Landlines Phone Scam Alert
This arrived in my Email
(EDIT: There were email addresses here in original message. Removed. )
PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY.
I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, 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 VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - he gave me as John Peacock
& phone number - 0800 0800 152 .
Obviously the fellow realized I didn't believe 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 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 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.
I dialed 1471 - number withheld
I phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized.
So 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 as possible know of this scam.
The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some
people it's real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this.
How is it done?
This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should
have been 0800 800 152 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 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
many.
By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get
past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details
which include the security number, so that it can be used for far
larger purchases.
Andy ORPIN
Police Community Support Officer
(EDIT: There were email addresses here in original message. Removed. )
PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY.
I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, 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 VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - he gave me as John Peacock
& phone number - 0800 0800 152 .
Obviously the fellow realized I didn't believe 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 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 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.
I dialed 1471 - number withheld
I phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized.
So 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 as possible know of this scam.
The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some
people it's real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this.
How is it done?
This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should
have been 0800 800 152 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 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
many.
By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get
past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details
which include the security number, so that it can be used for far
larger purchases.
Andy ORPIN
Police Community Support Officer
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