Bruce Stanwyck, a pensioner, received an unexpected call from a person posing as a representative of O2, offering to reduce his monthly phone contract payments from £19 to £12. Accepting the offer led Stanwyck into a complex scam that almost compromised his savings. The following day, he received a message claiming that a £1,000 iPhone 16 Pro Max was being dispatched, which Stanwyck found confusing as it hadn’t been included in the deal. Despite his attempts to reject the phone after its delivery, he was instructed to return it using a prepaid envelope.
When he handed the unopened package to a courier, he did not receive a receipt, which later raised his suspicions. Shortly after, he received a letter from O2 informing him that his contract was being terminated due to a fraud investigation and demanding payment of £1,072. This letter revealed that the phone had disappeared, and the courier was not affiliated with O2.
The scheme began with a phishing call, where the fraudster tricked Stanwyck into providing a “one-time authorisation code” (Otac), which allowed the scammer to order the iPhone using Stanwyck’s account. The scheme continued with the fake courier intercepting the delivery before the legitimate return process could occur.
After intervention from Guardian Money, O2 acknowledged that Stanwyck had been a fraud victim, canceled his debt, and closed the fraud case. O2 urged customers to be wary of unsolicited calls claiming to represent the company.
Additionally, O2’s website offers guidance on identifying similar scams. Ofcom’s policy director highlighted the ongoing issue of scam calls and the efforts being made to combat them, noting that substantial progress has already been achieved in blocking fraudulent communications.
For consumers, it is important to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls, to never disclose personal security codes, and to report suspicious interactions to their service provider.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/aug/25/o2-mobile-user-scam-deal-contract-phone