PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY.

An ex-colleague, a retired police officer, received a call from a 'representative' of BT:
" I was informing me that he was dis-connecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00 or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later date.

The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!

I asked the guy's name - he gave me the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number - 0800 0800 152.

Obviously the fellow realized I didn't believe his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone - he would dis-connect my phone to prevent this. AND HE DID !!

My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again.

Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made and he said credit card, there and then.

I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT.

He hung up.
I dialed 1471 - number withheld
I phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized., so I phoned the police to let them know. I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently, but it is escalating.

Their advice was to let as many people as possible know of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this.

How is it done?

This is good but not that clever.. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800 152 which takes you through to BT Business.

The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back."

You could almost be convinced!

The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.

By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details which include the security number so that it can be used for far larger purchases.

Thanks for the heads up  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Thanks for the info Mr Wolf

If he rings me, this is what I will say: "I don't know who you are I don't know what you want. If you are looking for my card details I can tell you I don't have them handy, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you hang up now that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!"

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

What's ya number  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

The Doctor wrote:

Thanks for the info Mr Wolf

If he rings me, this is what I will say: "I don't know who you are I don't know what you want. If you are looking for my card details I can tell you I don't have them handy, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you hang up now that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!"

The Doctor, you are beginning to concern me

ad210358 wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

Thanks for the info Mr Wolf

If he rings me, this is what I will say: "I don't know who you are I don't know what you want. If you are looking for my card details I can tell you I don't have them handy, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you hang up now that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!"

The Doctor, you are beginning to concern me

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

someone has been watching to much taken, you could just say off!

landy19840 wrote:

someone has been watching to much taken, you could just say off!

Just hang up ... it will drop the originating side eventually. Many years ago it was between 7-12 mins ...

I'm out of touch with switching now but it is known as CSH - Called Subscriber Held and the timer was put in place to counter the possibility that the originating caller's line going faulty during the call would "hold" the called number. As you've discovered making the line appear to be dead or inactive.

Don't ask me anything on Entertainment though - I don't do pink questions.  Freelander 1 TD4 HSE - gone, 2 weeks after the Cat.Converter!
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto MY08 - Santorini black

The Doctor wrote:

Thanks for the info Mr Wolf

If he rings me, this is what I will say: "I don't know who you are I don't know what you want. If you are looking for my card details I can tell you I don't have them handy, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you hang up now that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!"

Aaah, come on Doc where's it from, your killin' me - was it Liam Neeson ?...but the film name..... Aaah

I've just had my 78 year old mother in law read it out aloud, it didn't have the same effect but sure as hell was funny.

It was the film 'Taken' one were neesons daughters on hols, kidnapped to be sex slave, luckily dad had skills, as it would have been if he was just a bricky  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Whenever I read one of these 'email warnings' I check with Snopes, majority are urban myth but this appears to be a genuine, albeit somewhat old scam dating from 2006, see http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/btscam.asp
JT Upgraded to an ex demo, 7 mth old, Rimini Red/Ebony Napoli Auto HSE on 28th Jan 2011, added roof rails, mudflaps and side strips.
Gone - A great 57 Plate, Auto SE, Bought Feb 2009, Roof Rails and Mudflaps added on purchase. Blue colour, anything but drug dealer black.....

Maybe an 'old' scam but still very relevant and very current.

Many will not have heard of it and need top be informed. Those who have need to be reminded that it is still being used.

never heard of that scam in rural N.Yorks whats a 'telephone'? At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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