This scam operates on Mobile phones:
A missed call comes up. The number is 0709 020 3840. The last four numbers may vary but certainly the first four numbers will remain the same. If you call this number back, you will be charged £50 per minute.
People have complained about their phone bills, once they have realised the cost of the call but apparently this is completely legal. So beware do not call numbers beginning with 0709
 

  We have been advised of a telephone fraud currently in operation (this applies to home or work telephones - land lines and mobiles):
If you do receive one of these calls , upon answering the telephone , you will hear a recorded message congratulating you on winning an all expenses trip to an exotic location. You will then be asked to press 9 to hear further details. If you press 9 you will be connected to premium rate line that costs approximately £20 per minute. Even if you
disconnect immediately, it will remain connected for a minimum of 5 minutes, around £100. The final part of the call involves you being asked to key your postcode and house number (which has other serious consequences)

After a further 2 minutes you will receive a message informing you that you are not one of the lucky winners. The Total bill will be £260.

Since the calls are originating from outside the UK, BT and other telephone companies are left relatively powerless to act. The only safe solution is to hang up before the message prompts you to press 9 : even safer is to hang up any unsolicited "free offer" calls.

·        Premium rate phone lines.

Numerous competitions are around where you are told you have definitely "won" a prize. To claim all you have to do is ring this number...... etc etc. You spend £1.50 - £2.00 per minute on the phone and you win.... a PEN!

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·        Bogus Phone Engineers.

This may be a hoax but ....Be aware that your telephone can be the source of a good scam for high-tech fraudsters.

People have reported that they have been duped into entering a series of button-presses when asked to do so by someone posing as a telephone engineer etc.

Typically, you are asked to help them to trace a fault by pressing "9", "0", and "#" before hanging-up. This can open up your phone line (and your phone BILL!) to those people who can dial anywhere in the world at your expense!

Other key combinations may be requested

DON'T DO THIS - report all calls to your telephone service provider - BT, B'ham Cable etc.

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·        Fax Scam.

You receive a fax at work - "We are conducting a survey" e.g. "Do you think we should accept more asylum seekers into this country?" Fax a reply back to <number> (a) for YES or <number> (b) for NO ...(see example)

The phone number is a premium-rate number charged at £1.50 per minute!

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·        Information Gathering

"When is it convenient to call?"
Caller asks to make an appointment to review your mortgage/windows and doors/security system/ etc.
You could easily say something like "Oh Friday afternoons are no good, we are always out then". This is all a burglar needs to know!
Make sure appointments are made only with reputable company officials.
Businesses are sometimes targeted in these scams. Employees are being telephoned and asked to confirm their postcodes. They are then told that they have won some gift vouchers for their co-operation and asked to provide their home address in order that the vouchers can be sent. if this information is provided by women, many have found that their homes have been subsequently burgled, having unwittingly provided the bad guys with their address and confirmed that they are out at work all day.

We all think that we would be too clever to fall for such obvious cons, but on a busy day, with the kids demanding attention and the supper boiling over on the stove, we may sometimes not think as clearly as we ought to. you have been warned!

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·        "Survey Forms" & "Shopping Surveys"

You are asked to complete a survey form giving "lifestyle details" (often with a chance to enter a free prize draw)

Did you know that this information is like gold to these people? They sell on your details and a few weeks later you could be the target of a huge number of telephone approaches and junk-mail. Moreover, your information is NOT just a name and address. It COULD include income details, family situation, finance details or preferences etc. This data is analysed and you are TARGETED precisely for those goods and services that fit YOUR profile.

Nearly ALL enquiry forms, application forms, competition entries etc these days contain very small print sections about the company "passing your details to partner organisations or other organisations that you might be interested to hear from"

Usually there is a tiny box to TICK if you do not wish to do this. It is easy to miss, and therefore you are implying consent to have your name, address, telephone number and maybe more details passed to numerous junk-mailers and marketing companies. BE SURE TO TICK THE BOX if you want to avoid this.

As stated above, the more details that are held about you, the more targeted you become.

EXAMPLE.

The author is very careful about these things. However I was working at home on 13th May 2003 (an unusual event for me) and received THIRTEEN telephone calls from marketing companies between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Mobiles, Windows, Credit cards, Sky TV, Kitchens - I lost my temper in the end and Sky Digital (who copped for this outburst) actually rang back a LAUGHED down the phone!

·        HOW TO STOP RECEIVING UNSOLICITED TELEPHONE CALLS......

Click to read what the  say.

THEN

Click to register FREE with....

Telephone Preference Service

Fax Preference Service

Mail Preference Service

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