This topic

Scam call from BT ?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 11:19:05 GMT

Hello, this morning (11.50am) I received an unannounced call from 'British Telecommunications' (his words, not mine). He sounded foreign, didn't call me by name, just said 'Maam', even though I am male, and said he was calling because my phone line did not have not an adaquate broadband speed.

I was suspicious because the number he was calling from was my own local area code which is a rural area and I would assume calling from BT would have been somewhere from a bigger area, or maybe a Call Centre number? This made me wonder if it was a fake number. Is this possible? Would BT be calling from my own area code? Can scammers fake numbers and make it look like they are calling from a certain area?

Anyway, he said they wanted to check my internet speed, as BT weren't happy about it, and was going to give me some instructions. I told him I had not signed up to BT Broadband, but he said they wanted to check my internet speed regardless and was going to give me some instructions. I never gave him the chance. When I told him again I didn't have the internet he abruptly hung up, without saying goodbye.

Is this normal BT behaviour? Do you think it was a scam? Would BT be concerned about my phone lines internet speed even though I am not a BT Broadband account holder?

I would be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Dode — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 11:27:32 GMT

It's a scam. With the right software anyone can fake a number.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 12:26:20 GMT

Thanks @Dode . As soon as I came off the phone I thought I must check with the BT Community!

It felt very similar to calls I used to get from 'Microsoft', giving you instructions and telling you to 'switch on your computer' etc.

I haven't signed up to BT Broadband so I could see through it. I guess if there really was something wrong with my phone line with the internet, BT would be sending out Engineers to change the phone line when I sign up, not asking me to 'switch on my computer' and log into my PayPal account! 😂

Re: Scam call from BT ?

gg30340 — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 12:37:28 GMT

BT or Openreach will never give you an unsolicited call to tell you there is a problem with your Internet nor will any other reputable company. If you receive any unsolicited calls asking for access to your computer it is a scam.

See links

BT Scams | What you need to know to stay safe | BT Help | BT Help

Report a Scam Call | BT Help

How can I stop nuisance or scam calls? | BT Help

Re: Scam call from BT ?

RobbieBaron — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 16:20:39 GMT

& why on earth would a reputable co. ask you login into your PayPal a/c? Only to get you to pay money to somebody who does not deserve it. That in itself is the smell of a scam!

Re: Scam call from BT ?

RobbieMac — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 17:16:29 GMT

Thanks everyone for the replies on here..

@Anonymous The advice the guys have gave you above is spot on. This was definitely a scam. There are so many scams nowadays and you can't be too careful. We would never contact you and ask to turn on your computer; or log in anywhere near your Paypal account for that matter. You did the right thing by disconnecting the call. Thank you for remaining so vigilant.

P.S Check out the links that @gg30340 posted above for some very useful info on how to deal with these should you receive them in the future.

Thanks,

Robbie

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 10:58:12 GMT

I have checked out the links and have filled in the BT Scam report - thanks for that.

I hope others reading this thread will be viligant too.

Also, I could hear lots of noise in the background, as if he was calling from a busy call centre. So it must be a place full of scammers - or maybe he works at some sort of Call Centre and was pretending to be BT?

Thanks again

😀

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Dode — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 11:21:25 GMT

Background noises are usually faked as well. It adds a bit of authenticity to the call. Any unsolicited calls should always be treated with suspicion.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

gg30340 — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 12:06:03 GMT

The scammers set up their own call centres whose sole reason is to scam people.

Have a look at this guy and the many other people who are taking them on.

https://youtube.com/c/ScammerPayback

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Filosopher — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 10:05:45 GMT

Thanks, two calls in the last 24 hours from a withheld number telling
me that I have a problem with my Internet...from a call centre given
the background noises. I hung up on both occasions but unfortunately
I am unable to block a withheld or unknown number.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 10:11:54 GMT

@Filosopher

If you use a phone which forces unknown or withheld callers to announce themselves, then you will stop all scam calls.

The BT4600 is one such phone.

Trying to simply block them, is a waste of time.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Filosopher — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 10:48:16 GMT

I had that on my old phone and have tried to get caller display on the new BT Voice HD phone. I have just tried again to get caller display but I am not convinced. I understand that it cannot show withheld numbers . I wish I had kept my old phone and answering machine via
the wall socket!! Thanks for your comment.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 11:27:32 GMT

@Filosopher

You can still use your old phone, if you still have it. Just plug it into the phone socket on the smart hub 2.

Caller display can be enabled via MyBT.

https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice--how-do-i-use-my-calling-features-

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Filosopher — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:45:21 GMT

Thanks Keith, I have ordered caller display via My Bt and just discovered that I still have my old phone!

I daresay it can take a while for my caller display to be activated. Just rang my land-line from my

mobile and it doesn't display yet.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:00:42 GMT

If you have done it via the separate options for Digital Voice, I would have expected it to happen quite quickly, as it does not involve sending an overnight update to the old PSTN exchange, which took 24 hours.

Re: Scam call from BT ?

EllencMRC — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:38:28 GMT

You will all be pleased to know that this scam seems to be alive and kicking in 2023.

I have just had a call from BT about a problem with the speed of my BT Broadband. Scam I though.

I don't have nor never have had BT Broadband but 'that is OK because BT owns all of the other broadband companies' or something similar.

News to me! Definitely definitely a scam, I thought.

I am usually quite interested to know how the scam text goes but I've got a headache and can't be bothered to test my broadband speed on my 'google browser'.

So I went with my first thought and hung up. They called me back but they didn't even leave me a message! Rude. I will be ignoring that number from now on. lol