How do I check if a telephone no is a scam?

spookmeister

Does anybody know of a website that records details of telephone numbers involved in scams.

I had a 1571 message that said "this is the info centre please call 0871-2409000 (actual number offered) to retreive you saved message".

That is not the normal sort of message for my missed calls.

BT just said don't ring it.

Cheers.

S.

jfdi

Sounds possible that someone's sent a text to your home phone - probably in error instead of your mob (ours usually are!) - & that's the retrieval number?

Not sure, but likely!

A
xx

MissBehaving

You could try Icstis. http://www.icstis.org.uk/consumers/ncd/default.asp although i dont think that they can do anything with a 087 number.


'icstis can help you with the following types of numbers:

premium rate numbers prefixed 09 that are 11 digits in length
directory enquiry services prefixed with 118 that are 6 digits in length
mobile phone text shortcodes that are 4 or 5 digits in length
0800 REVERSE services. Enter 08007383773 if you wish to complain about this service.
international numbers prefixed with 00 that provide a product or service'

All other prefixes such as 087, 07 and regular local numbers (01 and 02) do not fall within our remit and cannot be checked on our website. We recommend that you contact your phone company in the first instance for further advice'

C_Ronaldo

usually if a text is sent it say you have 1 new message and the message is replayed and it sounds as though an indian woman is talking, well this is what happens to me

sea-sidelady

if ur really curious, ring from a phone box

oldnick

The only messages I have had like that were from debt collection agencies

SAVEMEAFORTUNE

Got the same call. Called the number, was put on hold almost immediately after a recorded message, so hung up thinking it might be an expensive call scam.
Googled the phone number and here i am back on MSE. If anyone finds out what it's about let us know.
Cheers.

youngie

if the call was important they will call you again or write to you if they are desperate to get in touch

Voyager2002

prudryden wrote:

I don't ring any 0870 numbers on principle, as I believe that they are all scams. Just my opinion though. I would expect that if it was important, they would have given you a normal number or even a free number.
Best of luck!!

Yes, and this is an 087-1 number, which means it costs even more than an 087-0 number and is less regulated. Almost certainly a scam.

(The more expensive premium rate numbers, those beginning 090, are now so tightly regulated that it is often easier for crooks to use 0871 numbers instead.)

Heinz

spookmeister wrote:

I had a 1571 message that said "this is the info centre please call 0871-2409000 (actual number offered) to retreive you saved message".

That is not the normal sort of message for my missed calls.

BT just said don't ring it.

And BT gave good advice this time.

As 1571 is, itself, a message recording service, why should anyone leave a message on it saying you should ring another number to collect a message?

Ignore it (unless you fancy paying 10p/minute to call it).

wantmemoney

I found this journo's blog. Read the comments. Spammers are using the bt 1571 service has a loop hole. It appears a lot of the spammers are being supplied with numbers from Hotchille.

http://blog.hackingcough.com/2006/07/loophole_or_lam.htm#aboutthisblog

This is what we know about the number you entered (08712409000).

ICSTIS does not regulate this type of number. However we can tell you the following.

* This is classified as a Special Services higher rate: up to and including 10p for BT customers (non-internet) number.
* It is provided by Hotchilli Communications Ltd.
* And costs 10ppm [in pence or pounds where 'pm' means 'per minute' and 'pc' means 'per call'].