I've just heard about another interesting new scam. I've not received it myself, but I was sent a copy of the following email.
Dear Secetarial Staff
We have been trying to print your promotional literature from the pages on your website. But unfortunately for us, we have lost our connection to the internet for the next 48 hours because of a computer network crash in our offices.
Now no one in our office has access to the internet or your web pages. Even worse still, although we can send e-mail, we are unable to recieve e-mail.
Please help us by simply printing any 20 pages or more, from your website, and then fax them to us on 0871 7811 411. Thankyou very much.
Yours Sincerely
Leslie Goodman, Managing Director
Goodman Mathews & Associates.
Direct Lines: 07963 550 253 or 07906 861 547
Switch Board: +44(0)7817 865 117 or +44(0)7903 058 821
Facsimile: 0871 7811 411
It appears that 0871 numbers here in the UK are charged at national call rates regardless of where the caller is. Some telecoms companies will then pay a share of that revenue to the owner of that number, sometimes as high as 5p per minute.
20 pages of a website is going to take a few minutes to fax through and if enough people fall for the scam the thieving gits at the other end could be making £3 per hour of each incoming line. Over time that could mount up to considerable income.
Whilst the scam is old (register a premium rate line and phone it from someones phone or convince them to phone it somehow), the approach (fax us your website) is new. I'm a little surprised that they didn't try to use a number that would earn more income.
However, when all's said and done, I can't see it working. I don't see that many people falling for it (especially when they say "any 20 pages") and even those that do are unlikely to be bothered to go to all that hassle.
This freaked me out! Thanks for the info!
had one of these sms'd to me today and frankly didn't fal for it, wish there was a way of finding out who it is without replying to it though
Also got that SMS last night: "Please CALL 0871 240 2934 immediately as there is an urgent message waiting for you."
What a scam. I hope the govt gets its act together to crack down on this!
Also got that SMS last night: "Please CALL 0871 240 2934 immediately as there is an urgent message waiting for you."
What a scam. I hope the govt gets its act together to crack down on this!
just got a telephone message saying call immediately .Did n`t respond.
I assume it`s a scam
just got a telephone message saying call 0871 2400780 immediately .Did n`t respond.
I assume it`s a scam
