don’t have BT broadband, a BT internet scam, BT mobile services or any other BT services, you’re still at risk of being scammed. Here are some examples of BT scams to keep an eye out for:
- Calls: Impersonators might call pretending to be BT Support, asking for personal information to resolve an ‘issue’ with your account. They may also request payment or claim your computer is infected, before demanding remote access to fix it. These calls can come through to your landline or your mobile, so don’t assume a call from a mobile number is any safer.
- Text messages: Either SMS or WhatsApp messages may be sent as part of a scam. They might suggest you need to click a link to pay a fee so your account won’t be suspended or disconnected.
- Emails: Often imitating BT or BTinternet branding and communications, the scam email could pretend to be BT Support, suggesting there’s ‘suspicious activity’ on your account, and then ask for sensitive information. Fake ‘invoices’ may also be attached, which, when clicked on, download malicious malware to your device.
- Letters: ‘Refund’ or ‘payment demand’ letters may be issued, prompting you to call a fake number or visit a fraudulent website.
- Websites: Fake websites can be used to trick people into inputting their personal, sensitive information, where their data is then harvested by scammers.
Current BT Scams to Watch Out For
Scam tactics change all the time, but a few current BT scams are worth flagging.
One of the most common right now involves the digital landline switchover. As BT and other providers move customers from traditional phone lines to digital ones, scammers are cold calling and demanding urgent payment to ‘complete’ the switch, something BT would never ask you to pay for over the phone. Fake ‘BT refund’ scams are also on the rise, where fraudsters claim you’re owed money and ask for your bank details to process it. And with more calls now coming from mobile numbers rather than withheld ones, a BT call from a mobile shouldn’t automatically be treated as more trustworthy than one from an unknown landline number.
What Are The Laws on BT Scams in the UK?
BT scams are serious criminal offences in the UK, and are covered by the Fraud Act 2006. These scams often involve fraudsters impersonating BT or claiming to be BT technical support, customer services or billing teams.
Many BT scams may also fall into the Computer Misuse Act 1990, especially when criminals use phishing emails, fake BT branded websites or malicious software to gain unauthorised access to computers, online accounts or banking information. If a scam involves accessing or misusing someone’s personal data, the Data Protection Act 2018 could also apply due to unlawful access.
The consequences for BT fraudsters can be severe. For the most serious offences under the Fraud Act 2006, this can include up to 10 years in prison, significant fines and the confiscation of assets. However, recovering lost money can be challenging, which is why many victims seek guidance from fraud recovery specialists, like CEL Solicitors, who guide you through the process and work to protect your rights.
Tips For Recognising BT Scams
So, what are the most important red flags to know about to protect yourself against BT scamming?
Common Signs of BT Scams
Scammers can be smart and might accurately mimic official BT communications.
However, it’s important to watch out for mistakes, as these will be what distinguishes a scam from authenticity.
- Requests remote access: Scammers will ask you to grant them remote access so they can install malicious malware onto your device and harvest your data. If you’re at all suspicious, hang up and contact BT directly yourself to verify the legitimacy of the request.
- Payment requests: Any BT representative will never request payment outside of legitimate methods, but scammers may request to use Cash App or PayPal to complete a transaction, which is a red flag that it’s a scam.
- Withheld numbers or numbers that don’t check out: The number displayed on your phone should show whether the number is ‘unknown’, which increases the likelihood it’s a scam. If you’re not sure whether a number is genuine, search for it online and verify whether it’s linked to BT, the company.
- Language: Messages like “your service will be disconnected immediately” or urgent deadlines to pay fees are designed to make you panic and hand over information quickly. You should also be on the lookout for poor grammar and spelling, especially if that’s combined with a tone you wouldn’t expect from BT, such as being too casual or aggressive.
- Mismatched branding: If you’ve received a suspicious email or letter from ‘BT’, look out for logos, colours or layouts that don’t match official communications. Scammers may also use formatting that looks unprofessional or poorly designed.
- Suspicious sender address: One of the best ways to identify a BT scam email is to inspect the sender address. Even small changes, such as ‘[email protected]’, are a giveaway that it’s fraudulent.
- Suspicious websites: Scammers may also include links to fake websites that imitate BT, designed to steal your personal data. These may be included within emails or text messages, or sent to you directly, so be careful not to click on any suspicious links.
Reporting BT Scams
If you think you’ve been targeted by a BT scam, the most important thing you can do is report it.
That way, BT can be made aware of the scam and protect future customers and members of the public from being scammed in the same way.
You can report a suspicious message by forwarding it to [email protected], and forward any suspicious texts to 7726, which is free to use. You can also report a scam call directly to BT.
If you’ve been scammed online, we’d also recommend that you:
- Run an anti-virus and anti-malware program on your computer or network
- Clear the cookies in your browser
- Reset the password on your email account
This will help keep your accounts and devices as safe as possible from further access by the scammer.
You should also notify the government about scams and phishing attempts. GOV.UK provides clear instructions for forwarding suspicious emails or text messages, as well as information about how to report misleading adverts or online fraud.
I’ve Fallen Victim To A BT Scam, What Do I Do?
Whether it was through a cold call pretending to be BT Support, a phishing email, a fake letter or a fraudulent website, if you’ve been scammed, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and increase your chances of receiving compensation.
You are not alone, and you don’t have to work through this on your own either.
1. Document the scam
The first step is to document the scam thoroughly. This could include taking photos of fake letters, noting down any suspicious communications, emails or text messages, screenshots, sender email addresses, links, details about unusual attachments and any other concerning or suspicious contact.
If you’ve revealed any personal information, such as bank details or financial information, be sure to note down what you’ve shared and when. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be for potential claims and investigations.
2. Secure your accounts
Next, it’s important that you thoroughly check and secure any accounts, including your BT account and bank, that might have been compromised in the scam. Look for any communications you don’t recognise and, if you have revealed sensitive banking information, contact your bank directly.
Your bank can help by raising a security concern on your account, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, and issuing a new card with fresh details if needed.
3. Report the scam
Finally, you should report the scam to the relevant authorities or businesses. If you are looking to make a legal claim for financial loss due to a BT scam, you must report the scam beforehand to:
- BT: As mentioned above, reporting the scam to BT is really important, so they can keep track of it and help stop the scammer tricking someone else in the same way.
- The authorities: Report any phishing communications to [email protected], and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should also report the scam to Report Fraud, the UK’s national reporting service for fraud and cyber crime (formerly known as Action Fraud). You’ll then receive a police crime reference number, which can be used for recovery or legal claims.
- Your bank account: If you’ve revealed your banking information to a scammer, contact your bank immediately to help prevent the scammer from accessing your funds.
- Your email: If the scam arrived by email, be sure to report it and flag it as phishing to your email provider, such as Gmail or Outlook.
How To Make a BT Scam Claim
Once the BT scam has been properly documented and reported, and your accounts are secure, you can consider claiming the compensation you may be entitled to.
This type of claims process generally takes two main routes: civil claims and criminal investigations.
- Civil: If you’ve suffered financial loss as a result of a BT scam, you may be able to bring a civil claim against the scammer to recover your money, which, in successful cases, can result in compensation.
- Criminal: For more serious scams involving larger sums of money, the police or cybercrime authorities may pursue the scammers themselves. This won’t usually lead to direct compensation, but it can help prevent other victims from being targeted.
It’s important to note that scammers who impersonate a legitimate company, like BT, can often hide behind fake identities, use overseas networks and change contact details frequently, which often makes them very tricky to trace. Because of this, legal action can be challenging, so it’s important to manage the expectations of your claim from the outset.
Choose CEL Solicitors for BT Scam Claims
Here at CEL Solicitors, we understand how challenging falling for a BT scam can be, both emotionally and financially. You want a broadband provider you can trust, and being scammed by an impersonator puts that into question. That’s why we’re here to be the legal support you need by your side through every step of your claims journey.
Just tell CEL. Our expert team specialises in fraud and scam recovery, with a strong track record of recovering millions for clients.
We operate on a No Win, No Fee promise, meaning you won’t need to pay anything up front, giving you access to the expert legal help you deserve without financial worry.
Plus, our consultation is completely free. We listen, we care, we win, and we’ll review your situation carefully and provide clear advice on your next steps.
Ready to pursue your BT scam claim? Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
