Robocall Offering a Discount on Phone, TV, or Internet Services? It’s a Scam.

Have you or a loved one answered a robocall promising a huge discount on phone, TV, or internet services — but only if you act fast and pay with a gift card? If so, you’re not alone, and more importantly, it’s a scam.

According to an alert from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers are impersonating major service providers like AT&T, Comcast Xfinity, and Spectrum, using automated robocalls to push fake limited-time offers. These calls may sound legitimate, but the red flags are easy to spot once you know what to look for.

How the Scam Works

You receive an unexpected robocall from someone claiming to represent your service provider. They might say:

You're eligible for a 40–50% discount on your monthly bill.
There’s a special bundle deal or a free gift (like an Apple Watch or a new router).
The offer is only valid today or for the next few hours.
Then comes the catch: To “secure the discount,” you're told to pay upfront using a gift card from retailers like Apple, Google Play or Target and share the gift card number and PIN over the phone.
Sometimes, the scammers will also ask you to verify your account or provide login credentials.

That’s when the scammer disappears with your money, cutting access to your account if you handed over the requested information, along with your money.

Telltale Signs This is a Scam

You’re asked to pay via gift card. Scammers use gift cards because they’re hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover once used. No legitimate service provider will ever ask you to pay via gift cards.
They ask for your login credentials. No official company or service provider will ever ask you to share your login credentials via phone.
They pressure you to act fast so you don’t take the time to investigate.

How to Avoid Robocall Scams Like This

1. Take your time.

Scammers rely on urgency. If someone says you must act immediately to get a deal, that’s a huge red flag. Pause, hang up, and think it through.

2. Check directly with your provider.

If the offer sounds appealing, contact the company using their official website or customer service number — not the number given in the robocall.

3. Never pay with gift cards.

Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. If someone asks for gift card codes as payment, it’s always a scam.

4. Don’t give out account information.

Scammers may ask for your account number or login credentials. Giving the info out can lead to unauthorized account access, service hijacking, or identity theft.

What to Do If You Discover You Paid a Scammer

If you shared gift card details or personal information:

Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Contact the gift card company immediately — they may be able to freeze the funds if they have not yet been used.
Alert your service provider to the scam.
Change your account passwords, especially if you gave out login information.

Final Tip: Use Call Blocking and Scam Detection Tools

Protect yourself from robocall scams by using call blocking features from your phone provider and use scam detection tools like Bitdefender Scamio — a free tool that helps you determine whether a message or offer is fake before you fall for it.