Don’t be worried by old phone scam

Trading standards are urging residents to contact them if they come across an old scam that might still be circulating on the internet.

The premium rate phone number regulator Phonepay Plus has recently received a large number of checker hits for a 090 number that it shut down in December 2005.

The number was originally part of a postal scam where a card was posted through letter boxes telling residents to call a premium rate number, 09066 611911,in order to find out how to retrieve a parcel. On calling the number they would then immediately be charged £15.

Despite Phonepay Plus’s best efforts, chain emails still sometimes circulate on the internet warning about this number even though it is no longer operating and hasn’t been for some considerable time.

Trading standards say: “If you do receive an email referring to this, we would like to reassure you that the number is not in service and should not be a cause for concern.You don’t need to send the warning email on to others, but it would be helpful to us if you could forward this information instead.”

Anyone who receives a delivery card which asks them to dial a premium rate number (usually beginning with 090, 09, 070, 118, 0871, 0872 or 0873) is advised to check the number at http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/Number-Checker/Check-a-Number-Results.aspx or contact 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm) for further guidance.

Further advice and information about premium rate services and their cost can be found at http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 December 2014.