TalkTalk Indian Call Centre Scam

[Arthur]

Something to watch out for if you are with TalkTalk (or alternatively waste the scammers time).

 

Source: BBC

 

TalkTalk customers are being targeted by an industrial-scale fraud network in India, according to whistleblowers who say they were among hundreds of staff hired to scam customers of the British telecoms giant.

 

The scale of the criminal operation has been detailed by the three sources, who say they were employed by two front-companies set up by a gang of professional fraudsters.

 

The sources describe working in "call centres" in two Indian cities.

 

They say as many as 60 "employees" work in shifts in each office, phoning TalkTalk customers and duping them into giving access to their bank accounts.

 

The whistleblowers say they were given a script in which they were told to claim they were calling from TalkTalk.

 

They say they then convinced victims to install a computer virus.

 

A separate team would use that virus to gain access to victims' online banking, they add.

 

While it has not been possible to independently verify their claims, the sources have given highly detailed accounts of the scammers' tactics, which correlate very closely with previous reports of fraud targeting TalkTalk customers.

 

The software they named also matches that identified by TalkTalk in its own website guidance on what to watch out for in a scam call.

 

In addition, a victim of the fraud shown the call centre script has confirmed it matched the one read out to her when she was conned out of £5,000.

 

TalkTalk was hit by a cyber-attack in October 2015, but that hack appears to be unrelated to the Indian fraud.

 

Instead, it is alleged the scam is linked to problems in a company hired by the British broadband provider.

 

In 2011, TalkTalk outsourced some of its call-centre work to the Kolkata (Calcutta) office of Wipro, one of India's largest IT service companies.

 

Last year, three Wipro employees were arrested on suspicion of selling TalkTalk customer data.

 

A source in Kolkata, who did not want to be named, alleges the same data was obtained by a criminal gang, with USB sticks full of data trading hands at parties.

 

The criminals then used the data to operate at least three call centres, according to the whistleblowers, where staff work in shifts earning about £120 per month to perpetrate an intricate but highly successful scam.

 

They say they phone TalkTalk customers, using the stolen data to convince victims they are genuine employees of the company.

 

They then convince the victims their computers are infected, and offer to fix the problems.

 

Through this, the whistleblowers say, the victim is tricked into installing a virus that gives the scammer complete control over their machine.

Edited March 6, 2017 by Arthur

[just_david]

They are doing it to BT customers too. The old, hi we're from BT and we've detected some errors form your computer.

 

Managed to keep one of them on the line for 30 mins over the weekend.

 

I could feel the frustration at their end. It was beautiful.

[Duranis]

They are doing it to BT customers too. The old, hi we're from BT and we've detected some errors form your computer.

 

Managed to keep one of them on the line for 30 mins over the weekend.

 

I could feel the frustration at their end. It was beautiful.

 

Had these calling our home number a few times over the last week. Unfortunately it has always been while I was at work so didn't get to play with them. Mrs is thankfully smart enough to tell them to get lost.

[AMLinington]

They are doing it to BT customers too. The old, hi we're from BT and we've detected some errors form your computer.

 

Managed to keep one of them on the line for 30 mins over the weekend.

 

I could feel the frustration at their end. It was beautiful.

 

Ack not this again. I had this when I first moved into my house - our phone line is with Virgin Media and they claimed to be from BT. So I told them I wasn't a BT customer and they got incredibly threatening and offensive and kept their call open until I rang Virgin in a panic and had to have my number changed.

 

I'd like to be able to think quickly enough on my feet to waste their time but I'm afraid I just flub it and end up hanging up.

[LeMarchand]

I'd like to be able to think quickly enough on my feet to waste their time but I'm afraid I just flub it and end up hanging up.

 

Print this out and keep it near the phone: https://egbg.home.xs4all.nl/english/counterscript.pdf

[ianniow]

So I think because of this Talk then blocked all remote desktop applications TalkTalk Bans TeamViewer From Network To Combat Fraud

Teamviewer is now accessible. I happen to use anydesk.com and that is still blocked having had a running conversation with TalkTalk the last reply I got was

" Hi Ian, we're working with a number remote desktop providers on improving security for our customers, we recommend speaking with the application provider for the latest service status.Thanks, Becky"

So they put a block on and then tell providers that they have blocked get round that. Meanwhile I have to revert to using a vpn to get remote desk access.

 

But on a brighter side because I have replied so much Talk Talk have told me That "You've just earned the Insightful badge"

[TechMonkey]

I'd say that Talk Talk earned the never use as haven't got a clue badge but I think they all ready have a few of those.