Energy scam message.

Robisere

I have the permission of my Supplier to place this on MSE:
This morning my wife received the following text, from +44 8000821206:

" We've been trying to call you about your XXX energy bill.
Call now for a cheaper Green Star 12M tariff.
08000821206
Utility Discount
Optout: SMSYYCBJSTOP to 60777 "
(I italicised the text and boldened the phone numbers.)

The reasons why it stood out as a scam:
*My supplier does not have my wife's mobile number, only mine.
*08000821206 - is not used by my supplier.
*I accessed my supplier's website - no such messages had been sent by them.
*A (+44) number is from outside the UK and our 'free call' numbers are 0800, not 08000.Please take care with any such text messages or emails you receive. My supplier is acting against these Scambags.

Carrot007

Robisere wrote: »

*A (+44) number is from outside the UK and our 'free call' numbers are 0800, not 08000.

No a +44 number is from the UK and in the international format. Which is how number should be stored really.

As such yes it is a free phone number.

But yes it is spam.

Robisere

Does not change the point of the message I am trying to get across, Carrot007.

Carrot007

Robisere wrote: »

Does not change the point of the message I am trying to get across, Carrot007.

I see no evidence it is a scam either.

Agressive unwanted marketing to a list of bought numbers (or generated numbers if not personalised) yes. Scam, don't see it.

System

Does your present supplier offer a Green Star 12M tariff? I ask because no one will get referral fees by offering you a tariff with your existing supplier? Are you sure that it wasn’t your supplier trying to get you to sign up to a new 12 month tariff? Suppliers do have a Licence obligation to inform you if ‘You Could Pay Less’. Calling your wife’s mobile is rather odd but it isn’t necessarily a scam. I do agree though that people do need to be wary of unknown calls. I divert all unknown call numbers to an answerphone: I rarely get left any messages.

thorganby

That is not a scam, you do not require your suppliers permission to post this text and your supplier cannot act against other suppliers marketing methods, which you could simply choose to ignore like most sensible people would.

What is a scam is a company acting on behalf of energy suppliers texting and ringing me, informing me that I need to arrange an appointment to have my smart meters installed.

SIMPLY SAY NO TO THICK METERS

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Question


Did you expect the Text?


If no, delete, get a nice whisky on the rocks and get on with life!


If yes, make it a double!