Wiganers urged to beware return of notorious phone scam

Victims are contacted from someone reportedly from BT saying they were being disconnected due to an unpaid bill unless they stump up an immediate payment.

One resident who did not wish to be identified said: “He wanted £31 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, claiming VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!

“I asked for his name and he gave me the very English-sounding John Peacock with a very African accent and a phone number 0800 0800 152.

“The fellow realised I didn’t believe his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how and he told me to hang up and 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.”

But the victim wasn’t to be persuaded and eventually the caller rang off.

It was later explained to the victim that scammers like this give a wrong number to ring and tell the victim to phone it after the caller has himself rung off. But in fact the caller hasn’t hung up but only put the phone on mute, which prevents the victim from making calls.

The number the fraudster had given for BT was also missing a digit to have been the correct one.

Anyone receiving such calls should ring police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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