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Scam Aware - details of current phone scams
Ian011
Posts: 2,432 Forumite
The ScamAware campaign seems to be running again.
To add to the information being posted in various places, here's the details of several current phone scams...
Fake Text Message supposedly from your Bank
You receive a text message purporting to be from your bank. It warns that a potentially fraudulent transaction is about to take place and to call the bank immediately to verify. The number given in the text message is not the real number for your bank. The number is usually a premium rate number owned by the scammers. Current scams are telling people to call various 0843 and 0844 numbers, but could use any 070, 084, 087 or 09 number.
Do not call the number given in the text message. If you did call the number, you will usually be held in a queue while the scammer earns money from the call, and then be eventually cut off. On rare occasions, you'll speak to someone who will then ask you to give them various private details, enough such that they are then able to empty your bank account.
In some cases, the incoming fake text message appears to come from the five-digit shortcode normally used by your bank, but the CLI has been faked. Other times, the message comes from a normal 07 mobile phone number.
If you do decide to contact your bank, call them on the (usually) 03 or 080 number listed on their official website or on a recent statement.
Incoming 'wangiri' Missed Call
You see that you have a missed call on your phone, but didn't hear it ring or heard it ring but only for a fraction of a second. The displayed number is premium rate. Current scams are using various 0843 and 0844 numbers, but could use any 070, 084, 087 or 09 number.
Do not call back. If you did call the number, you will be held in a queue while the scammer earns money from the call, and then be eventually cut off.
This scam made the news a few months ago when various people ran up bills of hundreds of pounds each. Many of them claimed to have not called the number back. An Ofcom investigation concluded that people had called the numbers back either as an accidental 'pocket dial' or had knowingly called but had then failed to properly end the call.
Most mobile networks have blocked outgoing calls to the numbers used for this scam, but it is likely to pop up again using different numbers.
If you receive a missed call from a number you do not recognise do not call it back, especially so if the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09 or is an international number.
Prompted to phone a 118 number
You call the number of a business or organisation but instead of getting through you hear a recorded announcement telling you that there is a fault and to call 118820 or some other 118 number.
The 118 number is a premium rate directory enquiries service and the call will (probably) cost you at least £7, even if you hang up after just a few seconds.
The scam is widely reported but no-one has given enough details to work out where the message originates. It could be that the message is heard only when a number is mis-dialled or has gone out of service.
"Missed delivery" scam
You receive a card through your door for a missed delivery, but were not expecting anything. If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09, do not call. It is most likely a scam that will simply keep you on hold for a long time before cutting you off.
This scam was widespread a decade ago on 070 and 09 numbers, but seems to have resurfaced in recent times, often on 084 or 087 numbers.
If you are expecting a delivery, don't call the courier, call the vendor. It is the vendor's responsibility to chase up delivery of your parcel. The vendor has a contract with the courier. Consumer law also requires the vendor to have an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number for after-sales enquiries such as this.
Incorrect answer via social media
You ask for a business number using social media and someone helpfully pops up and gives you a number to call.
If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09, it is a premium rate number and quite likely one that is owned by a scammer. Calls to the number earn money for the scammer. The premium number may or may not forward your call to the correct organisation. The scammer may or may not be listening in on your call.
Only use numbers found on official websites. These days, expect to find a number starting 01, 02, 03 or 080.
Premium rate numbers in Google, and other, search results
You decide to search on Google for the contact number for a company, bank or government department.
Search results return a variety of numbers on various websites that appear to be directories of some sort.
If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09 it is quite likely the number is fake - welcome to the world of 'call connection services'.
These are unofficial websites that set up and advertise a series of premium rate numbers that forward calls to the callcentres of various well-known companies, banks and government departments. The caller pays a premium rate and the scammer pockets the Service Charge revenue generated by the call.
In all cases, you will be paying far more for the call than if you had used the official 01, 02, 03 or 080 number found on the genuine company website. Call connection services can cost anything up to £3.60 per minute.
If you come across one of these websites, report it to the ASA as being misleading.
Adverts for a "free" helpline
A helpline advertised as being "free" but using a number starting 084, 087 or 09 is a long way from being "free". These are premium rate numbers with an additional Service Charge paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider.
Usage of the word "free" breaches ASA rules and should be reported.
Failure to announce new number
Many organisations have changed their 084 or 087 lines over to the matching 034 or 037 number, or to some other 03 or 080 number.
Responsible organisations play an announcement on the old number telling callers to hang up and re-dial the new number but a number of businesses (including several well-known retailers, a number of phone companies and numerous banks) and have left the old numbers running with no such announcement and give you no clue that a cheaper number is available.
Always check the official website of whoever you are calling for an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number. If you are about to call an 084 or 087 number always try calling the matching 034 or 037 number first. If it works, it will be a much cheaper call.
Old numbers for TPS
You decide to register for TPS and are given a premium rate 0845 number to call or told to send a text message containing 'TPS' and your email address to the chargeable number 78070.
Both of these numbers are out of date, yet widely promoted. Citizen's Advice continues to promote the old numbers in very many places.
The new numbers are (basic rate) 0345 070 0707 for calls and (free) 85095 for text messages. The details are on the official TPS website.
Incomplete advice
Citizen's Advice is warning people about calling premium rate numbers starting 09. There's no mention of other premium numbers. Beware of calling numbers starting 070, 084, 087, 09 or 118. All of these are premium rate.
The myth of premium rate redirection
Citizen's Advice warns that calling an unknown number could "redirect your call to a premium rate line". This false advice is based on a myth and a misunderstanding.
Calls are charged based on the number that the caller dials at the start of the call. The call charge cannot change once that call is started.
If you call a number starting 070, 084, 087, 09 or 118 you will incur a premium charge.
If you call a number starting 01, 02 or 03 you will pay the normal rate for calling a landline number.
If you call a number starting 071-075 or 077-079 you will pay the normal rate for calling a mobile number.
Beware of numbers allocated in CI and IOM. These will be a different rate.
Calls to numbers starting 080 and 116 are free.
The Echo Chamber of Bad Advice
Between Ofcom, PhonepayPlus, gov.uk, ActionFraud, Citizen's Advice and Which? there is a vast echo-chamber of incorrect, incomplete and out of date information.
Ofcom's table of typical call prices is out-of-date.
The data hasn't been kept up to date
http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/how-much-does-a-phone-call-really-cost/
The 03 details (except 030) are from June 2013.
The 01, 02, 030, 0500, 070, other 07 numbers and 118 details are from June 2014.
The 084, 087 and 09 details are from July 2015 and are incomplete.
The gov.uk table of call prices is out of date.
Information has not been kept up to date.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160708130301/https://www.gov.uk/call-charges
The role of 'inclusive' calls isn't adequately explained.
The 01, 02, 03, 0500, 070 and other 07 numbers details are from June 2015.
084 and 087 numbers are no longer referred to as "business rate".
The 084, 087, 09 and 118 details do not reflect the split-price charging introduced on 1 July 2015.
The new 105 helpline number is missing.
PhonepayPlus information about call pricing is incorrect.
PhonepayPlus has no clue about the real cost of calling various numbers.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160715104430/http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/for-consumers/what-are-premium-rate-services/fixed-line-premium-rate-numbers
The Service Charge for 087 numbers is up to 13p per minute, not 15p.
The details give the false impression that an Access Charge is "sometimes" added, rather than always.
The call price for 087 numbers is not "up to 65p per minute from landlines" nor is it "up to £1.50 per minute from mobiles". That's completely wrong.
The details for 09 numbers fails to mention there's also an Access Charge.
The call price for 118 numbers is not up to £5 per minute. That was the price before 1 July 2015.
ActionFraud
Mobile phone fraud advice:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/protect-yourself/mobile-phone-fraud
This page has some useful advice, but repeats the myth about being "redirected to a premium rate service" and invents a call price out of nowhere "...can cost up to £15 per call" with no basis in reality.
Copying and pasting information from five or ten years ago does not constitute "current information".
ActionFraud warns to not call back missed calls from numbers starting 084, 087, 070 or 090 but fails to mention the newer 091 and 098 prefixes.
Confusion over premium numbers
Citizen's Advice doesn't proof-read what they write or have much of a clue about what they are saying:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160711163427/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/complain-about-a-premium-rate-phone-charge-or-text-message/
Take this contradictory advice:
"Premium rate numbers include 118, 0870, 0871, 0872, 0873, 070 and 09 numbers. Service numbers also cost more than standard calls but aren’t premium rate numbers. They begin 084, 087, 09 and 118. The cost of calling a service number combines what your phone company charges and what the company you’re calling charges."
It says that 070, 087, 09 and 118 are premium rate and 084, 087, 09 and 118 are not premium rate. Clearly incorrect.
This should say:
"Premium numbers include 070, 084, 087, 09 and 118 along with five-digit mobile shortcodes. The call cost includes an additional charge, or 'premium', paid to the benefit of the called party and/or their telecoms provider. On calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers this is separately declared as the Service Charge.
"Where the Service Charge is more than 7p per minute or per call (087, 09, 118), or the benefit passed on is more than 10p per minute including VAT (070, mobile shortcodes), the number is further classified as a Controlled Premium Rate Service and subject to additional PhonepayPlus regulation."
Out of date information
Citizen's Advice is providing out of date information.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160928144822/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/common-scams/financial-and-prize-draw-scams/premium-rate-prize-draw-scams/
The article warns about scams on premium rate 090 numbers, but fails to mention the newer 091 and 098 prefixes or the various scams now found on 084 and 087 numbers.
Out of date information
Citizen's Advice is providing out of date information.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160711163258/https://www.cab.org.je/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:premium-rate-telephone-services-110l3&catid=13&Itemid=9
"Updated 18 November 2013
Premium rate services currently begin with numbers such as 0898 and 0891 and these services are regulated by PhonepayPlus"
Those prefixes ceased to exist in 2001 having migrated to various replacement 09 numbers between 1999 and 2001.
Premium rate numbers begin 070, 084, 087, 09 and 118, plus five-digit mobile shortcodes.
Warning of a scam directs people to a different scam
ITV and a local newspaper are warning people about an "HMRC phone scam".
- http://web.archive.org/web/20160730213212/http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-07-20/police-warn-of-hmrc-phone-scam/
- http://web.archive.org/web/20160723164910/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/latest/Fresh-warning-over-HMRC-phone-scam-17521104-752a-4b76-92c4-f93726ee1dc6-ds
While the warning about the scam is genuine, the article ends by giving a fake premium rate phone number to contact HMRC.
The quoted 0870 phone number is for a third-party premium rate 'call connection service' and is not the genuine number for contacting HMRC.
HMRC uses only 0300 and 0345 numbers. Calls to 03 numbers are inclusive from landlines and mobiles, else charged at geographic rate - the same as calling family and friends on 01 and 02 numbers.
To add to the information being posted in various places, here's the details of several current phone scams...
Fake Text Message supposedly from your Bank
You receive a text message purporting to be from your bank. It warns that a potentially fraudulent transaction is about to take place and to call the bank immediately to verify. The number given in the text message is not the real number for your bank. The number is usually a premium rate number owned by the scammers. Current scams are telling people to call various 0843 and 0844 numbers, but could use any 070, 084, 087 or 09 number.
Do not call the number given in the text message. If you did call the number, you will usually be held in a queue while the scammer earns money from the call, and then be eventually cut off. On rare occasions, you'll speak to someone who will then ask you to give them various private details, enough such that they are then able to empty your bank account.
In some cases, the incoming fake text message appears to come from the five-digit shortcode normally used by your bank, but the CLI has been faked. Other times, the message comes from a normal 07 mobile phone number.
If you do decide to contact your bank, call them on the (usually) 03 or 080 number listed on their official website or on a recent statement.
Incoming 'wangiri' Missed Call
You see that you have a missed call on your phone, but didn't hear it ring or heard it ring but only for a fraction of a second. The displayed number is premium rate. Current scams are using various 0843 and 0844 numbers, but could use any 070, 084, 087 or 09 number.
Do not call back. If you did call the number, you will be held in a queue while the scammer earns money from the call, and then be eventually cut off.
This scam made the news a few months ago when various people ran up bills of hundreds of pounds each. Many of them claimed to have not called the number back. An Ofcom investigation concluded that people had called the numbers back either as an accidental 'pocket dial' or had knowingly called but had then failed to properly end the call.
Most mobile networks have blocked outgoing calls to the numbers used for this scam, but it is likely to pop up again using different numbers.
If you receive a missed call from a number you do not recognise do not call it back, especially so if the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09 or is an international number.
Prompted to phone a 118 number
You call the number of a business or organisation but instead of getting through you hear a recorded announcement telling you that there is a fault and to call 118820 or some other 118 number.
The 118 number is a premium rate directory enquiries service and the call will (probably) cost you at least £7, even if you hang up after just a few seconds.
The scam is widely reported but no-one has given enough details to work out where the message originates. It could be that the message is heard only when a number is mis-dialled or has gone out of service.
"Missed delivery" scam
You receive a card through your door for a missed delivery, but were not expecting anything. If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09, do not call. It is most likely a scam that will simply keep you on hold for a long time before cutting you off.
This scam was widespread a decade ago on 070 and 09 numbers, but seems to have resurfaced in recent times, often on 084 or 087 numbers.
If you are expecting a delivery, don't call the courier, call the vendor. It is the vendor's responsibility to chase up delivery of your parcel. The vendor has a contract with the courier. Consumer law also requires the vendor to have an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number for after-sales enquiries such as this.
Incorrect answer via social media
You ask for a business number using social media and someone helpfully pops up and gives you a number to call.
If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09, it is a premium rate number and quite likely one that is owned by a scammer. Calls to the number earn money for the scammer. The premium number may or may not forward your call to the correct organisation. The scammer may or may not be listening in on your call.
Only use numbers found on official websites. These days, expect to find a number starting 01, 02, 03 or 080.
Premium rate numbers in Google, and other, search results
You decide to search on Google for the contact number for a company, bank or government department.
Search results return a variety of numbers on various websites that appear to be directories of some sort.
If the number starts 070, 084, 087 or 09 it is quite likely the number is fake - welcome to the world of 'call connection services'.
These are unofficial websites that set up and advertise a series of premium rate numbers that forward calls to the callcentres of various well-known companies, banks and government departments. The caller pays a premium rate and the scammer pockets the Service Charge revenue generated by the call.
In all cases, you will be paying far more for the call than if you had used the official 01, 02, 03 or 080 number found on the genuine company website. Call connection services can cost anything up to £3.60 per minute.
If you come across one of these websites, report it to the ASA as being misleading.
Adverts for a "free" helpline
A helpline advertised as being "free" but using a number starting 084, 087 or 09 is a long way from being "free". These are premium rate numbers with an additional Service Charge paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider.
Usage of the word "free" breaches ASA rules and should be reported.
Failure to announce new number
Many organisations have changed their 084 or 087 lines over to the matching 034 or 037 number, or to some other 03 or 080 number.
Responsible organisations play an announcement on the old number telling callers to hang up and re-dial the new number but a number of businesses (including several well-known retailers, a number of phone companies and numerous banks) and have left the old numbers running with no such announcement and give you no clue that a cheaper number is available.
Always check the official website of whoever you are calling for an 01, 02, 03 or 080 number. If you are about to call an 084 or 087 number always try calling the matching 034 or 037 number first. If it works, it will be a much cheaper call.
Old numbers for TPS
You decide to register for TPS and are given a premium rate 0845 number to call or told to send a text message containing 'TPS' and your email address to the chargeable number 78070.
Both of these numbers are out of date, yet widely promoted. Citizen's Advice continues to promote the old numbers in very many places.
The new numbers are (basic rate) 0345 070 0707 for calls and (free) 85095 for text messages. The details are on the official TPS website.
Incomplete advice
Citizen's Advice is warning people about calling premium rate numbers starting 09. There's no mention of other premium numbers. Beware of calling numbers starting 070, 084, 087, 09 or 118. All of these are premium rate.
The myth of premium rate redirection
Citizen's Advice warns that calling an unknown number could "redirect your call to a premium rate line". This false advice is based on a myth and a misunderstanding.
Calls are charged based on the number that the caller dials at the start of the call. The call charge cannot change once that call is started.
If you call a number starting 070, 084, 087, 09 or 118 you will incur a premium charge.
If you call a number starting 01, 02 or 03 you will pay the normal rate for calling a landline number.
If you call a number starting 071-075 or 077-079 you will pay the normal rate for calling a mobile number.
Beware of numbers allocated in CI and IOM. These will be a different rate.
Calls to numbers starting 080 and 116 are free.
The Echo Chamber of Bad Advice
Between Ofcom, PhonepayPlus, gov.uk, ActionFraud, Citizen's Advice and Which? there is a vast echo-chamber of incorrect, incomplete and out of date information.
Ofcom's table of typical call prices is out-of-date.
The data hasn't been kept up to date
http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/how-much-does-a-phone-call-really-cost/
The 03 details (except 030) are from June 2013.
The 01, 02, 030, 0500, 070, other 07 numbers and 118 details are from June 2014.
The 084, 087 and 09 details are from July 2015 and are incomplete.
The gov.uk table of call prices is out of date.
Information has not been kept up to date.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160708130301/https://www.gov.uk/call-charges
The role of 'inclusive' calls isn't adequately explained.
The 01, 02, 03, 0500, 070 and other 07 numbers details are from June 2015.
084 and 087 numbers are no longer referred to as "business rate".
The 084, 087, 09 and 118 details do not reflect the split-price charging introduced on 1 July 2015.
The new 105 helpline number is missing.
PhonepayPlus information about call pricing is incorrect.
PhonepayPlus has no clue about the real cost of calling various numbers.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160715104430/http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/for-consumers/what-are-premium-rate-services/fixed-line-premium-rate-numbers
The Service Charge for 087 numbers is up to 13p per minute, not 15p.
The details give the false impression that an Access Charge is "sometimes" added, rather than always.
The call price for 087 numbers is not "up to 65p per minute from landlines" nor is it "up to £1.50 per minute from mobiles". That's completely wrong.
The details for 09 numbers fails to mention there's also an Access Charge.
The call price for 118 numbers is not up to £5 per minute. That was the price before 1 July 2015.
ActionFraud
Mobile phone fraud advice:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/protect-yourself/mobile-phone-fraud
This page has some useful advice, but repeats the myth about being "redirected to a premium rate service" and invents a call price out of nowhere "...can cost up to £15 per call" with no basis in reality.
Copying and pasting information from five or ten years ago does not constitute "current information".
ActionFraud warns to not call back missed calls from numbers starting 084, 087, 070 or 090 but fails to mention the newer 091 and 098 prefixes.
Confusion over premium numbers
Citizen's Advice doesn't proof-read what they write or have much of a clue about what they are saying:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160711163427/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/complain-about-a-premium-rate-phone-charge-or-text-message/
Take this contradictory advice:
"Premium rate numbers include 118, 0870, 0871, 0872, 0873, 070 and 09 numbers. Service numbers also cost more than standard calls but aren’t premium rate numbers. They begin 084, 087, 09 and 118. The cost of calling a service number combines what your phone company charges and what the company you’re calling charges."
It says that 070, 087, 09 and 118 are premium rate and 084, 087, 09 and 118 are not premium rate. Clearly incorrect.
This should say:
"Premium numbers include 070, 084, 087, 09 and 118 along with five-digit mobile shortcodes. The call cost includes an additional charge, or 'premium', paid to the benefit of the called party and/or their telecoms provider. On calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers this is separately declared as the Service Charge.
"Where the Service Charge is more than 7p per minute or per call (087, 09, 118), or the benefit passed on is more than 10p per minute including VAT (070, mobile shortcodes), the number is further classified as a Controlled Premium Rate Service and subject to additional PhonepayPlus regulation."
Out of date information
Citizen's Advice is providing out of date information.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160928144822/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/common-scams/financial-and-prize-draw-scams/premium-rate-prize-draw-scams/
The article warns about scams on premium rate 090 numbers, but fails to mention the newer 091 and 098 prefixes or the various scams now found on 084 and 087 numbers.
Out of date information
Citizen's Advice is providing out of date information.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160711163258/https://www.cab.org.je/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:premium-rate-telephone-services-110l3&catid=13&Itemid=9
"Updated 18 November 2013
Premium rate services currently begin with numbers such as 0898 and 0891 and these services are regulated by PhonepayPlus"
Those prefixes ceased to exist in 2001 having migrated to various replacement 09 numbers between 1999 and 2001.
Premium rate numbers begin 070, 084, 087, 09 and 118, plus five-digit mobile shortcodes.
Warning of a scam directs people to a different scam
ITV and a local newspaper are warning people about an "HMRC phone scam".
- http://web.archive.org/web/20160730213212/http://www.itv.com/news/border/update/2016-07-20/police-warn-of-hmrc-phone-scam/
- http://web.archive.org/web/20160723164910/http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/latest/Fresh-warning-over-HMRC-phone-scam-17521104-752a-4b76-92c4-f93726ee1dc6-ds
While the warning about the scam is genuine, the article ends by giving a fake premium rate phone number to contact HMRC.
The quoted 0870 phone number is for a third-party premium rate 'call connection service' and is not the genuine number for contacting HMRC.
HMRC uses only 0300 and 0345 numbers. Calls to 03 numbers are inclusive from landlines and mobiles, else charged at geographic rate - the same as calling family and friends on 01 and 02 numbers.
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Comments
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The last item in the list above is especially worrying. When the police are fooled into giving out a premium rate (0870) number belonging to a third-party 'call connection service' scam, for victims of a different scam to call, instead of the genuine (03) phone number, this must surely indicate that the current regulation of call connection services by PhonepayPlus is wholly inadequate.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bungling-police-officer-doesnt-live-8625274
The point is, the police did not get the 0870 number from the HMRC website, they got that fake number from a third-party premium rate 'call connection service' website.
Government departments and public services use numbers starting 01, 02, 03 or 080. They do not use premium rate numbers starting 084, 087 or 09.0 -
I called my GP surgery and was told there was a fault on the line and to redial 118820. I did so, had a 4 minute call during which she checked the line and told me there was no problem. Now my BT bill has a £19.22 charge! BT say I made the call so have to pay. At no point was I informed of any charges during the call. Think worst thing is that I was calling for urgent medical advice. Surely these practices have been banned?0
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I called my GP surgery and was told there was a fault on the line and to redial 118820. I did so, had a 4 minute call during which she checked the line and told me there was no problem. Now my BT bill has a £19.22 charge! BT say I made the call so have to pay. At no point was I informed of any charges during the call. Think worst thing is that I was calling for urgent medical advice. Surely these practices have been banned?
This scam is reported from time to time, but always with not enough detail to work out what is going on. Useful information would include:
- which provider was used to make the call
- what number was attempted to be dialled
- what number was actually dialled (the possibility of the message to call 118820 being heard only when a number is mis-dialled has not been ruled out)
- the exact wording of the message
- how 118820 introduced themselves when called, and what they attempted to do for you.
Numbers starting 118 are for Directory Enquiries services, and call costs must be declared wherever the number is advertised or promoted. Ofcom's mantra is "know the cost before you call". There is no requirement for call costs to be stated after you have dialled the number.
You should raise the original issue both with Ofcom and PhonepayPlus as well as reporting it to ActionFraud.0 -
My mum has just been stung for £17 , she has been recieving text messages asking random questions which she has ignored until her bill came in . t turns out to be a reverse charge text service run by a company called oygen8.
She has had her mobile provider block them but been advised to text STOP if she gets others.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Make sure you complain to PhonepayPlus. This will add to the total of complaints and maybe force them to take action.0
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This scam is reported from time to time, but always with not enough detail to work out what is going on. Useful information would include:
- which provider was used to make the call
- what number was attempted to be dialled
- what number was actually dialled (the possibility of the message to call 118820 being heard only when a number is mis-dialled has not been ruled out)
- the exact wording of the message
- how 118820 introduced themselves when called, and what they attempted to do for you.
Numbers starting 118 are for Directory Enquiries services, and call costs must be declared wherever the number is advertised or promoted. Ofcom's mantra is "know the cost before you call". There is no requirement for call costs to be stated after you have dialled the number.
You should raise the original issue both with Ofcom and PhonepayPlus as well as reporting it to ActionFraud.
This scam is by Numbergroup and they have been fined by Phonepay Plus - adjudication here.
Numbergroup have a history of cutting off their customers a bit too eagerly, like a day overdue on an invoice, a porting out request being received, or any other type of disagreement. This causes any callers to the disabled numbers to hear that message prompting them to call 118 820.
The message has for the past year stated the price to call the number, but the message stating that the party being called is having technical difficulties is still a lie.0 -
Thanks for that very useful update. It's clearly a deliberate action, and most certainly a scam. Every person affected needs to submit a complaint to PhonepayPlus otherwise they will simply assume the problem no longer exists.0
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