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Old 26-11-2007, 02:11 PM   #1
info@brainsys.com
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This is an important call ... scam?

Just got a call starting:

"This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
or not press 2"

No identification given and 1471 produced "We don't have a number for
this call ... "

I assumed it was a scam and hung up. But there is that worrying
feeling that maybe it was an important call. Would any responsible
company use such a thoughless way of contacting its customers,
clients or whatever. I know at least one of our High Street Banks
calls customers and requires you answer a "security question" before
proceeding but refuses to answer one before the answer is given -
which is basic security flaw if you think about it!

Anyway back to the question - who called - any ideas? What are the
issues if they call again?

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Old 26-11-2007, 02:11 PM   #2
Paul
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?


<info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
> Just got a call starting:
>
> "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
> or not press 2"
>
> No identification given and 1471 produced "We don't have a number for
> this call ... "
>
> I assumed it was a scam and hung up. But there is that worrying
> feeling that maybe it was an important call. Would any responsible
> company use such a thoughless way of contacting its customers,
> clients or whatever. I know at least one of our High Street Banks
> calls customers and requires you answer a "security question" before
> proceeding but refuses to answer one before the answer is given -
> which is basic security flaw if you think about it!
>
> Anyway back to the question - who called - any ideas? What are the
> issues if they call again?
>

If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your line,
you will find this out when you get your next bill.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

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Old 26-11-2007, 02:11 PM   #3
{{{{{Welcome}}}}}
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?

Paul wrote:
> <info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
> news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
>> Just got a call starting:
>>
>> "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
>> or not press 2"
>>
>> No identification given and 1471 produced "We don't have a number for
>> this call ... "
>>
>> I assumed it was a scam and hung up. But there is that worrying
>> feeling that maybe it was an important call. Would any responsible
>> company use such a thoughless way of contacting its customers,
>> clients or whatever. I know at least one of our High Street Banks
>> calls customers and requires you answer a "security question" before
>> proceeding but refuses to answer one before the answer is given -
>> which is basic security flaw if you think about it!
>>
>> Anyway back to the question - who called - any ideas? What are the
>> issues if they call again?
>>

> If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your
> line, you will find this out when you get your next bill.



Rubbish. Why do people continue to carry on these urban myths?


--
Items for sale: http://www.dodgy-dealer.co.uk
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/MetricNow
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/r...rchives_en.cfm
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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #4
Martin Sylvester
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?


"Paul" <nobody@nowere,com> wrote in message
news:47072edf$0$26387$88260bb3@free.teranews.com.. .
>
> <info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
> news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
>> Just got a call starting:
>>
>> "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
>> or not press 2"
>>[...]

> If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your line
> [...]


I'm going to expose my ignorance here, but I don't even begin to see how
that could work. Could you explain it to me? I'm not a telecoms
professional, but I do have a basic understanding of the PSTN. If you don't
have time to compose a "For Dummies" type explanation, but just want to
point me to a relevant SIN so I can work it out for myself, that's fine.

TIA.

Martin.

--
11(F) Group Ops room - the Battle of Britain Bunker
URL: http://www.sylvesternet.freeserve.co.uk/11gpops/
I do not intend to imply that any views expressed above represent the policy
of any organisation, nor do I warrant any information to be accurate.



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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #5
Paul Cupis
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?

Martin Sylvester wrote:
> "Paul" <nobody@nowere,com> wrote in message
> news:47072edf$0$26387$88260bb3@free.teranews.com.. .
>> <info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
>> news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
>>> Just got a call starting:
>>>
>>> "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
>>> or not press 2"
>>> [...]

>> If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your line
>> [...]

>
> I'm going to expose my ignorance here, but I don't even begin to see how
> that could work.


It doesn't work, it's an urban myth which should not be propogated further.
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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #6
info@brainsys.com
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Posts: n/a
Re: This is an important call ... scam?

I was hoping for a more intelligent reponse.

The message had the correct company name and went to the trouble of
having it recorded. Which is strange. The number is listed on the
commercial TP list. The more I think about it the more I think the
call may be genuine.



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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #7
Peter Andrews
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?


<info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
news:1191670163.302552.217810@50g2000hsm.googlegro ups.com...
>I was hoping for a more intelligent reponse.
>
> The message had the correct company name and went to the trouble of
> having it recorded. Which is strange. The number is listed on the
> commercial TP list. The more I think about it the more I think the
> call may be genuine.
>
>
>


If it was that important they will call again.

Peter


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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #8
Alex Threlfall
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Posts: n/a
Re: This is an important call ... scam?

In article <47072edf$0$26387$88260bb3@free.teranews.com>, nobody@nowere
says...
>
> <info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
> news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
> > Just got a call starting:
> >
> > "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
> > or not press 2"
> >
> > No identification given and 1471 produced "We don't have a number for
> > this call ... "
> >
> > I assumed it was a scam and hung up. But there is that worrying
> > feeling that maybe it was an important call. Would any responsible
> > company use such a thoughless way of contacting its customers,
> > clients or whatever. I know at least one of our High Street Banks
> > calls customers and requires you answer a "security question" before
> > proceeding but refuses to answer one before the answer is given -
> > which is basic security flaw if you think about it!
> >
> > Anyway back to the question - who called - any ideas? What are the
> > issues if they call again?
> >

> If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your line,
> you will find this out when you get your next bill.
>
>
>
>

Complete rubbish, you can't be billed when you are called, regardless of
what you press.

*NB* This only holds true for POTS lines and standard equipment. Use of
PBX could perhaps give the called person exchange line access, but
typically requires you to do more than press a single number.
--
Alex Threlfall
Cyberprog New Media
www.cyberprog.net
tel - 0870 446 0789
fax - 0870 446 1789
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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #9
Paul
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: This is an important call ... scam?


"Alex Threlfall" <alex@nospam.cyberprog.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.21720a8f329f5cf29896d4@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk...
> In article <47072edf$0$26387$88260bb3@free.teranews.com>, nobody@nowere
> says...
>>
>> <info@brainsys.com> wrote in message
>> news:1191595672.537150.29230@50g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
>> > Just got a call starting:
>> >
>> > "This is an important call for <company name>. If this is you press 1
>> > or not press 2"
>> >
>> > No identification given and 1471 produced "We don't have a number for
>> > this call ... "
>> >
>> > I assumed it was a scam and hung up. But there is that worrying
>> > feeling that maybe it was an important call. Would any responsible
>> > company use such a thoughless way of contacting its customers,
>> > clients or whatever. I know at least one of our High Street Banks
>> > calls customers and requires you answer a "security question" before
>> > proceeding but refuses to answer one before the answer is given -
>> > which is basic security flaw if you think about it!
>> >
>> > Anyway back to the question - who called - any ideas? What are the
>> > issues if they call again?
>> >

>> If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your
>> line,
>> you will find this out when you get your next bill.
>>
>>
>>
>>

> Complete rubbish, you can't be billed when you are called, regardless of
> what you press.
>
> *NB* This only holds true for POTS lines and standard equipment. Use of
> PBX could perhaps give the called person exchange line access, but
> typically requires you to do more than press a single number.
> --
> Alex Threlfall
> Cyberprog New Media
> www.cyberprog.net
> tel - 0870 446 0789
> fax - 0870 446 1789


Next time just press 2 and see what happens,

Easy wasn't it



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

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Old 26-11-2007, 02:12 PM   #10
Owain
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Re: This is an important call ... scam?

Alex Threlfall wrote:
>>If you press 2 you will probably find you are giving them use of your line,
>>you will find this out when you get your next bill.

> Complete rubbish, you can't be billed when you are called, regardless of
> what you press.


Unless it's 0800 Reverse, but I think that requires you to say something
the computer interprets as "yes" rather than pressing anything.

Owain

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