05-Dec-2010 23:11

Don’t fall for telephone scams…

Nowadays most business and residential phone users are well aware of premium-rate phone numbers that begin with 09xx that could cost up to £1.50 per minute to call & far more from UK mobiles..

However, there are today many telephone scams trying to separate you from your money in one way or another.

Here are tips to avoid them:
• check the prefix of the number you are asked to call
• never call a Premium Rate number unless you are certain of the rate
• never return a calls to an unknown number
• never provide personal numbers or details to unsolicited callers
• & remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it normally is!

Common telephone scams include...

Missed Calls:
You receive a call to your mobile or landline phone but the call disconnects after just one or two rings. If you return the call you may be charged a premium rate of up to £1.50 per minute & more listening to a recorded message..

Parcel delivery:
You receive a delivery card saying ‘’We called but you were out’’ & requesting a call back to a number to rearrange the delivery of a parcel. If you return the call you may be charged a premium rate of up to £1.50 per minute & more
listening to a recorded message..

Lottery Win:
You receive a call letting you know that that you've won a prize in a National Lottery. If you return the call you may be charged a premium rate of up to £1.50 per minute & more listening to a recorded message. The prize, of course, normally does not exist.

You've won a prize:
You receive a letter by post, a text or telephone message informing you that you have won a major prize, perhaps a car, a holiday or cash. You are told to urgently ring a premium rate number to find out what you have won. If you return the call you may be charged a premium rate of up to £1.50 per minute & more listening to a recorded message. The prize, of course, may not exist or will have stringent conditions attached.

Line Testing:
You receive a rather convincing call informing you that they work for yor telephone provider & he needs your help to carry out line tests. In order to do this you'll need to dial a certain set of numbers. The numbers are, of course, rather costly Premium Rate numbers

Be careful and try not to get caught out…