WARNING - Missed call scam

Tirian

I have sadly fallen prey today to some very unscrupulous company or individual. I felt my phone buzz and when I checked, had a missed call from 07040832832. Thinking that it was a mobile number, I called it and got a voicemail message saying that I had been put through to "Discreet Numbers" and that the number I had called was not in service, and to contact "Discreet numbers", call ..."

At which point I realised it was a scam and hung up immediately. I then called my mobile operator (Three) and asked them to check my billable calls, and was told that my c. 10 second call had cost £1.07 (plus VAT). I explained what had happened, and said that I was very unhappy to have been conned like this and they very kindly agreed to credit me with the cost of that call - although they (rightly) pointed out that it was not anything to do with them.

Anyway, just thought I would pop up this warning in case anyone else gets a similar missed call. I will be making an official complaint to Ofcom on Monday about the scam, hopefully they can get this number shut down and prosecute whoever is behind it :mad:

Fatal_Swan

I've had this too. To clarify for people who haven't, the phone rings for literally a fraction of a second so you can't answer it. I don't know whether blocking this particular number would do much, since each time this happened on my phone the number changed slightly every time - though it usually started with the same prefix (0704 and 0702 I think).

For about a week I had up to three of these calls a day, strangely enough usually at exactly the same times every day. I phoned my network and they said there was nothing they could do except change my number, which they offered to do for free. I declined, and I don't know whether it was coincidence but I never had another one of these calls after that!

DonnyDave

Numbers beginning 070 are NOT mobile numbers and cost upto 50p/min from a BT landline. Thus they frequently cost more than this from mobile providers. They are "personal numbers" which can be routed to more or less anywhere.

Mobile numbers begin with 077, 078 and 079. Some new mobile numbers will also begin 075.

Ofcom will be moving all these numbers to 06 because of this confusion. When this will be, who knows...

whambamboo

DonnyDave wrote:

Numbers beginning 070 are NOT mobile numbers and cost upto 50p/min from a BT landline. Thus they frequently cost more than this from mobile providers. They are "personal numbers" which can be routed to more or less anywhere.

Mobile numbers begin with 077, 078 and 079. Some new mobile numbers will also begin 075.

Ofcom will be moving all these numbers to 06 because of this confusion. When this will be, who knows...

It should really be 08 or 09, as personal numbers are premium-rate designed to make a high profit for the number owner.

System

I had that very same number call me and hang up.

A wee tip that I use, if unsure, I text the number and see if it gets delivered. All i lost is 5p as texts cannot be sent to these 'personal' numbers!

If its an obvious one like 0871 or 0870, i ignore it or tell them rubbish when I answer!

Tirian

Well, had a look at Ofcom's online complaint form, and they say that complaints about premium rate services should be made to ICSTIS. Went to ICSTIS' website and tried to fill out their complaint form, to be told:

"Complaints about 070 numbers cannot be submitted online at this time."

Why the hell not?!?

Apparently if you want to complain about an 070 number you have to phone ICSTIS. Idiocy - there's absolutely no reason why they couldn't accept complaints by internet, and it would be far easier.

Anyway, at lunch-break I will call and make the complaint. According to ICSTIS the number is registered by Peter Green, of Global 1 Limited. Scumbag.

Tirian

Phoned in to ICSTIS and registered a complaint, and they confirmed that they have had other complaints about this number, and that it would be closed down.

If you get any similar calls, I would recommend reporting them to ICSTIS, it's a freephone number and the lines are open 8am-8pm.

harryhound

MY last quarterly phone bill shot up due to calls to 07046215508,
these were calls to my elderly father in law in hospital in an isolation ward with a serious cancer problem.

end of story

Harry.

BTW the car park costs an arm and a leg too, theoretically 24 hours a day.,