Help please....have I been the victim of a scam?

mummybear_2 · 18 May 2005 at 9:12PM

Anyone reading this will probably think I am really thick.......

The home phone rings, I answer it and there is a recorded message saying someone is trying to contact me via reverse charge call, press whatever (can' remember) to accept.....I do - thinking it may be a member of my family run out of credit on mobile, or something, in need of contact....

Then no-one speaks but I can here what sounds like a pub background nose, ie. quite noisy.....I say hello a few times, then hang up.

when I did a 1471 it provided the number 0845 685 3000 - which when dialled talks about 0800 reverse call service (or something) on a recorded message (when I dialled this number from my mobile - as this was the quickest way to check the actual cost of a call to this number I was charged 5p - bit of a risk I know!)

Having contacted my CPS and BT, I am not able to get the actual cost of the call until tomorrow......this is driving me nuts, and I am now v.worried that I am going to be charged some bloody extortionate amount on my phone bill for this....

I know you probably think I am really stupid accepting the call, but I was not aware of any possible scams like this, and was genuinely worried that someone in the family was trying to contact me....it was a gut instinct reaction....which when thought about afterwards seems bloody stupid!

Any advice or help on this matter would be extremely appreciated......

April2 · 18 May 2005 at 9:37PM

Sounds like 0800 Reverse to me - see THIS THREAD.

You can opt out by e-mailing them at [email="customerservice@0800reverse.co.uk"]customerservice@0800reverse.co.uk[/email] (copied to [email="contact@ofcom.org.uk"]contact@ofcom.org.uk[/email] )

I used the wording:

Call Barring

I choose not to receive 0800 Reverse services as defined in section 4 ‘Range Of Services’ and request that you block my number (01234 567890) from receiving such calls.

Please acknowledge receipt hereof.

Regards

April

mummybear_2 · 18 May 2005 at 9:45PM

Thanks April,

I have now sent the suggested email (changed the phone number of course!)

Any other tips on if I have been scammed (is that a word?), and what I can do, or expect?

Ta v much

Helenx

April2 · 18 May 2005 at 9:55PM

It's a legitimate (if expensive) operation which, because it is available to anyone with access to a telephone and with the ability to dial the freephone number, is open to abuse.

In view of the background noise you described, it's most likely your call was from some drunken idiot 'having a laugh' at your expense.

I think you'll find it's cost you at least £2.50 but at least you won't fall for it again.

mummybear_2 · 18 May 2005 at 10:04PM

Me again,

the only thing that is really bothering me (apart from the possible cost of course!) is that the number on 1471 was an 0845 number and not somebodies personal number as such....does anyone know if 0845 numbers can be used to direct a call to a premium rate line?

ta
Hx

Paul_Varjak · 18 May 2005 at 10:13PM

mummybear wrote:

does anyone know if 0845 numbers can be used to direct a call to a premium rate line?

No!

But, remember, you accepted the reverse charge call so you will be charged for that. THat person may have got a wromg number but, as it has happened three times now, maybe someone is harassing you at your expense?

LOUISE_BLACK · 30 June 2007 at 2:54PM

YES THIS IS A SCAM. THE 0800 REVERSE RINGS YOU ACCEPT AND THEN YOU ARE CHARGED PREMIUM CALL RATES, IF YOU DIAL 147 THE NUMBER IS 0845 685 3000. OR YOU GET A CALL SAYING WRONG NUMBER AND HANGING UP IF YOU DIAL 1471 YOU GET THE NUMBER 0845 685 3000 DIAL IT AND YOU GET CHARGED AND A RECORDED MESSAGE.

HAS ANYONE RECIEVED NOTIFICATION BY EMAIL OF LOTTERY WINNING, YOU HAVN'T PURCHASED A TICKET BUT YOU WERE ENTERED INTO AN ELECTRONIC EMAIL DRAW AND HAVE WON A HUGE AMOUNT £800,449 JAUST SEND YOU DETAILS ON THE FORM, NAME ADDRESS ETC, THEN YOU GET A MAIL BACK SAYING IN ORDER TO RELEASE FUNDS YOU MUST CONTACT COMPANY AUDITOR/LAWYER AND GIVE BANK DETAILS, YOU GET TO PAY LOTS AND THEY GET YOU DETAILS COST YOU LOADS AND IF YOU GET A CHEQUE IT BOUNCES.

WHACH OUT FOR SCAMS YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING AND IT COSTS YOU EVERYTHING LOUISE :mad:

denise_h_2 · 4 July 2007 at 6:42PM

I received a call at 01:30 this morning, when I was fast asleep. Naturally, like the other forumites I accepted the call, thinking there was a problem with a member of my family. As soon as I answered it went straight to the number unobtainable tone. I put the phone down, dialled 1471 and when I saw it was an 0845 number decided to forget it. It took me about an hour to get beck to sleep again!!! I didn't however ring the number back. (I don't unless its a number I recognise - like family etc)
However on seeing advice from other people about "googling" a number, I did so and was led here. I have followed the advice about blocking the 0800Reverse, which I had never heard of. I will also keep an eye on the BT bill to see if I am charged anything

denise_h_2 · 4 July 2007 at 6:50PM

I too received one of these calls at 01:30 this morning when I was fast asleep. I accepted the call, worried it might be a member of my family trying to get hold of me - but it jut went to the "number unobtainable" tone. I dialled 1471, and when it gave out an 0845 number I decided to ignore it. I'm glad I did. I don't ring numbers back unless it is one I recognise (family etc)

I "googled" the number this evening and it led me here. I have taken the advice given and asked for the number to be barred. I had never even heard of 0800REVERSE!!! I am also going to keep an eye on the BT bill to see if anything appears on it

These kind of scams should be illegal - even more so when they operate in the small hours of the morning. Luckily I am IT savvy and wasn't taken in, but if an elderly person was targeted they could be frightened silly!

denise_h_2 · 4 July 2007 at 6:52PM

sorry about the double posting - I didn't think the first one posted as I got a "could not find page" error message after first one, so thought it had been swallowed up in the ether!!

troll35 · 16 August 2007 at 9:43PM

I've just found this thread after searching for scams. A couple of months ago my phone was targetted by one of these automatic dialer scams saying I'd 'won' £15K. I totally ignored it but got fed up of it jamming my answerphone with repetitive recorded messages every day at about the same time. Eventually it stopped.
Now for the last two days I have received 2 reverse charge calls at about the same time each day. The automated part asks if I will accept a call from....unintelligible name with pub type background noise.....and to press various buttons to accept. Thankfully I've not been in and the call has'nt been accepted and the automated part left on my answerphone. I am assuming that this too is a scam.
The bit that really riles me is that my answerphone will only record a certain no. of messages and it is quite likely that these messages will totally jam up my machine whilst I am on holiday and anyone who genuinely wants to speak to me won't be able to leave a message.

Is anyone else getting these at the moment?

Help please....have I been the victim of a scam?

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