Description

I Googled the phone number to use to make a phone payment for my Verizon account. The person I spoke with when I used the phone number I received from my Google search (1-888-636-3481), knew exactly how much my payment due was. I was told the charge would appear as TAQ Network LLC. I did feel like I might be in a scam situation and asked to end the call without action. I was told it was not a scam and I would be given a Reference number, which I was (Ref. No. NV00000476712686.) I had already given him the payment information. I did receive a Scam notification and responded F, to report as fraud. I spoke with the credit union the next day, but because Verizon was showing payment pending, I authorized reopening the account so the payment would process. For 10 days Verizon showed that payment on my account was pending. I felt comfortable payment was made. On day 10 I received a text message that my payment could not be processed. The payment did come out of my account 10 days prior. When I spoke with Verizon I was told the payment was not authorized. I feel it is important to bring it to someone's attention that a scammer(s) have access to Verizon's individual accounts to report balance due and can steal payments and even make it look like payment was made initially! Verizon needs to do something about that.