Undelivered parcel scam 2010
We have been provided with the following information by the Metropolitan Police and Trading Standards.
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam believing to originate from Belize.If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655.
£20 Per Minute and £50 Per Minute Telephone 'Scams' - Urban Myths
In the first case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a recorded message informing them that they have won an all-expenses paid holiday and are asked to press 9 to hear further details. It is then claimed that callers are connected to a £20.00 per minute premium rate line that will still charge them for a minimum of five minutes even if they disconnect immediately. It is also claimed that, if callers stay connected, the entire message costs £260.00.
In the second case, the apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a missed call from a number beginning 0709. It is then claimed that, if callers dial this number, they are connected to a £50.00 per minute premium rate line.
Please note that these stories are not true.
£20.00 per minute and £50.00 per minute premium rate tariffs do not exist - the highest premium rate tariff available is £1.50 per minute. Despite the dozens of enquiries received by ICSTIS about these 'scams' (and most people appear to have heard about them second or third-hand), not one person who claims that it has actually happened to them has been able to produce a phone bill to support their story.
ICSTIS urges any individual or organisation that receives an e-mail about these 'scams' to delete it immediately. Please do not forward it to others.
For more information see the ICSTIS (Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services) website.
