50% Off DirecTV is the same old scam?

Yes and no, how can anyone stop someone anywhere in the world from calling/texting you? You would be surprised at the info anyone can buy about you or they may just be cold calling anyone knowing they will eventually hit someone with DTV.

Hey Shannon,

I wish you would stop spreading that lame excuse for AT&T regarding the private info of their customers.  

EVERY company has a ethical responsibility to protect ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION they have about their CUSTOMERS.  Unfortunately, THE GREED of the majority of US companies have them focused more on CONTROLLING CONSUMERS than PROTECTING them. ONLY A VERY FEW CORPORATIONS have set up proper measures to protect the PRIVACY of their customers.  IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY SINCE DAY ONE. 

These scammers KNEW we were ATT and DIRECT TV customers and I believe had access to ATT’s system to find our account specifics.  THAT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBITY OF ATT TO PREVENT!! 

There are FOUR tragedies of the technology era of business in AMERICA and the loss of PERSONAL PRIVACY is at the TOP of that list.  The list of major companies that HAVE NOT EXPOSED personal data is smaller than those who have. And the fact that CONSUMERS just blindly accept it is SAD. Cant look to GOVERNMENT because NOBODY In Washington DC will take time for these issue for consumers because they are too focused on beating each other up and creating lies and schemes to get elected.  PROTECTING CONSUMERS IS ONE OF THE “REAL” RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!  Again, its just a shame that NOBODY CARES!

AT&T took Direct TV and dismantled it in one year (from the best to the worst -just horrible customer service), while at the SAME TIME they started charging $1000 for new phones AND then violated A BASIC ETHICAL STANDARD of BILLING by adding an additional  $1.99 “UNDEFINED“, RANDOM CHARGE PER MONTH PER LINE.  Thats EVERY LINE THEY HAVE GIVING NO DEFINITION OF THE CHARGE!   ITS SHAMEFUL AND A DISGRACE....PERIOD!  

Maybe if AT&T would have spent SOME of the massive amount of dollars and time on PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS as they did on on CREATING NEW WAYS and 3-year PLANS to SQUEEZE EVERY DIME possible out of their EXISTING customers.  MAYBE THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!

If WHAT I HAVE READ IS TRUE, AT&T IS JUST STANDING ON THE SIDELEINES DOING NOTHING.  HAS AT&T RELEASED A STATEMENT OF WARNING?  DOES AT&T HAVE A NUMBER WE CAN CALL TO FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND ACTUALLY CARES??  

Sorry, NOT SORRY because this is the TRUTH and thats ALL that matters in the end!  Lies and schemes HAVE GOT TO GO.  We ALL are already gonna pay A HEAVY PRICE ,but the linger this goes on, the bigger the businesses will fall.  How have we forgotten that ANYTHING BUILT ON LIES and schemes, eventually comes crashing down....and HARD!!!  

THIS STUFF IS ONLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN!!  NO BIGGIE, RIGHT?  

TO BEGIN TO CHANGE, WE MUST DEMAND TRUTH IN ALL THINGS AND HOLD BUSINESSES, POLITICS, and NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC. WE MUST DEMAND IT!

AT&T like any business does have responsibility to protect customer's data. But that only extends to within their own systems. Anything that other companies have, customers provide themselves, etc. are beyond their responsibilities. If there is a breach in their own data, then yes they need to take care of that. But if the criminals are piecing together info from other sources, then AT&T has no way to manage that. After all they are not the world police.

So AT&T protects the info within their system. But it is not their responsibility to constantly tell people that criminals pretending to be others exist. It is up to each of us to protect our own info. It is not their fault that some people give out their info too easily to whomever calls or shows up at the door.

So what did DTV have to do with the hacking of yahoo, experian or any other company?  Your info is out there for anyone to buy.

I apologize.  Cant change the huge font... its kinda funny and also sad on my part...BUT....

YES. AT&T IS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CUSTOMER INFORMATION IN THEIR SYSTEM!!   (NO COMMENTS ON THE UNDEFINED $1.99 CHARGE PER LINE?..hmm)

HOWEVER, AS INDICATED (AS OTHER POSTS INDICATED) IN MY INITIAL MESSAGE.
 

TO THE FACT THAT THIS SCAM “APPEARS” NEXT LEVEL AND IT WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THESE WERE NOT RANDOM CALLS, THEY KNEW I HAD BOTH ATT AND DIRECT TV AND AS OTHERS ALSO HAVE INDICATED, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY HAD ACCESS TO SOME PART OF THE ATT SYSTEM BECAUSE OF DETAILS THEY COULD PULL UP ABOUT MY ACCOUNT. MAYBE THEY WERE JUST THAT GOOD AND I AM WRONG.

BUT MAY I POSE A FEW QUESTIONS?

-If ATT customers are trying to inform ATT this could be a breach,  WHO AT ATT DO WE CONTACT?

-DOES ANYONE AT ATT CARE?

IVE TRIED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS TO REPORT FRAUD BUT I WASN’T ABLE TO LOCATE ANYONE AT ATT THAT HAS ANY CLUE OR  SHOWS ANY HINT OF CARING.

ITS “SO EASY” TO PASS THE BUCK OR PLACE BLAME ON NOBODY SPECIFIC, BUT THAT IS JUST WEAK AND QUITE FRANKLY, ITS AN INSULT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.    

USUALLY THE “FEAR” OF BEING COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT STARTS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BECAUSE COMPANIES WANT TO “AVOID ANY HINT OF FINANCIAL LIABILITY”.   AND I GET THE LIABILITY ISSUE....

BUT THAT  DOESN'T MEAN ITS OK TO TOTALLY IGNORE THE ISSUE, ACT LIKE IT DOESNT EXIST, OR PLACE THE BLAME ELSEWHERE.  

SO MANY COMPANIES LIKE ATT ACT LIKE THIS TYPE OF FRAUD IS NOTHING, BUT, ITS REAL AND RAPIDLY GROWING INTO A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY THAT WE ALL SHOULD PROTECT.  SINCE BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES IN WASHINGTON DC ARE SO FOCUSED ON “THEMSELVES”,  THEY DONT EVEN SEE IT.  WHICH, AGAIN, IS JUST SAD.

BUT THERE WAS A TIME BACK IN THOSE “OLD DAYS” BEFORE TECHNO MUSIC (not funny, sorry) WHEN BUSINESS PEOPLE FELT AN  OBLIGATION TO SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR “SHOW”, BUT THERE WERE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY STEP UP WHEN GOVERNMENT FAILED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.  

HOWEVER TODAY,  THE VAST MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES SEE EVERY SITUATION OR PROBLEM AS “A LIABILITY” OR EVEN WORSE, AS SOMETHING THEY CAN “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF” ...OR HOW THEY CAN “USE IT” TO “MAXIMIZE PROFITS”.

IM DREAMING NOW, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE (AND I THINK A DECENT LONG TERM INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES) IF EACH COMPANY WOULD AT LEAST HAVE A “REAL” and “INFORMED” FRAUD RESOURCE DEPT. FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS TO CONTACT INSTEAD OF THESE “ILLUSIONS” OF A FRAUD DEPARTMENTS “IN NAME ONLY” TO PROTECT THEIR BACK SIDE “BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO”.   

OR MAYBE AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE THAT PRODUCES NOTICES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS OF ONGOING SCAMS LIKE THIS FOR THE............wait..........BENEFIT.......OF ........almost there......THE .........CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE??

SEE.... THAT WASN’T TOO DIFFICULT, WAS IT??  AND WHAT A NOVEL IDEA??!!

SADLY, CUSTOMER IS JUST ANOTHER WORD THAT IS QUICKLY VANISHING FROM THE US BUSINESS WORLD.  

WHY?  MAYBE ITS BECAUSE CUSTOMERS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE (Edited as per community guidelines), RIGHT?  

NOT SO FAST.. LAST I CHECKED, CUSTOMERS STILL PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEES SALARY,  INCLUDING THOSE BIG BONUSES FOR THOSE EXECUTIVES.

And IN REALITY, WHEN A COMPANY IS DEDICATED TO DOING THINGS “RIGHT” AND IS OPENLY TRANSPARENT, I THINK YOU WILL FIND THE VAST MAJORITY OF CUSTOMERS ARE VERY REASONABLE AND MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN JUST BEING A PAIN...

PLUS (IF A COMPANY ACTUALLY CARES),  CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS CAN ACTUALLY HELP IDENTIFY ISSUES BEFORE UPPER MANAGEMENT IS AWARE OF THEM SO THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED EARLIER. 

BUT ATT , LIKE SO MANY OTHER LARGE COMPANIES DON’T PLACE IMPORTANCE  ON DOING THE RIGHT THING. LIKE SO MANY OTHER LARGE COMPANIES, THEY HAVE BECOME SO FIXATED ON PROFITS, I QUESTION IF THEY EVEN KNOW “HOW” TO DO THINGS RIGHT ANYMORE. WHICH IS VERY SAD OF COURSE

SINCE MOST EXECUTIVES AT LARGE COMPANIES HAVE NO VISION, LACK CREATIVITY,  PROVE NOT TO BE VERY SMART,   AND THEIR ONLY TALENT IS JUSTIFYING WHY THEY SHOULD GET PAID WHAT THEY DO...

THEY ALL JUST TEND TO  “FOLLOW THE CROWD” .......LIKE A 6TH GRADER WOULD FOLLOW THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS.  AND THEY ADOPT AN “ATTITUDE“ LIKE ...

“IF THEY ARE DOING IT AND ITS OK,  THEN WE CAN DO IT TOO, RIGHT?!!   UhHuh great strategy.

(FYI- THATS HOW THE $1.99 PER LINE UNETHICAL FEE GOT STARTED!!)

SO WHAT IM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT JUST BECAUSE MOST COMPANIES ADD UNETHICAL CHARGES IN THEIR BILL, HAVE RIGGED THEIR CALL CENTERS TO REPORT NUMBERS THAT DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT REALITY, OR MADE THE DECISION TO COMPLETELY ABANDON ANY ATTEMPT AT CUSTOMER SERVICE,  THAT DOES NOT MEAN ITS WHAT IS BEST AND ITS STILL NOT RIGHT.  (I DO BELIEVE  IT WILL EVENTUALLY COST THOSE COMPANIES WHO MAKE THOSE TYPE DECISIONS ALOT MORE THAN THEY REALIZE IN THE LONG RUN...BUT THATS JUST MY UNEDUCATED GUESS!

I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS..

DO YOU WANT THINGS TO GET BETTER?  ITS NOT COMING FROM GOVERNMENT AND IT ISNT ABOUT POWER, A CAUSE, or CONTROL.

IT ALL STARTS WITH TRUTH AND BEING TRANSPARENT IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.  WHICH IS REALLY ONLY PEOPLE BEING REAL WITH ONE ANOTHER.... I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS SO DIFFICULT?  

I KNOW IF WE JUST BE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER, WE WOULD BE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE, HAVE FEWER PROBLEMS, AND IT WOULD ELIMINATE MANY OF OUR HEADACHES.

Just some random thoughts from an average, clueless customer.

Font is same size as rest of us. Only issue is the excessive use of CAPS.

Yes AT&T should address any issues causing a leak of information from their control. But they have no obligation or responsibility (nor should they) to remind people that crooks exist and are on the phone or even door-to-door pretending to be someone else.

Customer is still a word for businesses. It is just the culture of "customer is king" or "customer is always right" has been taken to the extreme. So the pendulum now swings back to expect responsibility from customers. Someone who owns their own small business might make personal concessions on an individual basis, but larger companies have too many moving parts and must follow within set rules or end up falling apart.

Regarding the $1.99 charge per phone line, try the phone section of the forum for more info. This is the DirecTV area so not the best spot to expect a lot of information for phone services and charges.

If you don't have a password on your DirecTV account, then historically phone number on file or account number, and your name, was all that was needed to access the account. So doesn't take much for someone to call pretending to be you (and be successful).

If you have reason to believe your account was inappropriately accessed internally, you can call DirecTV and request to speak to the fraud department. They have shorter hours then customer support, working on more traditional business hours. Also be prepared they may not have a direct transfer, so might have to make a second call. No guarantee this will change anything as still very possible it was not from an inside source.

In then end they are a business, not a charity or a friend, so will only "care" to a point. It is up to each and every one of us to protect our own info and guard against scams.

Moreover, I believe OP wanted to know if the phone # was in fact a recognized ATT/Directv #, and this forum seems to be an obvious source of info for that request. I literally just got off the phone with myATT customer service and asked a similar question. They stated that if the number is not a "recognizable number" (meaning if I didn't know it was from ATT/ Directv then it is most likely a scam.) Yeah you heard that right.. amazing answers from myATT customer service. I have to drink a couple glasses before I speak with these people or else I frickin lose it... Godspeed. 

This is a customer to customer forum the only DTV number is 18005315000 we have no idea what numbers AT&T uses and just because caller id says it is from DTV/AT&T it is easily spoofed so it it can be anyone from anywhere.

ITS A SCAM

@Schallzy8374 Whether or not the displayed number is a “recognized ATT/Directv #” is irrelevant. Thanks to number spoofing, there is no way to know if the call is actually from that number. Getting you to answer is the whole idea, so displaying a legitimate number is a favorite trick of scammers.

by "recognized" I meant that the moderators that have been so helpful on here would have "recognized" the number and then directed OP from there. Please view original post. 

before anyone writes anything weird, I was told by customer service that the phone number that is legit was 800-531-5000.

If you manually call the number, it would be their listed customer support number. But Caller ID unfortunately can be spoofed to where what displays is different from what actually called you (including if you press to dial it back instead of keying the number yourself).

https://support.directv.com/contact

Customer Service

800.531.5000 | Pay Bill | Order Movies | Refresh Your Receivers
General support daily, 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. ET

Pretty sure everyone might be digging too deep here but i digress. I'm sure OP will be satisfied without another paragraph of garbage.  Good day.