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Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Osdog — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:10:02 GMT

Just for info.... received a call today ostensibly from BT - telephone number 02083536641 - a recorded message saying there had been unauthorised traffic on my landline and internet...... if I didn't do something my phone would be cut off...... press 1 to speak to an operator......

No thanks I thought, and hung up...... so this is just to say watch out - scammers about.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

NeilO — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:46:27 GMT

Hi @Osdog thanks for the post, I'd recommend filling in this report a scam form to help us fight the scammers.

Cheers

Neil

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Osdog — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:27:42 GMT

Thanks for that - got another one about 2 hours later from a different number......

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Devon_Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 21:28:35 GMT

Since working from home during lockdown. I get at least 3 a day from BT, Amazon, openreach just to name a few of the companies calling me saying my account has been compromised, my router is sending out errors, someone is using my IP address. Blah blah blah.. Some of the numbers used by these scammers are normal working lines. Getting to the point now of having my answering machine on announce just to say this number not in use but to call my mobile

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

NM69 — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:53:32 GMT

Hi - I have now been targeted by scam caller apparently from India but with UK mobile numbers claiming to be BT saying I have a lot of different IP addresses logging into my broadband. First time I didn't check number of caller (as you do), but said nothing wrong and all secure - she just hung up. I then reported to number to BT scams. Second call today and same woman (?) told me same thing - when I said no way - she hung up again - I think different mobile number - but have reported again and a blacklisted.

Didn't get as far as being asked for any details - but please beware of this one - defo a scam

Good luck

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:37:30 GMT

Does anyone know if you can be charged if you press 1 to reply to a scam call

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Osdog — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:40:12 GMT

As far as I can tell, yes you can - at really high rates too.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:42:25 GMT

Thanks for that

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

NeilO — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:21:18 GMT

Hi @Compuaccord was it a call you received?

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:05:28 GMT

Have not dared to press 1 , just wondered if anyone had pressed 1 and been charged

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

iniltous — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:26:42 GMT

It’s a myth that ‘pressing 1’ raises a call charge , these scammers use the same call routing technology as legitimate call centres , basically the call centre makes many more calls that the number of agents available , rather that than paying an agent to making calls that may get no answer , or NU tone, or busy tone ( wasting the agents time ) the call centre software makes all the calls , the ones that are answered and the recipient presses ‘1’ , the software passes the call to an agent , who then proceeds to try and ‘scam’ you, this is a more efficient use of the agents time as they don’t waste time on unanswered calls, if the call was being listened to from an answer machine message, pressing 1 does nothing because the caller has already hung up

Pressing ‘1’ costs you nothing at all in call charges , but by pressing 1 while the call is ‘live’, the scammers may log your number and even if you don’t fall for their tricks that time , you may get calls from them again or even other scammers they pass your number onto, but if you want to string them along , pressing 1 won’t cost you anything at all.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:39:34 GMT

Well thats what i thought, so surely if those of us who dare all press 1 and tie an agent up as long as possible, they might stop this scam technique

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

iniltous — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:30:39 GMT

I’ve never received a scam call ( I guess I’m in the minority there ) but I do like the thought of stringing a scammer along for a while before telling them to do one, there are some quite amusing videos where the scammer is kept dangling , thinking a pay day is just within their grasp , only for it to be snatched away when the ‘victim’ lets the scammer know in no uncertain terms that they know what they are up to.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Les-Gibson — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:36:37 GMT

@Compuaccordwrote:
Have not dared to press 1 , just wondered if anyone had pressed 1 and been charged

According to numerous news articles over the years the answer is Yes, you can end up being charged and it's in the order of £hundreds or more

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:40:21 GMT

The only way to settle this is to hear from people who have pressed 1, please.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

licquorice — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:41:54 GMT

Love to see the explanation for that!!

Don't believe everything you read in the press.

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Les-Gibson — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:43:02 GMT

@licquoricewrote:
Love to see the explanation for that!!
Don't believe everything you read in the press.

It's not just the press.

https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/news-room/2019/people-in-the-uk-warned-of-latest-amazon-phone-scam-as-shocking-new-tv-drama-highlights-problem

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

licquorice — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:45:20 GMT

Not a chance. How can pressing 1 whilst in receipt of a call initiate an outgoing call?

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Compuaccord — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:50:35 GMT

I don,t suppose there is anyone from bt willing to give us an official answer ?

Re: Scam Calls from BT (not really)

Les-Gibson — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:52:16 GMT

@licquorice

No Idea.

I never claimed to be an authority, I just commented on past articles that have been in the public domain. It's your choice whether you believe them or not.