Elaborate scams can and do mimic official channels. Even so, no one should be able to send you notifications via the Verizon app. And yet, this is exactly what appears to be happening, at least as per anecdotal evidence gleaned from a troubling recent incident.
Scammers are now apparently sending Verizon customers notifications from the official app, adding a convincing sheen of authenticity to their elaborate fraud schemes
A Redditor has just detailed their harrowing experience as the supposed mark in an elaborate Verizon-linked scam. The story begins on a recent Friday, when our Redditor, who goes by the username ApprehensivePace2969, received a call from a purported Verizon rep, informing the protagonist of this sordid saga that they've qualified for a 65 percent discount on their current plan as well as a free iPad.
Interestingly, as the call was ongoing, our Redditor continued to receive notifications regarding this offer as well as their subsequent acceptance of that offer, laying to rest any suspicions.
Eventually, the Redditor receives a 256GB iPad Pro 13 with WiFi and cellular connectivity. What's more, they are charged $126 for overnight shipping with the qualifier that this amount will be refunded once they call to activate the device.
After receiving the package, however, the Redditor's phone "starts blowing up" with supposed calls from a Verizon rep, who informs that they've been sent the iPad Pro 13 by mistake and that the original offer only pertained to an iPad 11. They are further informed that they should immediately return the device to avoid getting charged $1,500 or so for the iPad 13 Pro.
Interestingly, and from where our Redditor was finally able to comprehend the fraud, they were sent a shipping label under the auspices of a Jordan Belfort (of Wolf of Wall Street fame) and an address somewhere in New York. Critically, our Redditor was informed to drop the package at a particular UPS store that was closest to their home, which meant the scammers had access to their residential address as well.
At this point, our Redditor decides to take their unrequisited iPad Pro 13 to a Verizon store. After a few calls with Verizon's fraud department, the Redditor was able to return the iPad and receive a refund for the amount charged.
Apparently, the fraud involves sending iPad Pro 13s to unsuspecting Verizon customers, only to then convince them to forward those devices to the scammers' address, all the while pinning device charges onto the bills of such unsuspecting customers.
The moral of the story is that if you are not receiving a call from an official Verizon 800 number, do not believe anything you are being told. Worryingly, in this case, the Redditor was also receiving prompts from the Verizon app, which suggests a serious security breach that should be investigated ASAP.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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