Got this through e-mail today
The new telephone 'scam' has arrived.
I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, informing me that he was dis-connecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00, or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later date.
The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly Virgin Media have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number - 0800 0800 152.
Obviously the fella realized I wasn't believing his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone - he would dis-connect my phone to prevent this.
AND HE DID !! My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again.
Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made & he said credit card, there & then.
I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't
believe his name or that he worked for BT.
He hung up..
Did 1471 & phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognised.
I phoned the police to let them know, I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently but it is
escalating.
Their advice was to let as many people know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please let as many friends & family aware of this.
This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800152 which takes you through to BT Business. The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying. (This is because the person
who initates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back. You could almost be convinced! The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.
Please pass this own to friends and family and be on your guard.
[url= http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/btscam.asp ]http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/btscam.asp[/url]
hoax
Older than time itself various a little each time.
Umm.. snopes doesn't actually say it is a hoax.
In fact they provide a link to the Suffolk police website that warns about this scam:
http://www.suffolk.police.uk/News+And+Appeals/News/Caller+Warning+-+Suffolk+Wide.htm
It's better be taken in by the e-mail, if it is a hoax, at least all you've lost is the time reading it.
I'm with Tiscali.
at least all you've lost is the time reading it.
that's bad enough.
Umm.. snopes doesn't actually say it is a hoax.
indeed, but it's still timewasting. Just ignore anyone who calls demanding money 🙂
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Dobbo - Member
I'm with Tiscali.
You will be used to being scammed then.
BBC news did a piece on this scam this morning, interviewed a guy who had been called - maybe the original author of that blog post. Did think it sounded like bollox tbh, but appears to be genuine.
I heard about this [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/01/2009_32_thu.shtml ]on R4 a month or so back[/url]. Seems legit....or rather not if you know what i mean.
Got this through e-mail today
There one thing I hate more than spam, and thats people who forward spam
You'll be telling everyone to forward this email to 10 friends next 😆
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There's another - very similar scam thats doing the rounds at the moment - which may or maynot be something to do with the phone scam.
Yesterday my boss showed me a professional loking solicitors letter he'd been sent, demanding money for an unpaid BT phone bill, there was a breakdown of the charges, court fees and interest etc, totalling just over £100, as well as a tear-off section for a bank giro credit slip.
I though't it was genuine till he told me his account number was wrong on it.
wrong account number?
Probably why it was never paid, the direct debit failed 😉