Comcast Xfinity Scam Calls: Don’t Fall for Fake Promotions or Deals
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Have you ever picked up the phone to hear an enticing offer for discounted Comcast Xfinity services or free devices? Before leaping on these Xfinity “deals”, stop and think twice. Scammers are unleashing a wave of fraudulent phone calls pretending to be Comcast representatives as part of a scam.
These crooks are armed with personal information on Xfinity customers and convincing sales scripts promising internet and cable promotions. But it’s nothing more than a deception aimed at stealing your identity and cleaning out your bank account.
Many trusting Xfinity customers have taken the bait on these phone calls, only to end up with device malware, fraudulent charges, and accounts opened in their names. Read on to learn how to outsmart these telecom imposters and keep your data safe. The next suspicious call pitching discounted Xfinity services may seem tempting, but it could cost you dearly.
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Overview of the Comcast Xfinity Scam Calls
The scam typically begins with a call from a number spoofing a legitimate Comcast phone number. The scammers often identify themselves as an Xfinity or Comcast representative and offer discounted services, upgrades to equipment, or promotions to switch to Xfinity Mobile.
Some specific offers victims have reported include:
Discounts on internet services
Promotions for switching to Xfinity Mobile
Free devices like an iPad 10th gen for $20/month
The scam callers will pressure victims to provide personal information like full name, address, birthdate, and Social Security number. In some cases, they have asked directly for credit card and bank account details to process a fake upgrade or promotion.
These calls originate from fraudulent call centers impersonating Comcast support. The scammers use technology to spoof local area codes and Xfinity numbers to appear more legitimate on caller ID.
How the Comcast Xfinity Scam Call Works
The scam follows a number of steps to convince victims and steal personal information:
Step 1: Receiving the Initial Scam Call
The scam call comes from a spoofed number showing up as an Xfinity customer support line on caller ID. The scammer claims there is an issue with your Xfinity services that needs immediate attention to avoid an interruption in service.
Step 2: Verifying Personal Information
The scammer will request personal information like your full name, address, birthdate, and Social Security number to pull up your account. They claim this is standard process for verification purposes.
Step 3: Offering a Fake Promotion or Deal
Once they have your information, the scammer will offer an enticing promotion or deal on Xfinity services. This serves to build trust and get you excited about the offer. Offers can include discounted internet prices, free devices like an iPad, or upgrades to Xfinity Mobile.
Step 4: Obtaining Credit Card Information
The scammer will request credit card details to process the promotion or new services they offered. This is the main goal of the scam – to get your credit card number for fraudulent charges.
Step 5: Remotely Accessing Your Device
In some cases, the scammer may claim the changes to your services require you to download remote access software so they can update your devices. This allows them to take control of your computer or smartphone to steal personal and financial information.
Step 6: Leveraging Your Information for Other Scams
With your personal information, the scammers may also impersonate you and leverage your identity for additional scams. This can result in accounts opened in your name or other forms of identity theft.
How to Spot the Xfinity Scam Calls
While the con artists are convincing, there are several red flags that can help expose their phony phone calls:
Caller ID shows an Xfinity number, but it’s slightly different or from an unusual area code. Scammers use spoofing to manipulate caller IDs.
They address you very formally, like “Dear valued customer” instead of your actual name.
The representative hurriedly asks for personal information like your SSN and date of birth to “look up your account”.
They reference odd discounts, promotions or free devices you never heard of from Xfinity.
The call is unsolicited – you didn’t reach out to Xfinity prior for service issues.
They demand immediate payment via prepaid debit/gift cards to secure an amazing deal. Real Xfinity reps will never do this.
The representative becomes aggressive or threatens suspension of service if you don’t act fast. High pressure tactics are a red flag.
They urgently request remote access to your computer or ask you to download software to “fix connectivity issues”.
Trust your instincts if a call seems suspicious. Don’t fall for time-limited offers or high-pressure tactics. Verify directly with Xfinity before sharing any personal information over the phone. Ask the caller for their employee ID number and extension prior to engaging and explain you will call right back through Xfinity’s customer service line. The scammers will likely hang up immediately, revealing their true motives.
What to Do If You Have Fallen Victim to the Scam
If you shared any sensitive personal or financial information during one of these scam calls, take the following steps right away:
Contact Xfinity at their official customer service line to notify them of the fraudulent call. Their number is 1-800-XFINITY.
Monitor your credit card statements closely for any unauthorized charges. If you see charges you did not make, report them immediately.
Consider freezeing your credit report to prevent scammers from opening accounts in your name. Visit the Equifax, TransUnion and Experian websites to place a credit freeze with each.
Change online account passwords that may have been compromised especially for banking, email, and other important logins. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Contact your bank if you shared any financial account information to place alerts on your accounts for suspicious activity. Cancel any cards given out to scammers.
File reports with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Provide them with details on the scam call.
Ask to be added to the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce unsolicited calls.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Comcast Xfinity Scam Calls
1. How do I know if a call is really from Comcast Xfinity or a scam?
Legitimate Xfinity representatives will never call and request sensitive personal information like your Social Security number or bank details. Verify any unsolicited call offering promotions by hanging up and calling Xfinity directly at 1-800-XFINITY.
2. What are some typical offers made in the Xfinity scam calls?
Common fake offers include discounted internet prices, free devices like an iPad for low monthly payments, upgrades to Xfinity Mobile, or special promotions for switching services.
3. What information do the scammers ask for during the call?
Scammers will ask for personal info like your full name, address, birthdate, Social Security number, and credit card number. They may also request remote access to your device.
4. Why do the calls show up as Xfinity on my caller ID?
The scammers use spoofing technology to manipulate caller ID information and make it appear the call is coming from a legitimate Xfinity phone number.
5. What should I do if I already shared personal information with a scammer?
Immediately contact Xfinity to notify them, monitor your accounts closely, place freezes on your credit reports, change online account passwords, and file reports with the FTC and FBI.
6. Can I stop the scam calls from coming through?
You can reduce calls by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry. But scammers often ignore registries, so your best defense is to recognize red flags of a scam call and hang up.
7. What is the end goal of the Comcast Xfinity scam calls?
The scammers aim to steal personal information for fraudulent charges and identity theft. They may also trick victims into installing malware that gives remote access to devices.
8. How can I report a Comcast Xfinity scam call?
Notify the Xfinity customer service team and file complaints with the FTC and FBI’s IC3 to help authorities investigate the scammers.
9. Are there other variations of the Xfinity scam call?
Some victims have reported scam calls supposedly from a third-party vendor called Avantus Solutions claiming to work on behalf of Xfinity.
10. How can I avoid falling victim to the Xfinity scam calls?
Be wary of any unsolicited calls, don’t share personal information, verify offers directly with Xfinity before providing details, and never give remote access to your devices.
The Bottom Line
The Comcast Xfinity scam calls are on the rise and aimed at stealing sensitive personal and financial information from victims. If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be Xfinity support, hang up immediately. Verify any offers directly with Xfinity’s official customer service line before providing any information. Avoid sharing personal or financial details over the phone. Be wary of any pressure tactics to gain information or access to your devices. Awareness and caution are your best defenses against these scammers impersonating trusted brands like Xfinity.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
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Meet Thomas Orsolya
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
