Possible phone scam?This was forwarded to my misses:-
Posted by: BigH47 on 22 September 2009
This was forwarded to my misses:-
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.
Did 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.
I googled the 0800 number and details of this are in several places, including the guys "ability" to block the phone line, ie he didn't hang up but just kept quite. If this does happen leave the phone on the hook for about 15 minutes and the exchange should have automatically cleared the call. You have to resist picking up the hand set to see if it worked though, because you rest the timers in the exchange.
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.
Did 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.
I googled the 0800 number and details of this are in several places, including the guys "ability" to block the phone line, ie he didn't hang up but just kept quite. If this does happen leave the phone on the hook for about 15 minutes and the exchange should have automatically cleared the call. You have to resist picking up the hand set to see if it worked though, because you rest the timers in the exchange.
