Watch out - BT scam calls

Received a phone call from BT, informing me that he was disconnecting 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 disconnect 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 & he said credit card, there & 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. I found out a very good database here Tellows - The community for phone numbers and phone spam where I also shared my experience. 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 many. 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, to be used for larger purchases.

good to know

not in the UK but should be bumped so others can read

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Tapatalk

This same trick has happened before. Thanks for the heads up that it is back.

Posted via CB10

FYI even if virgin paid bt a percentage, which they don't on cable lines, then bt would be chasing virgin, not you.

Posted via CB10

LOL! The scammers are getting better and better.

Interesting.

Though I always thought that if one party hangs up, both lines get hung up within a couple of seconds.

Thanks for sharing! That's indeed a terrible scam and very tricky. I haven't received a call like that, though. But if I would, I'd certainly recognize it right away.

By the way, do you have a record of the phone numbers used by the scammer? You know, just like what they do at Report Phone Number to CallerCenter.com where they post the phone number along with the reported scam. I think it really helps when we know who's phone call not to accept.

Originally Posted by Robert Stoops

By the way, do you have a record of the phone numbers used by the scammer? You know, just like what they do at Report Phone Number to CallerCenter.com where they post the phone number along with the reported scam. I think it really helps when we know who's phone call not to accept.

Scammers often spoof their phone numbers in order to make it more difficult to be tracked. Even some shady collection agencies engage in such practices.