I missed my Optimum bill and the home internet was turned off. I googled the number, and the number I called answered, and went faster than it should have. No menus or anything. Everything made sense until the end when they said there was a $14 dollar discount and a different name would appear on my bill. I have since gotten an email from Optimum saying the original amount was paid, and a text from Startgenix saying the lower amount was paid. Googling Startgenix turns up nothing legitimate looking. Is this a scam of some sort that I should worry about?
In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :
Sorry Wally, it sure sounds like you’ve been hacked.
Exactly what information, e.g. numbers, did they get out of you?
The bill was paid, but I would keep an eye on your credit card, if that what you paid with.
Wierd...
Is it possible the Startgenix text was just a coincidental phishing klickbaiting scam or something?
In reply to aircooled :
Everything to pay the bill, home phone, CC, and email.
In reply to 11GTCS :
That's what I was thinking.
What number did you call?
That's a bill collector. Maybe they bought the account.
In reply to Stampie :
That's odd, it was only a few weeks late and I never received any notices.
Stampie said:
That's a bill collector. Maybe they bought the account.
Possible Optimum has outsourced/contracted with them to collect, rather than to hire their own staff? Just wondering...
Stampie said:
That's a bill collector. Maybe they bought the account.
Damn, you guys know everything! Or have experiences you don't talk about ..... =~ 0
Wally (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Stampie :
That's odd, it was only a few weeks late and I never received any notices.
That would have taken effort on their part. This doesn't.
mtn
MegaDork
6/7/23 8:20 a.m.
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Very possible. When I was with State Farm, we would contract primary collections to a vendor. They would answer the phone as State Farm. It was legitimate, nothing fishy.
I can't say that is what is happening here, but it is a possibility.
SV reX
MegaDork
6/7/23 8:24 a.m.
Stampie said:
That's a bill collector. Maybe they bought the account.
How do you identify that number as a bill collector?
In reply to 914Driver :
I googled the number and from the results it appeared to be a collector. That fits the pattern of what happened. Could be wrong.
mtn said:
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
Very possible. When I was with State Farm, we would contract primary collections to a vendor. They would answer the phone as State Farm. It was legitimate, nothing fishy.
I can't say that is what is happening here, but it is a possibility.
I called Optimum and they had received my payment so I chalked it up to this. Today I get a call from a woman identifying herself as being from Optimum and demanding I pay $180, about 1/3 more than my normal bill. I'm not late, and in 20 years they've never called me so I was confused. I hung up on her and called the help number for Opt. Being the worst company on the planet they were of no help at all once I finally got a live person, and that person accused me of bouncing a check on 7/12. I haven't written a check in over a decade, never to them, and the last payment I made was the one in the original post. Something really odd is going on here and I can't get an answer from anyone. The number that called me was 707-602-3525 which doesn't come up as anything on Google. I couldn't get a live person at my credit union tonight so I have to try and deal with it tomorrow.
mtn
MegaDork
7/20/23 2:48 p.m.
Are you able to check your account online?
I would probably cancel that credit card out of an abundance of caution.
This is somebody phishing. Probably all they know is that you have an account with Optimum. Do not use any call number they give you. Do not give them any info.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
Unfortunately no, they're the only ones that come out here
