Movistar router change scam: warning of a new type of fraud

Recently, Movistar has issued a warning to its customers about a new type of fraud that consists of impersonating the operator to change the routerThis scam, which continues to gain victims, is not limited to the telecommunications company only, but can also occur with other operators. Criminals are looking for sophisticated ways to obtain confidential data from people and are employing increasingly convincing techniques.

The deception scheme, known as “vishing” or phone spoofing, is being used by criminals under the pretext of changing the router to create a false sense of urgency, suggesting that failure to make the change could result in the user losing their Internet connection. The main objective of this type of scam is to get credentials access to users' Movistar accounts and other sensitive data.

Movistar has reported that the fraud begins with a call in which the scammer pretends to be an employee of the company, offering a supposed router change or improving the conditions of the service. To make the user believe that the offer is legitimate, the criminals use arguments such as tariff increases or new technologies such as 5G that require equipment upgrades. In many cases, cybercriminals request a security code which arrives on the user's mobile phone via SMS, claiming that it is necessary to complete the change. However, what they are really doing is gaining access to the customer's account.

The double call trick: an increasingly common tactic

One of the most common tactics in this type of fraud is known as the “double call scam”. In these cases, the criminals make two calls to give greater credibility to the scam. In the first, the scammer presents himself as a company employee, indicating the need to make an urgent change to the router. To complete this, they ask the user to provide the code from an SMS message that they will receive. This code is generated when the scammers try to access online accounts, such as the one from MyMovistar.

In the second call, the scammer insists that you provide the code received and, once provided, gains access to the user's account, from where he can manipulate personal data, contracted services and even commit financial fraud.

This type of scam is not exclusive to Movistar, as similar cases have also been reported with other operators in Spain. Anyone who receives a call from an unknown number with this type of request should be on the alert.

How to identify and protect yourself from this fraud

Movistar and other companies have made it clear that They do not request codes or confidential data over the phone under any circumstances. In addition, according to current legislation, any modification to the conditions of your contract must be communicated in writing at least 30 days in advance. Therefore, if you receive a call asking you to provide a security code or any other type of personal data, it is advisable to hang up immediately and, if possible, block the number.

It is important to be skeptical of any unsolicited call, especially if they try to pressure you into making quick decisions. Also, you should never give out personal data over the phone, especially those that may give access to your MiMovistar account or other sensitive services.

Among the recommendations to avoid falling into this type of fraud, Movistar suggests:

• Do not trust in calls that promise to change your router or improve the conditions of your contract if they ask for codes or personal information.
• If you receive an SMS with a security code and you have not requested it, Don't share it and verify with your operator the legitimacy of the message.
• Please note that your company must inform you of any changes to your contract. in writing 30 days in advance.
• If you have doubts, contact directly through your operator's official channels, whether by phone, app or website.

The role of subcontracted companies

The criminals who carry out this type of scam are not usually official operators, but rather subcontracted companiesThese companies profit from attracting new customers through deceptive tactics. In some cases, the scammer is not looking to access your account, but rather to port it to another company without your consent.

In these cases, the scam may consist of offering a free router change, where the scammer claims that the upgrade is subsidized by the operator, but in reality what they are looking for is to change your internet service provider. If you agree to this trap, you will be starting a portability process without even realizing it.

What to do if you have been the victim of this type of scam

If you have provided the code or provided any personal information, the most important thing is to act quickly. Change passwords from your MiMovistar account immediately and contact the operator to report the incident. In addition, if you have signed a contract or accepted a portability that you were not aware of, you must contact the new company and request the cancellation of the service. You can also exercise your right to cancel the service. right of withdrawal to reverse the process if it has been carried out fraudulently.

Don't forget that, although it can be difficult to identify when a call is legitimate, you can always confirm any changes directly with your carrier by calling through official customer service channels. Don't give in to pressure to provide data in a situation where you don't feel safe.