ICE is a scam

itsfreetosmile

This may have already gone on as info, but we just had an email at work saying that the ICE campaign is a scam and a way of getting the phone user to pay for calls they haven't made.

CrazyChemist_2

How would this scam work? How could you pay for calls which aren't made?

See the link below, from Martin's weekly email:

ICE IS NOT A SCAM!

pug_in_a_bed

how could it be a scam, all you do is adjust a name in your phonebook???

itsfreetosmile

This is what I received from our central IT services (part of Ford)...


There is always someone willing to cash in on sorrow! - after the item re ICE (In Case of Emergencies) in the Trust News Bulletin the information was found to be incorrect AND A HOAX. Therefore, please read the message below which has been forwarded by Paul Brown

Beware of ICE

Many people have received emails about the ICE system. It is alleged that, following the disaster in London, East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE ) " campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston. The idea is that people store the word " I C E " in their mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person they would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". The Trust has now been informed that this is not only a hoax, but a means of planting a virus in mobile 'phones which when activated causes the user to pay for calls they have not made.

In view of the interest in the system we said we would look further into it. Our advice now is if you have put ICE into your mobile phone you should permanently delete it. If anything further is heard we will let you know. Please print this email for any colleagues who do not have access to the Outlook system



Philip Dylak

=====================================================
This Trust Announcements Mailbox DOES NOT accept messages.

!!!! Please delete this message after reading !!!!

Please direct any correspondence to the e-mail originator - phil.dylak@tgh.nhs.uk

Any other Enquiries to IT Helpdesk : ext 6969

Matt_Nixon

This is rubbish, the Mobile Phone Virus is at the moment an urban myth!

Mobile phones don't all run the same software to make them work, a virus writer would have to create one that works on all platforms, then you would have to install & run it!

Maybe in the future, but not yet!

itsfreetosmile

So sorry - apparently the email message saying that ICE is a scam is a hoax itself!

divadee

THIS IS NOT A SCAM.


Martin has clarified it with the people involved ie. the ambulance trust that started it click here for Martin's post.

one-non-blonde

I always check email scam alerts with Snopes before passing anything on and about 99% of the time they turn out to be a hoax.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/icephone.asp

soolin

In The Daily Mail on Friday or Saturday there was a small article about this hoax warning. The ambulance service expressed their deep regret that some hoaxer had decided to cause mischief by starting this email rumour which has led to the whole ICE scheme being put at risk. They asked for people to stop circulating it to avoid further panic.

Wise words I think.

Soo

oscardog

ICE is only good, how can it be a scam when YOU put the number in????????????

magoogy

newsround also had a feature where the emergency services were telling you to use this - i have already done so - i think it is a good idea - thanks for the snopes link too........