Easy tips to avoid the cable company scam

All “Larry, the Cable Guy” jokes aside, cable consumers now have a new cable company scam to watch out for—and this cable guy doesn’t even work for the company. Crooks have discovered that by presenting themselves as an employee of a cable company, they can gain easy access to a consumer’s home or finances.

The in-person cable company scam

In November, William Charles Arnold was arrested after he allegedly disguised himself as a Comcast employee by wearing a Comcast shirt and showing a Comcast employee ID. Arnold gained entrance to the home by telling the homeowner his neighbors had called in an outage. When the homeowner checked, his cable was indeed out, so he let Arnold inside. Oddly enough, Arnold did restore the cable service, but also stole Oxycodone and Hydrocodone before he left. When the homeowner discovered the missing drugs, he called Comcast. They told him they had not dispatched anyone to his home that day.The homeowner’s mistake was in not confirming with Comcast before letting the fake cable guy into his home.

Tip: If a visitor shows up unexpectedly, confirm their identity by calling a known number for the company and asking if they sent someone.

The cable company scam by phone

According to the Better Business Bureau, thieves are also using the lure of steep discounts on consumer cable bills to score big. The scam begins when someone calls, identifies themselves as a cable company employee, and tells you that you have been selected for the company’s loyal customer or rewards program.

The representative offers to provide phone, Internet, and premium cable channels at more than a 25% discount. The catch, and what should be the tip-off, is the requirement to pay for service six months in advance. You must also make payment by money order or pre-paid debit card. Both of these forms of payment are untraceable and cannot be refunded once cashed.

Tip: Never buy from a cold call and never make a purchase with a money order or pre-paid debit card.

There are exceptions to making purchases with money orders. But, those exceptions should only happen when you know the party you’re dealing with. Cable companies are merely the latest tool in the scammers’ belt. The bad guys always looking for new angles, so these tips don’t just apply to cable companies.