Visitor
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5 Messages
SPAM CALLS from 1800-266-2278 saying its xfinity comcast
Second time I received a call from someone with a heavy indian accent saying are you by your device, your internet is being compromised. Second guy almost had me, because he had my email and supposed account info! I asked him to please verify he was with xfinity and he sent a text to my telephone number, only for it to say a code? He wanted to download a program to fix my wife firewall to which Im like no this isnt right and he became bothered and threatened to turn my internet off and eventually hung up! I called xfinity and of course the gentlemen i spoke to said no they would never call me for that nor to download some software, YET! he also sent me a text message that came from the same number as this criminal AND the number also showed the same as in the subject title 1800-266-2278. Xfinity beware, because this is the second time this has happened to me and sure our information is on the black web, but also I didn't check to see if the account number he gave was accurate, but he did mention one, so?? security doesnt seem to be good with xfinity as my information is out there in regards to my business with you! NOT HAPPY!
EG
Expert
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116.1K Messages
2 hours ago
Concern moved here to the Customer Service help section for greater exposure to Comcast corporate employees (The Digital Care Team) for assistance.
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XfinitySara
Official Employee
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2.3K Messages
1 hour ago
@user_xu6h55 - I hear your frustration, and honestly, that sounds incredibly stressful. Getting a call where someone has your personal details and then starts making threats when you push back is enough to set anyone on edge. You did exactly the right thing by hanging up. That "gut feeling" saved you from a very common, high-pressure tactic called Remote Access Scams. Here is the breakdown of why this looked so real and how they managed to "spoof" our official number.
How They "Proved" It Was Xfinity
It’s terrifying that they used the real Xfinity number, but here is the technical reality of how they did it:
- Caller ID Spoofing: Scammers use software to mask their real phone number and display any number they want. They chose 1-800-266-2278 specifically because it is a legitimate customer service line.
- The Text Message Trick: When he sent you a "code," he likely went to the real Xfinity login page, entered your email (which he already had), and clicked "Forgot Password" or "Identity Verification." The text you received was a real automated text from Xfinity—but it was triggered by the scammer to make you believe he was "in the system."
- The Data Breach Reality: Scammers often buy "leads" from the dark web that include names, emails, and sometimes partial account numbers from various third-party data breaches (not a direct breach of Xfinity itself).
Why He Wanted You to Download Software
The "firewall fix" was actually a request to install a remote desktop tool (like AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or LogMeIn).
- Full Control: Once installed, they can see your screen, access your saved passwords, and open your banking apps.
- The "Blackout" Scam: They often turn your screen black so that you can't see what they're doing while they transfer money or install malware.
- The Threat: The moment he threatened to "turn off your internet," he revealed he was a fraud. A real technician would never threaten a customer for being cautious about security.
Critical Next Steps for Your Security
Since they have your email and phone number, please take these steps to lock your digital doors:
- Change Xfinity Password: Do this immediately from a trusted device.
- Enable App-Based MFA: You may switch from SMS (text) codes to an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator). Scammers can't trigger those from a login page.
- Check Your "Recovery" Info: Ensure the scammer didn't add a secondary email or phone number to your Xfinity account settings while you were talking.
- Freeze Your Credit: If you're worried about how much info they have, freezing your credit with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion is the best "set it and forget it" protection.
A Quick Reality Check
We (and almost every other major utility) will never call you out of the blue to tell you your "firewall is compromised" or ask you to download software to "fix" your connection. If there is a real signal issue, we usually just notify you via the official app or an automated email asking you to call them. Please let us know if you have any questions or other concerns, and our Digital Care Team remains here to help!
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