Be Scam Aware - Virgin Media

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers to be aware of phishing emails that appear to be specifically targeting Virgin Media customers.

We have received information from a concerned consumer who has recently received a suspicious email requesting personal and financial information to be provided. At first glance

the email appears to be genuine and sent by Virgin Media. The email received by the consumer in question is as follows:

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Dear Virgin Media Customer:

Thank you for using Virgin Media Online.

In order for Virgin Media to establish your Virgin Media Online profile, we require that you provide some additional documentation to verify your identity.

A valid driver’s license, state issued ID, or passport

AND

A current bill or statement in your name and profile address (One-Level A document OR Two-Level B documents)

Level A:

Utility Bill (water/electric/gas,etc.)

Bank Statement (checking/savings/moneymarket,etc.)

Level B:

Bank Note Statement (home loan/car loan/student loan)

Phone Bill (landline or cell phone)

Credit Card Bill

Insurance Bill/Statement

Please send these documents to Virgin Media by fax. Our fax number is 0800 098 8304. You must include your email address, subject title.

Within 24-48 hours after receiving the faxed information, Virgin Media will send you an e-mail regarding the status of your account.

If you have any questions, please contact Virgin Media Online by calling 0800 098 8304. and we will be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,

Virgin Media International

Electronic Operations Department

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Based on the information provided we believe that this email is clearly a "phishing" scam, designed to obtain personal and financial details.

Our advice to consumers is, if you receive one of these emails, please delete it without replying - by replying to the email you will alert the scam artist that your email address is active and maybe targeted for future scam attempts. Please act with extreme caution before considering whether to provide the information requested. An organisation the size of Virgin

Media is very unlikely to make such a request. It is also worth asking yourself why such a hitech organisation is still using fax machines in this day and age!

If you have any doubts as to whether an email is genuine or not, please contact Virgin Media

Customer Services using the telephone numbers listed on their own website.