Beware of Scam!

[craigj2k12]

Received this email from a relative

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 dialled 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.

Just be aware its a scam

[ferretuk]

Nasty one, and it seems to be real:

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/btscam.asp
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bt-unpaid...one-scam.shtml

You'd think they would put their prices up as it's been the same figure for three years!

[craigj2k12]

lol yeah saw those were from 2009, im not sure whether its still an issue, the email itself is recent but could be a circular

im guessing they get the prices from openreach, as they sound about the right price

[Hom3r]

If you get the call say bye and if you hit the receiver button several time it will clear the line.

I've done this woth those voice message calls about winning a holiday.

Better still leave answer and leave the phone off the hook and play dodgy sounds down the phone (puking, on the loo, or sexy sounds)

Or if you have been to disney a looped payback of "It's a small world", if anything it will drive them mad