Bogus T-Mobile rep busted after pulling off a scam that you should warn your parents about
Make sure that you ask for credentials if someone in the field says that he works for a wireless provider.
A fake T-Mobile rep is busted after scamming an elderly man. | Image by PhoneArena
Over the years we've warned you about various scams that you need to be on the lookout for. The SIM swap might be the scariest because it results in a bad actor receiving a replacement SIM for your phone and placing it in his phone. After making a few changes to your passcode and passwords, this stranger has complete access to your apps including the ones holding your financial accounts. Additionally, you are locked out of your own phone and apps in a heartbeat.
A thief can get access to your money in seconds with a SIM swap
If all of a sudden your phone does not connect with your carrier, you might be the victim of a SIM swap. Get to another phone that is not on your account and call your wireless provider ASAP. Time is of the essence. The quicker you report this, the better the chance that the scammer will get blocked from opening your apps and changing your credentials. It only takes seconds for this to take place, and it is often done at night so you don't notice any notification about the SIM swap from your carrier.
Even two-factor authentication (2FA) won't help you and in many cases it makes matters worse since the scammer will receive all the 2FA codes sent to you once the SIM swap has been effected. After calling your carrier, you need to call your bank and have them freeze your account immediately. To protect yourself from future attacks, request a Security PIN or Password, or a Port Out Lock be added to your account. Asking for this will require a special code to be entered before your phone number is hijacked by a thief and moved to another carrier.
Elderly Floridian becomes the victim of a scam involving a fake T-Mobile salesman
Now, there seems to be a new scam that you need to protect yourself from. In Medley, Florida, a 76-year-old man, whose name was not disclosed, was working for a warehouse company called Interport International Logistics where he met a man named Pedro who said he worked for T-Mobile. Pedro sold the elderly man a cellphone and a router. A few days later, Pedro returned to the business telling the 76-year-old man that he needed access to the company's Wi-Fi in order to hook up the devices.
Pedro manipulated his victim, gaining access to his laptop. Unfortunately, the victim had the password to his banking app saved on the login page. As a result, Pedro went into the 76-year-old man's bank account and using Zelle, he sent three $500 payments to an account that he controlled. He stole $1,500 and also asked for and received the victim's bank card and driver's license information. In return, he jotted down the name Pedro on a card along with numbers to a non-existent phone number.
Warn your parents and other older relatives
Pedro from T-Mobile turned out to be 29-year-old restaurant server Brandon Tabares-Beltran. He obviously was not employed by T-Mobile. While the crime took place last September, yesterday Tabares-Beltran was arrested in Miami on charges of elderly exploitation, identity theft, grand theft and offenses against computer users. It doesn't appear that impersonating a T-Mobile rep is a specific offense. He remains in county jail with his bond to be set.
Photo of the man who claimed to be a T-Mobile rep named Pedro. | Image by WPLG
While obviously you might not be as easily deceived as a 76-year-old who probably doesn't understand tech, you should refrain from doing business with a rep when he is not in the store at which he works out. Also, it doesn't seem that the victim asked to see any credentials proving that the salesman worked for T-Mobile. The carrier's "In-Home" or "Small Business" salesmen will usually carry a digital or physical badge containing a QR code. The latter can be scanned by customers to verify the salesman's employment status on the official T-Mobile website.
Even if you are sure that you'll never fall for this kind of scam, make sure to warn your parents, relatives, and other older people that you believe could become the victim of such a scam.
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