EE 30% off scam: How you can tell if the discount call is genuine or fraudsters

EE customers are being targeted by scam callers offering 30% off their mobile phone bills.

Fraudsters claim to be from the mobile phone giant and offer customers a discount on their existing plan.

But the aim of calls is to get personal information that can leave you out of pocket. Often they are trying to get hold of a PIN to unlock or reset your account.

EE has confirmed that it would not call customers out of the blue to offer this type of discount or ask for a PIN.

Here's what to do if you received an EE 30% discount call.

Is the EE 30% discount call genuine?

No. A call from someone claiming to be from EE out of the blue and offering a discount, should always be treated as a scam.

The aim of the call if to get to personal or financial information which they can use to steal cash so take out products in your name.

EE does sometimes contact customers about their plans, but if you are unsure if the call is genuine - call back the service provider on 150 - and don't provide any personal details.

What is the EE 30% off scam call?

The scam typically involves someone calling and claiming to be from EE before offering a one-off 30% discount on your monthly mobile bill - perhaps for being a long-term customer or for recent problems on the network.

The phone number may appear to come from London or the UK, but fraudsters can use 'call masking' technology to cover up their real phone number, which is often outside the UK.

If you agree to proceed, the caller will send you a text from EE and ask for a PIN or one-time code.

This is a genuine message from EE which can fool customers.

But it is because they have generated a code from your EE account that can actually be used to reset and access your details.

EE says they will NEVER ask you to share this code and you should hang-up straight away if you are asked for it.

How to tell if an EE 30% off call is a scam

There are some warning signs that show the call could be fake and you shouldn't ignore them.

If you're offered a discount you weren't expecting this should immediately make you cautious.

Don't assume the caller is genuine simply because they know you're an EE customer - phone numbers can be linked to their respective networks.

If the caller asks for personal details - even your name - don't provide it unless you have verified the ID.

Instead, end the call and contact EE directly through an official channel.

If you are pressured to act, this can create a sense of urgency which stops you from having time to think through the details logically.

Always stop and think before acting and says that if something looks suspicious or too good to be true, there is likely a catch.

What if I've given the scammer my details?

Don't panic, but act quickly.

If you've given the caller your bank details, contact your bank immediately and explain what has happened.

You should also call EE and tell them what happened and what account details you shared.

If you've given away passwords, change them as soon as possible – and any passwords that are similar and you use elsewhere.

Keep an eye on your EE account and check personal details have not been changed.

If you believe you've lost money or been a victim of fraud, you should report it to the police, there is more information on how to do this here.

How to protect yourself from EE scam calls

There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to a phone scam.

• Never give passwords or PINs to an unexpected caller.

• Don't provide bank details during an unsolicited call.

• Don't download software or give someone remote access to your computer because they've called you.

• Hang up if you feel pressured or uncomfortable.

• Contact the company yourself using details from its official website or your statement.

• Check suspicious numbers before taking any action.

• Report scam calls so other people can be warned.

EE also offers Scam Guard, a spam-detection add-on for eligible EE pay-monthly mobile customers that can help detect and block spam and fraudulent calls. It costs around £2 a month.