The new telephone 'scam' has arrived.
A convincing
call from BT demanding payment of a 'late payment should be ignored.
The caller tells you that your
line is about to be diconnected if the payment is not made immediately.
Asking for details results in
being given a false name and the BT business phone number, he then
suggests that to prove that he is genuine he will actually temporarily
cut you off, so you should put the phone down then pick it up and phone
someone, if you do what he suggests, then sure enough the phone appears
to be dead but what he has done is simply to put his mute button on. He
then calls again and asks for your credit card number.
If this or something similar
happens to you, call the relevant authority, see below:-
Reporting Telephone Scam Attempts
in the UK call www.actionfraud.police.uk/
In the US www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/report.shtml
I received a call from a
'representative' of British Telecom, informing me that he was
disconnecting 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
British Telecom a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - the
very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - and phone
number - 0800 0800 152.
Obviously the fella realised I
wasn't believing his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from
British Telecom. I asked how & he told me to hang up and try
phoning someone - he would disconnect 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 British Telecom. I
asked how the payment was to be made & he said credit card,
there and 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 British Telecom.
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 and family be 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 British Telecom 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 initiates 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. -- Margaretta
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