EE mobile customers are being warned about a scam email that claims a £4.27 outstanding balance must be paid to avoid service interruption. Norfolk Trading Standards issued the alert, stating the emails are fake and designed to steal personal and financial details.
How the scam works
The fraudulent email appears as a 'Payment Reminder' from EE, stating: 'Your last bill payment was not settled in full and there remains an outstanding balance of £4.27 on your account.' It urges recipients to click a link to make payment, warning of 'potential service interruption'. However, the link leads to a fake EE website that attempts to harvest personal, account, and financial information or install malware.
Norfolk Trading Standards explained: 'The criminals sending these emails often use small amounts as the figure to be paid as they believe people are more likely to make payment to avoid issues with their service but would question requests for larger amounts.'
Advice from authorities
The organisation advises: 'Be wary of claims made in unexpected email approaches and never click on links or open attachments if approached in this way. It is highly likely that versions of this email will be circulating claiming different outstanding amounts.'
If you have concerns about your account, log in directly through the official EE website or app, or contact customer service using a number from a recent bill. Never use contact numbers provided in suspicious emails. Report any suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, or report scams to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
EE's official stance
EE states on its website: 'We'll never ask you for your PIN or password by text or email.' The company also advises: 'Don’t click on links unless you’re 100% sure they are genuine. Take a moment to stop and think and trust your instincts. If it looks too good to be true or looks suspicious, there’s probably a catch. Don’t give away any of your personal details or give anyone access to your computer or mobile – if you think you might have provided your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.'
EE, part of BT Consumer, is the UK's third-largest mobile network operator with 21.2 million customers. The scam targets this large customer base, exploiting trust in the brand.
