Beware! Scam telephone calls (Hoax)

Telephone fraud is currently in operation and can apply to all types of telephone.

If you receive a call with a recorded message congratulating you on winning an all expenses paid exotic holiday, and you will be asked to press 9 to receive further details: do not press 9, if you do, you will be connected to a premium rate line costing approximately £20 per minute. Even if you disconnect immediately, it will remain connected for at least 5 minutes, costing you around £100.

The final part of the call involves you being asked to key in your postcode and house number [Which can have other serious consequences too]. After a further two minutes you will receive a message informing you that you are not one of the lucky numbers, your total bill will then be around £260.

Since these calls originate from outside the United Kingdom, BT and other telephone companies are powerless to act.

The only safe solution is to hang up before the message prompts you to press 9, or even safer hang up on any unsolicited free offer call.

Do not dial 9 or 9# or 09# for anyone.

Extract from a CSMA Surrey Group Newsletter.

The facts

The above is not completely false. It does, however, not apply outside the United States. The US Federal Communications Commission has issued an advisory which explains that only users of PABX or PBX systems can be affected by the scam.

The scam cannot work in this country and no Premium Rate number is charged by BT at greater than £1.50 per minute at the time of writing.

Quotes from a Vodafone UK press release on this subject.

The Huddersfield Examiner quotes a spokesman for ICSTIS.

Finally, the City of London Police have a page dedicated to genuine fraud.