• Scammers call claiming a wrong phone was shipped and ask for return. • They often keep the device instead of replacing it. • Victims should hang up and verify with the carrier directly. • The scam surfaced after a new phone was delivered by mail. • ZDNET advises staying alert to similar phishing attempts.

Article Summaries:

  • A new‑phone delivery scam has been reported after a ZDNET editor nearly fell victim. The caller, posing as a Spectrum representative, claimed a mix‑up and urged the editor to ship the phone back for a replacement. The editor later confirmed the call was fraudulent; the scammer simply keeps the device, potentially using it for identity fraud. Similar incidents have been shared on Reddit, where Xfinity customers received calls from fake agents asking for QR‑coded return instructions. Security experts describe it as a classic social‑engineering scheme that exploits the trust and urgency of a new‑device delivery. Victims are advised to hang up and contact the carrier directly.

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