Telephone Fraud

**Gazo** · 8th Feb 2005, 19:18

Telephone Fraud
Took this from another BBS as I thought it was important.
Please read

Subject: Telephone fraud

There is a telephone fraud or scam currently in operation utilising home and work telephones on both land lines and mobiles.

If you 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 or some similar message.

You will then be asked to dial (9) to hear further details. If you dial (9) you will be connected to a premium rate line that costs approximately £20.00 per minute. Even if you disconnect immediately, once you have dialled (9), it will remain connected for a minimum of 5 minutes, costing around £100.00.

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 £260.00.

Since the calls are originating from outside the UK and Ireland, BT, Eircom and other telephone companies are left relatively powerless to act. The only safe solution is to HANG UP before the message prompts you to dial (9); even safer is to HANG UP on any unsolicited 'free offer' call!

There is also another scam operating on solely Mobile Telephone:

A missed call message appears on your mobile. The number is 0709 020 3840. The last four digits may vary but the first four digits will always remain the same. If you call this number back you will charged £50.00 per minute.

People have complained about their telephone bills, once they have realised the cost of the call, but as the call was completely legal there is nothing that can be done under current legislation.

So beware, do not call back numbers beginning with 0709.

Please pass this information on to your family and friends.

Note that, according to reports, the same two scams may be operating throughout the EU

Be Careful

Lee G · 8th Feb 2005, 19:26

So whats the other consequeces of puting in your post code etc?

**Gazo** · 8th Feb 2005, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

So whats the other consequeces of puting in your post code etc?

Well it will cost you more money of course

MacOne · 8th Feb 2005, 20:02

I have had a fair few of these type of calls. At one point I was having 4 between the hours of 17-30 to 19-00. i went on line from a link on the BBS to a website that can help to block these types of calls. I haven't had one in a while....

However, this could also be due to the fact that I am on dial up and currently spend most of my time talking to fellow airgunners with nothing better to do

GreenMachine · 8th Feb 2005, 20:03

We've had them already. Some bolloks about winning a holiday in Orlando

GM

MacOne · 8th Feb 2005, 20:15

ours go along the line of...

"This is Mr. Clive Jenkins the MD of blah blah..we've been trying to contact you all day to inform you that you are a winner etc etc etc"

One of the new ones although pretty much obvious its a recording asks for a responce to a question..if you don't answer it then asks "are you still there?"

I can see how the more niave or vulnerable amoungst us can end up with a huge bill