very Dubious automated call

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated August 21, 2008 at 8:10 pm by Jon M.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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July 25, 2008 at 12:30 pm #1045072
Jon M
Participant
Hi all, I just recieved an automated call telling me that I had been awarded a Carribean cruise. Taking this with a massive dose of salt, I pressed the 9 key anyway as instructed. I was greeted by a man who asked how I was today then soon after hung up. The other thing is, I actually think that this was an automated response too although it sounded as though I was hearing him in real time. I think that was a recording.
July 25, 2008 at 12:34 pm #1176706
globalloon
Participant
check your bill when it comes. you’ve probably been charged £50 for the call
July 25, 2008 at 12:51 pm #1176710
wee_dancer
Participant
Jon M;228803 wrote:

I pressed the 9 key anyway as instructed.

Why o why did you press the 9 key :crazy: never press the 9 key!!!
July 25, 2008 at 1:15 pm #1176712
Jon M
Participant
Yeah, now I will allways fear the 9 key. I think that is going to cost me
July 25, 2008 at 1:32 pm #1176711
wee_dancer
Participant
Learn from your mistakes 😉 I always hang up whenever theres a delay between me picking up and actually hearing a connection
July 25, 2008 at 1:56 pm #1176707
GiantMidget
Participant
Jon M;228811 wrote:

Yeah, now I will allways fear the 9 key. I think that is going to cost me

That sucks mate! Let us know if you do actually get charged.

By the way, did you try 1471 afterwards?
July 25, 2008 at 2:19 pm #1176713
Jon M
Participant
Yeah, I will let you know what happens. I did try 1471 but there was no record of the call. I got onto BT and they said they would try to find out more and stop the scam.
July 25, 2008 at 2:48 pm #1176714
Jon M
Participant
I looked at three of my mates regarding being mentally inbalanced and wtf, I better see a psychiatrist. lol
August 20, 2008 at 6:14 pm #1176709
ellie
Participant
woo woo!! i just got the ‘press 9’ phone call!! what a jolly nice sounding american chap he is :weee:
August 20, 2008 at 6:18 pm #1176708
xFadingObsessionx
Participant
ellie;232177 wrote:

woo woo!! i just got the ‘press 9’ phone call!! what a jolly nice sounding american chap he is :weee:

BEWARE OF THE NINE BUTTON! :laugh_at::laugh_at:
August 21, 2008 at 8:10 pm #1176705
General Lighting
Moderator
there are a lot of these scams about, also exacerbated by urban legends/email scare campaigns, confusion with other scams (both by targets and the scammers themselves!)

globalloon;228804 wrote:

check your bill when it comes. you’ve probably been charged £50 for the call

it is virtually impossible to turn an normal incoming call on a home or mobile number into a chargeable outbound unless someone has hacked the exchange or the actual mobile device

This sort of scam can happen but its more likely with the 09xxx number scams – peopel are called or texted (either told they have a prize or a parcel to collect) or even have a postcard put through their door from the fake “courier” firm

they are thus encouraged to call back a high charge 09xxx number, (or sometimes an 070xx number which is easily confused with a mobile) – this has a long message or even a (fake) ringing tone of 10 minutes what then goes to a voicemail (which is of course then ignored).

However there is a reason for the automated calls (and also why they sound American or foreign). They are actually targeting office telephone systems.

The menu is trying to get you to press varying keys on your phone (usually things like 9, #, 0, #90 or #09, if nothing happens or the hacker controlling the system gets paranoid they have the fake “how are you” message and then clear down (end the call) before the called person gets too suspicious..

however, some badly configured systems will actually transfer the call to a voicemail box, the switchboard operator (who can often be conned into connecting a long distance call as an emergency) or best of all a trunk dialtone, whilst clearing down the original call to your extension.

The caller can then use the companies phone lines to make loads of calls.

It tends to happen more to larger US based organisations though, often due to poor project management and the use of default access codes by lazy telecoms engineers..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080820/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fema_phones_hacked
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