01/03/2026
**Scam Alert: “Optus” Discount Linked To My Microsoft Account**
I recently got a call from someone claiming to be from "Optus", offering a 50% discount on my account for the next six months. It sounded great, but I was a bit suspicious.
They had my mobile number and said they’d email details and send an SMS code to “confirm my identity”. They then read out an email address for me, but it was an old one, not linked to my actual Optus account. That was the first red flag.
Next, I received the SMS. It wasn’t an Optus confirmation at all, it was a Microsoft password reset code. That’s when it clicked. If I’d read that code out, they could have taken over my Microsoft account and potentially locked me out or used it to extort money.
I hung up immediately. No discount. No follow-up email. Just a timely reminder.
Please be vigilant. Never share verification or reset codes with anyone over the phone, not “Optus”, not “Microsoft”, not your bank. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always contact the company back using their official website or app.
