Bourne  & District Neighbourhood Watch

Serving the Community

©Trevor Windle 2008

.

   

Hello this is a watch line message from PCSO Graeme Parrott of the Bourne and Billingborough Neighbourhood policing Team.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE BELOW EMAIL WHICH I RECEIVED FROM A NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATOR.

The 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 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 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.