General Chat

Kevin - This so called warning is its self a hoax. The 9 thing doesn't work and the missed number cannot charge anything like £50. BT have now stopped the scam anyway. By sending these out you are perpetuating the thing yourself

Copied from ICSTIS UPDATED: WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2004 £20 PER MINUTE AND £50 PER MINUTE TELEPHONE 'SCAMS' - URBAN MYTHS Over the last few days, ICSTIS has received dozens of enquiries about the above 'scams', which are being widely publicised by e-mail. To help us put an end to the current spate of enquiries, please pass this information on to all contacts. In the first case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a recorded message informing them that they have won an all-expenses paid holiday and are asked to press 9 to hear further details. It is then claimed that callers are connected to a £20.00 per minute premium rate line that will still charge them for a minimum of five minutes even if they disconnect immediately. It is also claimed that, if callers stay connected, the entire message costs £260.00. In the second case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a missed call from a number beginning 0709. It is then claimed that, if callers dial this number, they are connected to a £50.00 per minute premium rate line. Please note that these stories are NOT true. £20.00 per minute and £50.00 per minute premium rate tariffs do not exist - the highest premium rate tariff available is £1.50 per minute. Despite the dozens of enquiries received by ICSTIS about these 'scams' (and most people appear to have heard about them second or third-hand), not one person who claims that it has actually happened to them has been able to produce a phone bill to support their story. ICSTIS urges any individual or organisation that receives an e-mail about these 'scams' to delete it immediately. Please do NOT forward it to others. Bob

Thanks Bob.... By sending these E-mails round and round we do the work of the hoaxers. In general anything like this is propably a hoax and should be deleted on sight.

Thanks Bob Its best we know the facts. Elaine x

Rather like those 'This is from a friend that loves you - pass it on to at least umpteen people on your address book and you will find love fame and fortune for ever and ever' mails??? I am a mail chain breaker for exactly that reason - I think that these things can gum up the works almost as much as any scam. Magsx

The importat thing to also note is that at £1.50 a minute you could still clock up £10 in a very short time. And that is not a scam. It is a fact. Not that i have been caught. Ann glos