BT phone scam?

Caspar · 05-09-2009, 10:53

Has anyone heard of this, or is it just a dodgy made up email flying about the place!

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/ne...T__phone_scam/

Quote:

The new telephone 'scam' has arrived in Medway.

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 VM 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.

I dialled 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.

BenMcr · 05-09-2009, 11:02

Yup I've heard of it. It isn't made up.

Although sending a chain e-mail is probably not the best way to let people know!

**Paul M** · 05-09-2009, 11:09

0800 800152 is BTs number (one less zero in the middle).

Halcyon · 05-09-2009, 11:14

So how would this guy be disconnecting people then?

A mole within the organisation?

Sir John Luke · 05-09-2009, 11:18

There's even a warning from one of the BT mods here

http://www.beta.bt.com/bta/forums/ann.jspa?annID=203

**Kymmy** · 05-09-2009, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

So how would this guy be disconnecting people then?

A mole within the organisation?

He probably keeps the line engaged then send a ring signal down the line, in other word he never disconnected

BenMcr · 05-09-2009, 11:34

If you recieve an incoming call and the person phoning you is using a corded phone you can't hang up

If you put the phone down and then pick it up again the other person will still be there.

So all they have to do is stay silent on the line and it seems like you have no dial tone.

Also you can make the line redial if you tap the 'hang up' switch on a corded phone.

I'm sure there are computer systems than can do all of this automatically lol

Halcyon · 06-09-2009, 16:22

Oh right I see what you mean now. Thanks.

fw_bbc · 15-09-2009, 14:42

This is a story the BBC are interested in covering -- if anyone on here has received a phone call like this and would like to speak to us about it we would very much like to hear from you.

Please email me directly on fraser.wilson@bbc.co.uk if you would like to tell your story.

Regards,

Fraser Wilson
Producer, Business and Personal Finance News

15-09-2009, 14:47

Interesting

BenMcr · 15-09-2009, 14:55

He's now going to get a lot of Spam e-mail putting the e-mail address like that

altis · 15-09-2009, 15:25

I seem to remember a similar thread about this a while back but I can't find it now.

**Kymmy** · 19-09-2009, 08:49

BBC News have finally reported on it

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8263637.stm

BenMcr · 19-09-2009, 09:07

As has the Register

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09...nnection_scam/

interestingly they mention that it's happening to other providers whereas the BBC don't