Existing and new and DirecTV customers are being warned about a telephone scam. A Johnston County man found out the hard way about the scam and lost his money.
Here’s how it works. You receive a phone call from a person claiming to be with DirecTV. They claim they can offer you a special deal to sign up for their service. If you are an existing customer, they claim they can reduce your monthly rates.
To lock in your rate, the scammer says you have to prepay for your service for 3 or 6 months with a pre-paid credit card or a gift card. Once the victim gives them the card number they find out when they receive their next bill there is no special deal and they have been scammed.
On Friday, a 67 year-old Clayton man said he received a phone call from a person who claimed to be a DirecTV employee. They offered to cut his bill in half for 2 years but said he had to pay $240 in advance with a pre-paid card. After sending in the money, the scammer called back on Monday and claimed the first payment of $240 could not be processed and they requested a second $240 payment. The victim became suspicious and soon realized he had been scammed.
The victim reported the scam to local authorities but officials say there is no way to get the money back.
Officials say if you are skeptical about a unsolicited phone call you receive, hang up and call the number listed on your bill.
