020 8044 9231

I’m sharing my experience to help warn others about a scam I encountered on 04 February 2026. I was contacted on WhatsApp by Harry claiming to be from “Fone House / Phone House Dispatch Team”. The conversation started very professionally, saying my application for a new phone had been approved and asking whether I wanted an Apple or Samsung device. They used formal language, branding, and even mentioned encryption, which made it look legitimate at first. I told them I wanted an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, 2TB. They offered what they called a “promotional deal” of £49 per month on a 2-year contract. They also claimed the phone was brand new, factory sealed, unlocked, and that I could keep my existing Vodafone number. They added extras like unlimited data, international minutes, insurance, and even a 14-day trial period. All of this sounded very convincing, but also far too good to be true. They then said they would deliver the phone the next day by DPD and asked for my personal details, including my full name, date of birth, and address. They later sent links asking me to enter my bank and card details, insisting these were “only to collect details” and not for payment. This is another major red flag, as genuine companies do not ask for sensitive details via random links. Things became more suspicious when the confirmation email they sent showed delivery in April, not the next day as promised. When I questioned this, they said it was a mistake and claimed to have resent a corrected email. The constant errors and reassurances were starting to feel scripted. The biggest red flag came at the end. They suddenly said that because the phone was “very costly and expensive”, I needed to pay a £98 “security deposit” on the same day. They claimed this would be taken from my bank, refunded the next day once I received the phone, and that my first real bill would still be on 01 March 2026. They even asked me directly if I had £98 available in my account. At that point, it was clear this was a scam. Legitimate phone contracts do not take upfront security deposits before delivery, and payments are never handled this way. I immediately blocked them on WhatsApp, contacted my bank, blocked my card, and ordered a new one for safety. For anyone reading this: please be careful. Warning signs included deals that were unrealistically cheap, pressure to act quickly, requests for bank/card details via links, inconsistent information, and demands for upfront payments. If something feels off, trust your instincts and protect yourself. In WhatsApp they use +442046246977 after blocking them they called me using +44208449231

Called today claiming to be fonehouse. iPhone 17 promax for £30 over 2 years on EE? Yeah sure!

I was told they were sending a mobile phone for 2 year contract but the phone was not correct one and no proper contract was emailed or posted A pre planed fraud is taking place