A one-time payment of $500 for two years of satellite service, including international channels, proved too good a deal to pass up for Naveen Mishra of Round Lake.
The long-time satellite customer said even the person who accessed his existing online DISH Network account to make the changes seemed legitimate. Mishra wired the $500 payment and even received the bonus channels.
Several days later, however, Mishra said the international channels were pulled after the real DISH Network told Mishra he was sold a fake deal by a scammer.
“If somebody can log in to their system and access my information and can then tell me my information, read my information from their system, which makes me believe he’s a DISH Network guy; that is a big problem for me,” Mishra said.
Mishra said several of his friends also signed up for the deal. He said the so-called sales rep even spoke his native language.
Mishra has since filed a police report and notified the Federal Trade Commission.
He said he is fighting to protect his identity.
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“They have my personal information. They have my credit card information,” Mishra said.
DISH told NBC 5 Responds it takes allegations of third-party fraud very seriously. But in this case, DISH said there is no evidence its system was compromised.
“This type of fraud typically relies on the scammer gathering information directly from the customer under false pretenses, that the scammer then uses to impersonate the customer,” wrote a DISH spokesperson in a statement to NBC 5 Responds.
Mishra said DISH offered him a discount on his monthly service, but he turned it down. He wants his five hundred dollars back.
The FTC said before you wire anyone money, get the real story and contact the company to make sure it is legitimate.
DISH said if you’re a current subscriber and get a call offering you a huge discount, never give out your account information.
According to DISH, customers may be asked to provide this information when you contact DISH directly to verify that you are authorized to access the account and/or make changes. DISH said it will never call you asking for this information.
