Found this on another Forum


Received a phone call from BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill.. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00 or it would be £ 118.00 to re-connect at a later date. The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental! I asked the guy's name - he gave me the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number -0800 0800 152. Obviously the fellow realized I didn't believe his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone - he would disconnect my phone to prevent this. AND HE DID !! My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again. Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made & he said credit card, there & then. I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT. He hung up. I dialed 1471 -number withheld I phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized. So I phoned the police to let them know. I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently, but it is escalating. Their advice was to let as many people as possible know of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this. How is it done? This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800 152 which takes you through to BT Business. The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying. (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back. You could almost be convinced! The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool many. By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details which include the security number, to be used for larger purchases.

Great heads-up about the cut-off trick, ta!

New angle on an old scam. The not hanging up part is well documented on the fake bank calls scam.
If you have any doubts, phone the company concerned (in this case BT) back straight away using a mobile which the phone scammer can't block.

My octagenerian parents got stung for fifty grand a couple of years back in a similar way.

Sadly mobiles don't work where they are so there are standing instructions to ring me or my sister before anything else...

We have seriously thought about removing the phone form my mums flat. It is sickening the number f calls she used to get. Now have a screening system but she is missing the calls! Go figure!

I can never get to my Virgin media phone in time!
3 rings and thats it
I am amazed you answered yours! you must be on a par with Usain Bolt who is aptly Richard Branson's phone answerer!

There's another one doing the rounds

there is a scam going round that when you go to a Tesco or Aldi website, you're asked to do a short survey,to be entered into draw for a £ 500 voucher, you are asked for your mobile number and told a code number will be sent, once you receive it to enter it into the box provided, if you do seconds later you receive three texts confirming you are entered into draw and have been charged £4.50 which is a recurring weekly fee unless you text stop to 60044, this is sent from a company called Minted mobi.Com. BEWARE

How does that work, then? How does someone gain access to your money by just obtaining your phone number?

I'm assuming its similar to when you are charged for texts, (say a charity payment) instead of being a one off they keep taking the payment.

If you are unlucky enough to have fallen for this scam this page will be useful.

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Security-matters/minted-mobi-scam/td-p/2957553