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‘Free phone’ scams are on the rise, and a new variation has emerged that demands attention. In this latest scheme, a brand-new phone is inexplicably left at your doorstep—without your payment or involvement in its purchase.
This adds to the ongoing list of scams where new phones are delivered directly to your residence under suspicious circumstances.
The traditional ‘free phone’ scam involves a scammer impersonating you to your mobile service provider and ordering a new device. The carrier then ships the phone to your address, often while the scammer waits nearby to snag the package before you can retrieve it. Essentially, this is a form of porch piracy—an opportunistic theft where the scammer knows the shipment details beforehand and benefits by acquiring the free device.
Protect yourself by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your mobile account and other online services to reduce the risk.
Another common scam occurs when you’ve ordered a phone, receive a call claiming an error, and are instructed to return or ship the device back. In reality, you’re unknowingly sending a new phone directly into the scammer’s hands.
The newest ‘free phone’ scam, as reported by CNET, involves activating an unsolicited device and entering your personal information. The device then either locks up or goes completely dark, rendering it useless. Meanwhile, your details are compromised, and the scammer gains access to your personal data.
This type of scam typically begins with actions like plugging in the phone, turning it on, scanning a QR code, or inserting a SIM card. Each step can potentially grant scammers access to your accounts, identity, or phone number. Experts warn that cheap phones preloaded with malware, SIM cards designed for fraudulent activities, or QR codes dropping credential-harvesting pages are common vectors. It’s best to handle such devices with caution or leave them alone altogether.
Have you encountered other clever or malicious scams? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.
Photo credit: James A. Molnar, via Unsplash.
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