General Chat

As told via Facebook and asked to share.....

Received a phone call from 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 the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & 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, to be used for larger purchases.

Thanks for that Mersey.

Chris

:-) Chrissie

thanks Mersey.

One can only presume that there are enough people being scammed to make these calls worthwhile.

Had one an hour ago from Lee at the Savers Club. Seems he wanted to save me from unwanted sales calls??? I needed to answer some questions on household spending etc........... :-P :-P :-P :-P

have passed it on!

Its worth knowing about especially those who do not have Facebook or for the vulnerable.... :-|

I haven't had this one yet, but regularly get emails saying my BT bill hasn't been paid.

As we use BTinternet it's easy enough to check, but as BT put it in Spam.......!!!! :-) :-)

If anyone has a dodgy 'call back on this number...' Don't use the phone you've received the call on; either use a mobile or if necessary a neighbours.

Sometimes genuine credit card companies will send an automated voice message if they spot an 'out of character' transaction. Even so, if you do need to reply, use a different phone just in case it's a wind up. You could in that example, use your landline to call your mobile or vice versa, or alternatively phone someone you know just to make sure the line is clear.

I have heard about that before , so its worth warning folks again about these no conscience scam artists

Thanks Mersey.

....so, why can't the phone companies stop it?

I've had calls all week, apparently about an accident I've had.
Fortunately I haven't been in, but their number appears, and I look online, to see what sort of scam it is.

Thanks Mersey......have shared.

There is one going round now in Canada .......

.......... a phone call from the Canada Revenue Agency to say you owe $1000 in back taxes and it has to be repaid right now.

The agency name is correct, and timing is about right as April 30 is our deadline for filing tax returns, so they could be just sorting out those who owe

............... but they don't phone and demand payment by credit card or bank account number :-)

A lot of people have apparently been caught by it ........... and they even phoned an investigative financial reporter this week. She called the guy on it, and his response was "Canadians are stupid, we've got lots of money from them" !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Mers :-)

After leaving school, my first job (which lasted 15 yrs) was in BT customer service.

At that time, we had advice for anyone who received nuisance calls, although I doubt if it would apply today?

Keep an old fashioned whistle next to the phone, and next time the nuisance called, blow the whistle as hard as possible,and as close as possible, right into the mouthpiece.

It was enough to burst the caller's eardrum !

.....probably get sued nowadays, Glasgowlass :-(

After all, they're only 'doing their job', which entails defrauding/irritating/disturbing people to steal their money/entice them to lie/sell them nothing at a vast expense :-|

We have a cheap ansaphone, so often screen calls and only pick up if we recognise the caller. These scammers realise we aren't personally answering and they end the call, which leaves a long bleep on the machine.
If we have been away there are often several bleeps waiting for us, easy to cancel tho

Lizx