An AT&T customer recently shared a troubling experience on Reddit, alleging that an associate at the Watertown, MA store where he shopped had stolen his identity. The customer claims that the associate added two new lines to his account without permission and financed over $2,000 in equipment in his name.

Despite the customer’s dispute of these unauthorized charges, AT&T initially did not believe him. The carrier insisted that the customer’s ID had been scanned and used to verify his consent for the equipment purchases and new lines. However, the customer clarified that his ID was scanned without his knowledge as the associate took a picture of it surreptitiously. Notably, receipts for the financed devices lack the customer’s signature.

The situation has escalated over two months, with the victim involving law enforcement and refusing to pay a $900 bill until the unauthorized charges are rectified. Consequently, AT&T suspended his account due to non-payment.

In response to the customer’s plight, an official AT&T Reddit account offered assistance by requesting a private message with fraud reference details for further investigation.

Another Redditor cautioned against withholding payment as a means of disputing charges, as it could lead to account suspension and loss of service. Meanwhile, efforts to locate the implicated associate have proven fruitless, with AT&T withholding information from authorities.

Should you encounter issues with AT&T services, reach out to customer care by dialing *611 from any AT&T phone or visit their support website to submit a notice of dispute.

This incident underscores vulnerabilities in telecommunications security and raises concerns about employee misconduct driven by financial incentives. As customers continue to rely on wireless providers like AT&T, vigilance is crucial in safeguarding against potential identity theft or fraudulent activities within such companies.