The "You Were Overcharged" Setup

Flggd Scam School · Delivery, Refund & Logistics Scams · Lesson 3 of 5

A voicemail says your account was overcharged and you're owed money back. The "you were overcharged" refund call feels like good news, and that's exactly the trick.

The message looks like this

Hello, this is the billing department. Our records show you were overcharged $39.99 on your recent order. To claim your refund, call 1-888-555-0147 within 24 hours.

Why this is a scam

No real company refunds you by asking you to phone a stranger. Real overcharges are fixed on your statement, automatically, by the company that made the mistake.

If you call, a friendly agent offers to "process the refund". They may ask you to read out card numbers, log in to your bank, or install an app that shares your screen. Some will "accidentally" refund too much and beg you to send the difference back. The money they show you arriving was never real — the money you send back is.

Red flags checklist

• A refund for a charge you never noticed, from a company that won't clearly name itself.

• You must call a number from the message, within a deadline.

• The "agent" needs remote access to your device to process a refund.

• The refund comes out "too large" and you're asked to return the difference.

• You're asked to stay on the phone while you visit your bank or buy gift cards.

The manipulation tactic

This scam runs on reciprocity. They seem to be doing you a favor, so you feel you should cooperate — and the deadline adds just enough pressure to keep you from checking.

What to do — and what not to do

• Don't call the number in the message.

• Check your card statement yourself. No charge? No refund. Delete it.

• If there really is a strange charge, call the number on the back of your card.

• Never install screen-sharing or remote-access apps for a "refund".

• Never send money back to anyone who "overpaid" you.

Not sure about a message you've received? Check it in seconds with the free Flggd app.