SCAM security call
Every three weeks I receive an automated call from 1-855-509-5413 claiming to be Telus Smart Security telling me that I am the contact number for my parents' address and that there is a security issure and requests me tell the residence of that address to call 1-855-844-8435 and gives an incident number related to the file. My parents are no longer with Telus Smart Homes so the call is obviously a scam. What is concerning to me is the amount of correct information they have. They have my name, my parents' address, the fact that I am the emergency contact, my home phone and my cellphone which the scammers call immediately after calling my home number. This leads me to believe Telus is either selling our information or they had a data breach that they neglected to tell their customers about.Fake Cell Towers in Canada: How to Block 2G Downgrade Attacks & Protect Your Phone
TL;DR: Criminals are using portable devices known as "SMS blasters" to force nearby smartphones onto outdated 2G networks. This 2G downgrade allows them to send convincing "smishing" (SMS phishing) texts pretending to be legitimate brands like Canada Post or 407 ETR. You can significantly reduce your risk by disabling 2G connectivity on your device. What is an SMS Blaster? An SMS blaster, often called a False Base Station (FBS) or IMSI-catcher, is a device that mimics a legitimate cell tower. When you are in range, your phone may automatically connect to this rogue signal instead of a secure TELUS tower. Once your device is connected, the attacker can: Force a 2G Downgrade: Most modern phones (LTE/5G) are designed to fall back to older networks if necessary. The fake tower exploits this by broadcasting a strong signal that tricks your phone into dropping its secure connection for the unencrypted 2G network. Send Smishing Texts: They use this unencrypted connection to push fake SMS messages (e.g., "URGENT: Outstanding toll fees for 407 ETR"). Cause Temporary Interruptions: You may notice your phone briefly loses signal or cannot place calls/use data while connected to the rogue tower. How to Block 2G Downgrade Attacks The most effective defense is to manually restrict your phone from connecting to 2G networks. Android Devices Steps vary by manufacturer, but you can typically find the toggle here: Device Path Samsung Galaxy Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Allow 2G (Set to OFF) Pixel Settings > Network and Internet > Mobile Network Security > Enable 2G network protection Other Android Settings > Network and Internet > SIMs > TELUS - StaySafe > Allow 2G (Set to OFF) iPhone (iOS) Apple does not currently offer a simple "Turn off 2G" toggle. If you are concerned about targeted threats, the only built-in method to restrict these network types is Lockdown Mode. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll to the bottom and select Lockdown Mode. Tap Turn On Lockdown Mode. Note: Lockdown Mode is an extreme security setting. It rejects 2G/3G networks but also limits some browsing features, blocks many message attachments, and restricts FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. What to do if you receive a suspicious text If you receive an unexpected message regarding urgent payments, toll fees, or delivery issues: Do Not Click Links: These are often designed to steal your credentials or financial information. Verify Directly: If you are unsure if a message is legitimate, contact the organization directly using a phone number or website you have sourced independently never use the contact info provided in the suspicious text. Report It: Forward any suspicious text messages directly to 7726 (SPAM on most mobile keypads) so we can investigate and notify the network. Contact Authorities: If you believe you have fallen victim to fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) immediately. FR version
Unscrupulous Security Tech Charges
I did not want to renew my Home Security account as I had not used it in sometime. The sensors were also broken. TELUS sent over a repair person to exchange the sensors. He arrived and replaced all the broken ones. He said that there will be a charge but to call into customer service and they will reverse it. Today I received a charge of $400. No one is reversing it and saying I approved it. This tech was named LUCKY and left his TELUS card and phone number. I need this reversed or will have to cancel all my TELUS services as it has not been 30 days since the new contract.
Fed up with Caller Id Spoofing
Generally changing a cell number isn't recommended if your mobility number has been used for caller Id Spoofs. However, for the past 5 months, I have been getting numerous call backs and text messages from caller id spoofing a week (sometimes several a day). Today someone threatened to report me to the police for harassing them. I have reported it to the fraud and cybercrime RCMP site. Should I just go ahead and change my mobility number? Obviously, this will be a major pain in the arse.Weiser 620 ZWave Doorlock not displaying in App
I'm a new customer to Telus. I purchased a Weiser 620 Zwave doorlock from Amazon that the Telus installer told me would be compatible with the Telus system. After installation, it appears on my Alarm panel, and I can lock & unlock it from the panel. But it doesn't appear anywhere on the device list in my Android SmartHome 5.9.4 app or on the web interface at https://smarthome-security.telus.com/web/system/settings/manage-devices The whole purpose of purchasing the lock was to unlock the door remotely. Why is it only available on my alarm panel?
ADT legacy security system and tech support
How does one reach technical support for an ADT legacy system. I've procrastinated replacing the batteries in a number of sensors and want to tackle it now. I used to be able to call ADT and they would take the system offline so we could open the sensors and replace batteries without them getting alarms. None of the phone numbers I have work. Help please! TIAHidden cancelation fees
I fell victim of the very scammy sale practice from Telus. I was signed up through a door-to-door sale in 2023. The salesperson clearly stated there were no hidden fees or cancellation penalties. Based on that conversation, I agreed to a SmartHome security, believing everything was on a 3 year term that I can cancel anytime. Today, after the customer support call I learned about cancelation fees! This was never disclosed verbally, and I would not have agreed to SmartHome under those terms. On top of that, the SmartHome system itself has been problematic from the beginning. The door camera has never worked reliably. I’ve tried to address this through support many times, but the issues were never properly resolved.. This experience has seriously damaged my trust, especially given TELUS’ recent ranking for customer complaints. At this point, I’m simply asking for a callback from customer service or the loyalty team to resolve this fairly, without penalties for a service that was misrepresented and never worked properly. If this can’t be resolved within a week, I will be submitting a formal complaint to the CRTC.
