It started with a call from an unknown number with a Houston area code.

When real estate agent René Flores didn't answer, he says he got a voicemail.

“The voicemail is to inform you that Spectrum is removing a 40% discount offer on your monthly bill. To reactivate this offer right now, please call back on the number you see on your caller I.D.,” the voicemail stated.

“I said, ‘so they're removing? Let me look into that,’” Flores said. “It made sense to me at the time, but it doesn't make sense to me anymore.”

Flores said he called the number back, and said someone impersonating Spectrum had his information.

“They had my information regarding when my next bill was, which was correct,” Flores said. “They also had my Visa card number… [So I thought] well it must be them.”

Flores says the scammer convinced him that if he paid $900, he wouldn't have a Spectrum bill for six months, and that the upfront payment would save him half of what he currently pays each month. 

When he tried to pay with his Visa card, Flores said the scammer convinced him otherwise. 

“He says they told him they were partnering with Target, and he needed to get the money in Target gift cards, and then I had to give them the numbers on the cards,” Flores said. “It kind of makes sense in a way because… we all are looking for some way to enhance our businesses so that might have been something, so that's what I thought."

Flores said he soon found out none of that money went toward his account.

“Scammers are just getting smarter and smarter, we as consumers need to get smarter,” Better Business Bureau South Texas Senior Director Sandra Morin said. 

According to Morin, you’re being scammed if anyone is asking you to purchase a gift card and send them the numbers.

“They're going to use that gift card, by the time you realize that it’s a scam, there’s not going to be any money on that gift card,” Morin said. “Spectrum or other businesses that are legitimate are not going to ask you for a gift card.”

Channel 5 News reached out to spectrum, who responded with the following statement:

"Spectrum will never ask you to pay your bill by gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or any payment apps.”

Spectrum encourages customers to call them directly to confirm whether an offer is legit. 

Watch the video above for the full story.