Subject: Information about a telephone scam -UK

by qwerty 9 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  qwerty

  I was emailed this at work, from da Management!

  I've had this type of call but hung up right at the start.

  Just wanted to warn my fellow x's and still 's ............

  >>We have been advised of a telephone fraud currently in operation
  >>(this applies to home and/or work telephones - land lines and
  >>mobiles):
  >>
  >>If you do receive one of these calls, upon answering the telephone,
  >>you will hear a recorded message congratulating you on winning an
  >>all-expenses trip to an exotic location. You will then be asked to
  >>press 9 to hear further details. If you press 9 you will be
  >>connected to a premium rate line that costs approximately *£20 *per
  >>minute.
  >>
  >>Even if you disconnect immediately, it will remain connected for a
  >>minimum of 5 minutes, costing around £100. The final part of the
  >>call involves you being asked to key in your postcode and house
  >>number (which has other serious consequences).
  >>
  >>After a further 2 minutes you will receive a message informing you
  >>that you are not one of the lucky winners. The total bill will be
  >>£260. Since the calls are originating from outside the UK, BT and
  >>other telephone companies are left relatively powerless to act. The
  >>only safe solution is to HANG UP before the message prompts you to
  >>press 9; even safer is to HANG UP on any unsolicited 'free offer'
  >>call.
  >>
  >>This appears to be a variation on a theme, warnings have been sent
  >>previously regarding calls made by individuals claiming to be
  >>engineers conducting a test on the line and asking for 9, 0# and
  >>text messages similar to the routine described above. DO NOT DIAL 9
  >>(OR 9,0# OR
  >>0,9#)
  >>FOR ANYONE! BT has been contacted and confirmed the details as
  >>being true.
  >>
  >>There is another scam operating on Mobile Phones. A Missed Call
  >>comes up. The number is 0709 020 3840. The last four numbers may
  >>vary but certainly the first four numbers will remain the same. If
  >>you call this number back, you will be charged £50 per minute.
  >>People have complained
  >>about their phone bills, once they have realised the cost of the call
  >>but apparently this is completely legal. So beware, do not call back
  >>numbers beginning with 0709 .
• 

  Angharad

  I got one of those holiday ones, I hung up before it got as far as telling me to press anything
  
• 

  qwerty

  I might just add - if you are a JW and contribute the WTS then press 9- you are expert at throwing away good money!
• 

  qwerty

  Angharad.
• 

  BluesBrother

  We received at work, notice from thr Police about a local scam involving premium rate numbers .

  You answer a knock at the door and a woman is standing there and is full of apologies but asks if she may kindly use your phone, having run out her mobile. Her car has broken down and she has to call her husband. So you let her in and she spends several minutes faking a conversation.At the end, she thanks you kindly and leaves a pound or so for the call and goes to await the repair man

  Unknown to you she was calling a premium rate number at £50 a minute. She is a partner in the call number ownership.

  Do several of these in an evening and you can see that it may be highly profitable ..The worst part is that the legal position against what she does is apparently unclear

  Take care....
• 

  qwerty

  BluesB

  Yep heard of that one, but forgot- Cheers

  Q
• 

  Angharad

  Even if a call is not a scam, I will never stay on the line if when I have answered the phone it is automatically a recording ( like some cold calls) - if someone wants to talk to me they can ring themselves.
• 

  Mutz

  The maximum rate for premium numbers is £1.50 a minute.
• 

  slimboyfat

  We have got calls like this every Sunday afternoon for the past few weeks
• 

  qwerty

  Mutz you said.......... £1.50 is the Maximum rate for premium calls.

  That maybe true, yes but I said............

  The total bill will be
  >>£260. Since the calls are originating from outside the UK, BT and
  >>other telephone companies are left relatively powerless to act....

  So basicaly the cost aren't premium rate they are international!

  Qwerty