... to think this was a scam call?

[LakieLady]

Just answered my landline and got a recorded message, ostensibly from BT, our ISP, saying my landline and internet would be terminated at noon today. It advised me to press 1 for further info and 2 to accept termination.

I pressed 1 and the phone was answered quickly by a man with a south Asian accent. He said I was through to BT and started telling me that my internet connection was no longer secure or safe. The signal kept breaking up and it sounded like a mobile phone, and there was no end of background noise. It sounded like the guy was in a noisy bar or similar public place.

I asked him to give me my BT account number so that I could be sure he was from BT, but he just carried on telling me my internet security was at risk. This happened several times. The connection was so poor that I couldn't hear what he was saying properly, but he certainly wasn't giving me the account number. At no point did he address me by name, despite the account being in my name.

I've read about calls where scammers pretend to be from BT and get all sorts of info out of unsuspecting people. Was I BU to think this may have been a scam attempt?

Yep I'd say that was a definite scam!

Of course it was a scam. You should have just hung up immediately.

If this ever happens and you’re concerned, hang up and contact the company by legitimate means.

Yes it's a massive scam and very well known

Clearly a scam. Don't engage.

Of course it's a scam, you've probably been charged just for pressing 1

YANBU.

Why did you even press anything? Just hang up.

Of course it's a scam. I had the same yesterday saying my broadband was at risk and to press 1 to stop it being disconnected. I'm with Now TV broadband but the message just said " this is your internet provider".

It's a known scam, the call has probably cost a fortune.

Extremely likely I'm afraid. Pressing 1 may have put you through to a premium rate number so you may find you have a ludicrous charge for that call. With BT you can only find out 4 hours later if this is the case. Can you do 1471 to find the caller number and then report it to BT?

Yes, it's a scam. As long as you didn't give any personal details, you shouldn't have any ill effects, though you may get more scam calls now they know your number is 'live'

When I get a call I allow less than a second for the caller to speak before hanging up, a genuine caller will ring back. These call centres are probably contacting several lines at once so take longer to respond when someone answers

Phone BT and report it. It’s likely you have been charged so hope you didn’t stay on the line too long.

Did you seriously believe this call for even a second??
It screams scam and you really shouldn't have pressed anything other than hanging up.

Yes it's a scam and you need to check the call charges involved for pressing 1. Sometimes people have been charged hundreds of pounds for connecting to a premium rate line in a scam call like this.

I'm afraid I did sort of believe it, like a twat!

But in my defence, we've had no end of service interruptions to landline and internet in the last couple of months and BT Open Reach spend so much time at a nearby grey box they might as well open an office there, or at least put up a portaloo.

About 6 weeks ago, the whole area had no internet for more than 48 hours, and our landline was down for ages. We only found out because MIL (the only person who rings the landline) told SIL she hadn't been able to get hold of us for 6 weeks, and SIL rang DP's mobile.

We never had any problems until Virgin Media dug up all the roads a couple of years ago. I think it's sabotage!

I did 1471, and it's a mobile number, so I'll report it.

The problem is people DO believe these scammers especially little old dears who are a lot or vulnerable, and/or would like someone to talk to, so they sit and rack up a bill. Or, they give out personal information which, again, costs them dearly.

Please inform BT so they can contact their customers and inform them of such calls. Do this via phone call and email.

It's definitely a scam.

I get these calls a lot. I'm not even with BT.

I wonder how much that call cost you? Always assume it's a scam. BT would write to you.

I got the same tedious call last week, and I pressed 1 specifically to ask "why are you scamming people like this?"

"to get money off you!" she replied, with amusing honesty.

Unfortunately she hung up when I enquired how much they were expecting so I can't give you the going rate.

Definite scam, sorry. Google press 1 phone scams and you'll see lots of coverage of this type of thing

Gawd yes definitely a scam - we get loads of these and we don't have BT at all.

Trying to create a sense of urgency is a classic scam technique (and indeed a classic sales and marketing technique). It's a good thing you were suspicious and it seems like the scammers got nothing beyond knowing you answer your phone.

Reverse charge calling is very regulated now so I doubt you can have been charged from a normal mobile number, pressing 1 won't have done that. But check anyway.

This particular scam script was reported on earlier this year.

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-6712011/Want-foil-scammers-say-internet-cut-Dont-press-1.html

Scammers can be very sophisticated, they know all the tricks and can defraud anyone. Do not think that falling for a scam makes you stupid! That helps the scammers - when the victims of their crime feel embarrassed and ashamed and don't report it.

I can also confirm there are no extra charges on my own bill after doing so either last week or on any of the previous occasions where I have taken pleasure in wasting their time.

Obviously, dialling a number starting with "09..." can cost a lot, so don't do that without being 100% sure its the right number

Right, I've reported it to BT and to Action Fraud.

I'm suspicious by nature, so I'm a bit that I nearly fell for it. Only nearly though!

I'll check the next BT bill and see how much it cost me.