WARNING: Latest Phone Scam

Ageing Bat · 20 Jun 2005, 13:36

We have been advised of a telephone fraud currently in operation -this applies to home and work telephones, landlines 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. 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 by then will be £100.

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 dial 9, even safer HANG UP on any unsolicited 'free offer calls'.

There is another scam operating on mobile phones as well. A missed call comes up. The number is 0709 020 3840, the last four numbers may vary, but certainly the first four 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 realized the cost of the call, but apparently this is completely legal.

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

Cathie · 20 Jun 2005, 13:45

Thanks for letting us know

Puritan · 20 Jun 2005, 18:18

Good intentions from AgeingBat but surely this just a hoax! Still I guess the perpetrators of the hoax will be happy

Mind you those sort of calls claiming you have won a prize are a pain in the proverbial. I get one regularly left on my answerphone saying I have won a prize but instead of an efficient message there are a lot of ums and aghs as if it is a live person speaking off the cuff!

But pressing 9 and getting charged a minimum of £100. Pull the other one or at least I'll need some convincing that it is possible - call me a cynic if you like!

20 Jun 2005, 13:36	#1
Ageing Bat Young at heart. Slightly older in other places. Join Date: 20.11.2003 Location: Here! Posts: 1,311	WARNING: Latest Phone Scam We have been advised of a telephone fraud currently in operation -this applies to home and work telephones, landlines 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. 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 by then will be £100. 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 dial 9, even safer HANG UP on any unsolicited 'free offer calls'. There is another scam operating on mobile phones as well. A missed call comes up. The number is 0709 020 3840, the last four numbers may vary, but certainly the first four 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 realized the cost of the call, but apparently this is completely legal. So beware, do not call back numbers beginning with '0709'.

20 Jun 2005, 13:45	#2
Cathie Sweet But Sadistic Join Date: 18.06.2003 Location: Lincolnshire/Essex depending on the time of year! Posts: 4,098	Thanks for letting us know

20 Jun 2005, 18:18	#3
Puritan Super Loafer Join Date: 14.04.2002 Location: Banbury, United Kingdom Posts: 350	Good intentions from AgeingBat but surely this just a hoax! Still I guess the perpetrators of the hoax will be happy Mind you those sort of calls claiming you have won a prize are a pain in the proverbial. I get one regularly left on my answerphone saying I have won a prize but instead of an efficient message there are a lot of ums and aghs as if it is a live person speaking off the cuff! But pressing 9 and getting charged a minimum of £100. Pull the other one or at least I'll need some convincing that it is possible - call me a cynic if you like!