Business warns repeat scam artist now posing as Verizon employee
A local business claims to be the target of a new scam done by the same scam artist who targeted them years ago. This scam involves baiting in customers who were affected by the switch-over from Verizon Fios to Frontier Communications.
Jessica Knox is the manager Salon Montaa in Old Town La Quinta. The business ran into a bunch of problems when their phone provider Verizon Fios switched to Frontier.
Customers battle Frontier issues weeks after takeover of Verizon Fios
“At the beginning it was voicemail. No one could leave a voicemail no one could get through to the salon, it would just go to a busy signal,” Knoz said.
After three weeks Frontier finally fixed the problem. But on Wednesday the salon got a strange call.
There was a message left by a man who said his name is Sam and he says he works for Verizon. According to the message Sam was looking for customers who want to switch back to Verizon after having problems with their service and rate increases from Frontier.
“We contacted someone at Frontier and he also knew right away that it was a scam,” Knox said.
“In addition to cash, scammers prize a solid financial identity they can use or sell to others. Frontier is committed to providing consumers throughout the United States, not just its markets, with ways to protect themselves from these predators,” said Kelly Morgan, Vice President and General Manager of Frontier Secure in a release sent out by the company referencing similar scams.
Even years before the merger, Frontier warned customers of similar scams in other parts of the country.
When Knox called the number back she heard a familiar voice.
It was a recording saying she had reached Eric Bishop. Knox claims Bishop tried to scam the salon about a year and a half ago.
“He was trying to sell us ads calendars at resorts and we were interested and we wanted to be in ads like that. Then we couldn’t get in touch with him, and it was a different person each time we called. He would say his name was Eric and then he would say ‘oh, no this is John,'” said Knox.
Knox wants other business in our area to keep an eye out and be aware of this new scam.
“We know a lot of people in the area in Old Town and our customers have had the same issues with Frontier and we wanted to make sure they don’t fall for that.
Here’s some tips to make sure you don’t get scammed. First do not call back numbers left by solicitors. If the number has an 888 or 809 area code that’s a big tell that it could be bogus. Report suspicious calls to the state Attorney General. And you can register your telephone number on the national do-not-call registry by calling 888-248-4622.
