I have received numerous calls from people claiming to be from a Sky contact centre. One of them told me I would be receiving a replacement viewing card to be inserted in my Sky box. Subsequently I received a late-night call advising me Sky had mistakenly overcharged me and asking for my bank details so it could give me a refund. I then discovered that large sums of money had been withdrawn. My bank has refunded me but I thought you should make people aware of this scam. BG, Esher, Surrey
An online search shows that Sky customers are a popular target for fraudsters and you are certainly not the first to be deceived by the card-reader ruse.
Sky says it is familiar with this scam, that the card does not exist and is just a pretext to engage the customer, and that if someone does have an issue with their viewing card an onscreen message will advise them to call Sky rather than the other way round. If there's no message, calls from "Sky staff" should be ignored.
"We do advise our customers to remain vigilant and never give out secure bank passwords or pin numbers over the phone," says Sky. "We would advise any customer who is unsure whether or not a call really is from Sky to hang up and call us back on 08442 414141."
If you need help email Anna Tims at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include an address and phone number.
