Upgrade Scam Warning

p3gg

I had a missed call this afternoon (never heard it ring -- maybe it only rang for a split second), called the number back (an 01554 number) to be met with the following:

"Oh hello, yes, this is %£*^#*&%$ Communications, did you have a missed call from us? Yes well, your mobile phone contract's coming due for renewal and we want to discuss that with you."

As soon as I told the guy that my contract wasn't nearly due for renewal, he couldn't get off the phone quick enough. I presume he would've been after my bank or card details given half a chance though.

I don't know whether this is related to the similar sounding scam posted on here by an O2 user, but I'm with 3 for my sins, and the missed call thing -- which seemed to be part of their MO given that he mentioned it immediately when I rang back -- hasn't been referred to on that thread. Also the O2 user said the company calling him was in Hertfordshire, whereas mine was in Wales (given the phone number and the guy's accent). 'fraid I didn't catch the company name, and now every time I try withholding my number and ringing from the landline they're constantly engaged.

jf2404

Well done for finding that out, most people wouldn't call them back. But then again there will be alot who have no idea when their due for an upgrade (if it's their parents phone etc..).

People like that make me sick.

pricefighter

Have you still got the 01554 number.Try a Google Search.( Mobile Phone Company Wales 01554XXXXXX)You might be able to come up with there name.

p3gg

pricefighter wrote:

Have you still got the 01554 number.Try a Google Search.( Mobile Phone Company Wales 01554XXXXXX)You might be able to come up with there name.

Yes, I've still got the whole number, but nothing comes up for it on Google.

MarkyMarkD

01554 is Llanelli.

The company is probably Landmark Communications as there's stuff here about them cold calling customers in the way you've suggested.

The "missed number" is a classic way for devious telemarketing companies to save money on call costs, particularly as it avoids them ever having to leave messages (which won't get returned). Once people have called them, maybe they are more likely to pursue a deal.

andy88_2

Loads of dealers try this; usually they don't have any of your details, and just try numbers at random. Some info does get sold on after a while; I've been rung on my original phone and they had probably bought the info from the original supplier (who they named)

watch out for some of these companies spoofing premium rate numbers for you to call back

arm1970

Same thing happened to me.

The thing is I had only just got my new brand 6230i connected 10 minutes earlier. I had it delivered from CPW by courier and had phoned them to connect it, and was just about to plug it in to charge it when it rang. I assumed it was a courtesy call from CPW or something like that so I answered it.

I ended up with this welsh bird (sorry to our celtic cousins, I'm a Scot) who knew nothing about nothing and was obviously filling in for the water cooler when it came to the brains of the business.

She must be the one working through the "lists" and was caught out by somebody aswering the call. She fumbled her way through the "your contract is up for renewal" script at which point I remembered where I had heard the name Landmark Communications, good old MSE. I asked her how she got this number and she told me didn't know and would I like a new phone. Told her politely to go away and not bother me again. If I hear from them again I'd report them to OFCOM, OFTEL, OFF MY HEAD :-) and at that point she was gone.

I know that these cold calls are fairly random but what's the chance of them phoning a number a few minutes after it was connected by CPW.

jezf

i got one from 016187***** seems like its a firm in manchester. funnily enough, i was reading these forums this morning, and received this missed call late this afternoon!

blues76uk

Hi All,

I received a phone call from the following number: 016187***** on 14/10/05 at 20:13pm asking me if I'd like upgrade my phone. It sounded like he was in the when making the call!

I put the phone number into the google search box and came up with this website http://www.quayconnect.com/

I didn't quite catch the company name or who I was talking to... It appears the to be a Manchester number.

My advise to anybody who receives a from this number is disconnect it immediately

Regards

Blues76uk

manhattan

i also had a call from that manchester number,trying to sell me a mobile contract.

Niteflyer

I get these calls all the time! (at least 3 a month) and I very politely tell them to FVCK OFF!

Actually not politely at all