Phone scam beware

Armbase

Hi All.

OK I'm not usually this nieve, however, I have a friend ariving from hungary today and he is calling me on my mobile.

I had a call that rang once and I called back......thinking it was him.

Ohhhh dear. It was a recorded message on an 0709 number. I hung up immediately, and Orange said that they would refund the call charge. However, I thought I'd post a warning. Dont reply to 0709 numbers.

Apparently it is legal for them to charge you if "you" call and these numbers are supposed to be one way. IE they cannot solicit in this way, BUT, they just did it to me.

There are lots of urban myths that it will cost someone £50/minute althought the max cost to a mobile is £1.50/min but I strongly beleive that as a matter of principle these people should be "Jailed" and phone companies should barr any 0709 calls "TO" your phone. After all, they are supposed to be one way.

Not exactly a post to get you a bargain, but I hope it prevented someone from getting ripped off.

The number was 0709 680 705*. I hid the last digit in case it is against rules to post a phone number.

Cheers
Bob

seth

Someone rings at the door and says they've broken down can they just call home. They call a premium rate number but that's old hat.


This new scam from a company called TBS on TV last night, it is a 0207 (London Number) they use which is a new twist! Basically DO NOT give your name and address to someone you have just called. This company sends you bills and adult oriented leaflets.

"TBS isn't a premium rate service. You pay for a landline call as normal through your service provider. TBS follows up with a separate bill. By doing this it evades premium rate regulations and can charge as much as it likes. TBS charges £2.40 per minute, for a minimum of five minutes. So, even if you hang up you receive a bill for £12.95. Along with the bills TBS also sends explicit leaflets."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/consumer/consumer_20060124.shtml