Comcast scam calls: how to spot the fake 50% discount
Quick answer
A call or text saying your Comcast bill is about to jump, or offering 50% off cable or streaming if you pay now by gift card, is a scam. Don't call back or buy gift cards. Contact Comcast using the number on your bill or in your account.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Text
- Pretends to be
- Comcast Xfinity
- Last updated
How it works
The FCC has warned about robocalls and texts that claim to offer a big discount, often 50% off, on cable or streaming from providers such as Comcast. The message says the offer is about to expire and tells you to call back.
The person you reach asks you to prepay for service with gift cards. The FCC says scammers are using robocalls and texts to trick people into prepaying for cable or streaming services this way. Gift cards are the giveaway: once you read out the numbers on the back, the money is gone and can't be pulled back.
Scammers often spoof the number so it looks like a local or company line. Caller ID alone doesn't prove who is calling.
Comcast is the company being impersonated here. It isn't the one calling.
Red flags
- An unexpected call or text offering a deep discount on cable or streaming
- A deal that expires today and tells you to call back right away
- A request to pay with gift cards, prepaid cards or a payment app
- A caller who says your account is in trouble but won't let you hang up and call the company
- Caller ID that looks local or like the company: it can be faked
- A link to log in to your account that came in a text
Example message
Comcast: Your bill is going up this month, but you qualify for 50% off if you act today. Call [phone number] to lock in the offer. Payment accepted by gift card.
What to do
- 1
Hang up or ignore the text
Don't press any number or reply STOP, since that can confirm your number works. Block the sender.
- 2
Check your account yourself
Sign in to your Comcast account by typing the address into your browser, or call the number printed on your bill.
- 3
If you paid with a gift card
Contact the gift card company right away with the card number and receipt and tell them it was fraud. Also report it to the FTC.
- 4
If you gave account or card details
Call your bank using the number on your card, change your Comcast and email passwords, and think about a credit freeze. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers it.
- 5
Report it
Report the call or text to the FTC. The FCC also takes complaints about unwanted calls and texts.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Robocall lists are built from phone numbers that sit on people-search sites and in breach files, matched to your area code and carrier. Serus finds and removes your phone number and address from data brokers and people-search sites, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More Xfinity scams
Frequently asked
Does Comcast call to offer discounts?
The FCC describes 50% off calls and texts as a scam. Check any offer in your account or with the number on your bill.
Why do they want gift cards?
Gift card payments are hard to trace and can't be reversed once the numbers are shared. No legitimate cable bill is paid this way.
Is the caller ID proof it's Comcast?
No. Numbers can be spoofed to look local or official.
Is this the same as the Xfinity scam?
Comcast sells its service under the Xfinity name, so scammers use both names. See our Xfinity scam page for more.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
