Just received the following Email dont know how true it is but it does sound plausible.

Shropshire ACO member Ron Harrison has made me aware of this new BT telephone scam.
A new telephone 'scam' has arrived.

I received a call from a 'representative' of 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 - the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number - 0800 0800 152

Obviously the fella realized I wasn't believing 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.

Did 1471 & phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognised.

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 know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please let as many friends & family aware of this.

This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800152 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. Obviously, if this scam is real, once they have your credit/debit card details, there is nothing to stop them cleaning out your account.


Cheers,
Bob

Old as the hills

Yep various slants of this have been going on for a while. I had to take a report of a similar one some time ago going under the BT guise. I think at the time when I did it West Mids police were conducting the investigation so it was passed to them.

you put the phone down,they dont,your phone is still connected to them so you cant dial out.simples

That old gem, He doesn't put his phone down so your still connected to him.Thats why you cant dial out.

I would have the thought that him knowing when to call you back would give the game away.
Your phone company won't let you have a phoneline with out you gving them card or bank details as a defence against this. If they really were your phone operator you'd onl have to autherise a payment through details they already have.

If anyone gets one, remember to waste as much of their time as possible. when he tells you to hang up tell him to hang up first and try and start an arguement, then when you get board explain the whole scam back to them and tell them you've been holding the line long enough for the call to be traced. Just to Freak them out.

How to end it:

Ask them who they want to speak to, whoever they say you reply with "hold on I'll get them" and place the reciever on the table. Go back about 20 minutes later to see if they've hung up.

Or tell them you have the wrong number

Or, if you haven't given to much away already, tell them you'll put them through and pretend your working in a call centre and try and sell them something.

Just because you're elderly, doesn't mean you're stupid