You receive a phone call from your telephone operator asking for your bank details – you probably query it and try to call them back. So they provide an 0800 number you call back and it all seems just fine, the trouble is the 0800 number is bogus and so is everything about this little scheme.
The victim is informed that they have to pay the operator outstanding fees, and until they do their line is cut off.
Here’s the really sneaky part, the scammer will say that the line is already cut off and is under their control. This can be tested by hanging up and then attempting to make another call.
The victim hangs up but the scammer simply presses the mute button so the connection is not terminated. When the victim picks up the handset again sure enough they cannot call anyone – they cannot even get a dial tone. The scammer on mute can hear the call attempts and probably the person swearing on the other end.
When the victim is done the scammer calls back and says that they can be reconnected immediately on payment.
This is such a good trick because under pressure people do not think everything through, plus it has been proven that the line has been cut off and a feasible 0800 number is provided.
This is not such a good trick because the scammers do not know which network each victim uses and half the time end up calling very confused individuals that use a completely different network. Thanks to this minor detail the scam has been reported and the Police as well as BT are well aware of it.
BT say that the do call customers with outstanding bills but would never advise customers to provide banking details by phone. If there is any doubt at all ask for the BT agents identity number and call the official 0800 800 150 number.
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