Classified add scams

Tim_Deegan

I don't know if this thread is in the right place, but I know someone will move it if it isn't.

I wanted to warn poeple about a scam that I presume is very widespread.

I was searching in classified adds on line for a puppy, and I started to realise that most of the phone numbers shown start 070. Those that don't display a phone number will send you their phone number when asked. And guess what.........they are 070 numbers.

For those who don't know 070 numbers are premium rate that charge about £1.50 per min

The first number I rang (without even spotting it was 070) just rang and rang, but I did notice it was an unusual ring. This is probably because the phone is answered immediately, but then plays a recording of the ring tone, so that you stay on the phone for longer.

Nile

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

frivolous_fay

Thanks, 070 is a new one on me and pretty easy to mistake for a mobile.

Tim_Deegan

Nile wrote: »

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Hi Nile.

Where have you moved it to?

mrcol1000

To be honest if you get a puppy via classfield ads then you deserve to be scammed.

Tim_Deegan

mrcol1000 wrote: »

To be honest if you get a puppy via classfield ads then you deserve to be scammed.

Why do you say that?

Their scam works in two ways. They gain money from the phone call, and then they allways say that they live 100's of miles away from you, and that they will send it by pet courier, which of course you have to pay for up front.

If it was a legitimate seller then you could arrange to go and ses the puppy in the enviroment that it has grown up in, and usually see it's parents. This would be the safest way to purchase if it wasn't for the fact that 99% of the ads are scams.

trumpton

Thanks, Tim. I hadn't realised that about 070 numbers.

geordieracer

never heard of 070 numbers before now..

had a google and this is from ofcom
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/num_070_guide

though i did find it difficult to understand most of what was written there

hartcjhart

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

I don't know if this thread is in the right place, but I know someone will move it if it isn't.

I wanted to warn poeple about a scam that I presume is very widespread.

I was searching in classified adds on line for a puppy, and I started to realise that most of the phone numbers shown start 070. Those that don't display a phone number will send you their phone number when asked. And guess what.........they are 070 numbers.

For those who don't know 070 numbers are premium rate that charge about £1.50 per min

The first number I rang (without even spotting it was 070) just rang and rang, but I did notice it was an unusual ring. This is probably because the phone is answered immediately, but then plays a recording of the ring tone, so that you stay on the phone for longer.

yes 070 numbers are used by scammers a lot BUT a lot of the 'free' advertising websites substitute your number for an 070 number to raise money for the site,unless you put your number in the advert a certain way it will either automatically remove it or show it as a fault and you have to remove it.

Altarf

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

For those who don't know 070 numbers are premium rate that charge about £1.50 per min

Except they don't. Charges are between 10p and 50p per minute from a BT line, depending on the the first 5 or 6 numbers.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25502&s_cid=con_FURL_personal/pricing

Not saying there isn't a scam (although I will agree with a previous poster, who on earth would buy a pet through the classified ads), exaggerating the numbers isn't necessary.

geordie_joe

Altarf wrote: »

Except they don't. Charges are between 10p and 50p per minute from a BT line, depending on the the first 5 or 6 numbers.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25502&s_cid=con_FURL_personal/pricing

Not saying there isn't a scam (although I will agree with a previous poster, who on earth would buy a pet through the classified ads), exaggerating the numbers isn't necessary.

Just looked though the price list, download link at the bottom of the page you linked to, and calls to 070 number can be as high as 123p per minute, and that is only from a BT Landline.

As you, I'm not saying there is, or is not a scam. But if the person "owning" the line gets a cut then it would be in their interest to keep the call going for as long as possible.

This type of scam has been going for years, you advertise a job using one of tese numbers. When someone calls it hear a recorded message telling them to send their CV to the address that follows, but they have to listen to 10 minutes of waffle about the job before they get to hear the address. Then they are told that if they hear nothing within 14 days they were unsuccessful. Of course they hear nothing, because there is no job.