Have been sent this.. is it a real scam???

Hello everyone,

Due to the number of people who have reported this scam, I am issuing this warning to everyone so you are not caught out like so many others have been.

Please be aware of a couple of current mobile phone scams, the first of which seems to be particularly prevalent in Guernsey last night and continuing today:

1) If you receive a call from telephone number 0871 8717123 (it will only ring once), you should not call back to see who it is as this is a scam. You will be charged an inflated rate when phoning back this premium number.

2) If you receive a text message from an unknown source that asks you to call another number, this is also a scam and you will be charged an inflated rate when phoning back this premium number. Text examples are:

"I love you"
"please call me on xxxxxxxxx, urgent"
"Congratulations, you've won. Call this number to claim your prize xxxxxxxxx"
"UR A winner!"
"'CONGRATULATIONS! The New Years Prize Draw notified us that you have won a £1000 Prize! This is the second attempt to contact you. To claim call xxxxxxxxx"


As you can see, they are preying on some basic human emotions to lure people into calling their premium rate number. The text varies, but the scam principle remains the same. Be very wary of any request for you to call an unknown number

 

Those would work. The ring once one is particularly sneaky.

 

I was looking into things like this yesterday. Spoke at length with a representative from an organisation (which I can't remember off the top of my head) that deals with this kind of complaint.

 

so it is true ?

 

These guys BuRR? ICSTIS

"ICSTIS, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services, is the industry-funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services."

 

looks like that..... I think so. The paperwork is @ work.

 

It's true that people would fall for it. Just like people will click on this link and if it linked to a program people would run it.

 

The 0871 number costs 8.51p per minute to ring and gets through to a company trying to sell cheap international calls.

 

Had 1) done to me ... was waiting for a call so returned it. Got recorded message saying trying to connect you. Then left you waiting !

Dave.