Quoting (edited) from a local freepaper delivered 07/01/05
Rotherham area:

A phone call sent to homes, mobiles, & businesses is a recorded congratulations message informing you that you have won an exotic all expenses paid holiday.
You are then asked to press 9 for further details.
On pressing 9 you are connected to a premium rate line at £20 per minute.
Once you press 9
- EVEN IF YOU HANG UP IMMEDIATELY-
Your call will be 'connected' for a further 5 minutes = £100 call.
The call goes on asking you to key in your house number & postcode.
After a further 2 minutes the message says you have been unsuccessfull this time.
Total call charge = £260!

The calls originate from outside the UK so BT & other companies are relatively powerless to act.

On mobiles a "missed call" comes up.
The number is 0709 020 3840
The last 4 digits may vary if you return the call the charge is £50 per min!

ADVICE DO NOT PRESS 9 & DO NOT CALL BACK ANY NUMBERS STARTING 0709
Sadly this 'scam' appears to be perfectly legal!

Erm... this hoax comes up a couple of times a year doesn't it?

It's happening all the time, we get about 3 different calls a week, all recorded messages, stating that we have won a holiday, money, a house = you name it.

I always hang up, they are very annoying
especially when you are on nights & woken by one!

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
ADVICE [B]DO NOT PRESS 9 & DO NOT CALL BACK ANY NUMBERS STARTING 0709

I assume you mean 0907, and not 0709 as the latter is a mobile phone prefix

If you dont wish to get these calls, simply register yourself with:

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

I copied exactly from the freepaper 0709

Originally posted by RPG
I assume you mean 0907, and not 0709 as the latter is a mobile phone prefix

If you dont wish to get these calls, simply register yourself with:

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

I did register myself with the TPS, however I still get these automated calls - so annoying:mad:

It's all tosh and has been on here before.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23327&highlight=telephone+scam

Cool. I'm glad all was trying to do was help.
Thanks for updating me :thumbsup:

The article was from tonight's "The Whiston Villager" & written by Reuben Wyath (Mobile Police Station).

TTFN

you should write to the paper and suggest that they learn to do a little bit of research.
This myth has been in the national press before and has been debunked numerous times.

Originally posted by Rubysoho
I did register myself with the TPS, however I still get these automated calls - so annoying:mad:
The TPS only deal with calls originated in Europe. These 'press 9' calls, which are hoaxes, originate from the US so don't have to obey them.

For reference, the maximum premium rate call charge in the UK is £2 and you can't be charged unless you dial the number yourself.

You also have to be connected for it to be clocking up minutes so if you hang up 2 minutes after dialling one then you get charged for 2 minutes.

there are no 'press 9' calls, that's the hoax.

And it's £1.50/minute that is the maximum rate for premium rate lines.

Originally posted by Lurch


For reference, the maximum premium rate call charge in the UK is £2 and you can't be charged unless you dial the number yourself.
Unless your computer dials it by itself, as mine did, the naughty little bugger

Well I've yet to see a mobile number that starts 0709, just looking at that number Id be suss :suspect:

All mobile numbers start '07' - the numbers after that are all entirely randonm

Originally posted by Saxon
All mobile numbers start '07' - the numbers after that are all entirely randonm
Or more specifically, 077, 078, 079.

070 numbers are personal numbers, which are charged at a non standard rate, (35ppm I think).

Originally posted by Cyclone
there are no 'press 9' calls, that's the hoax.

And it's £1.50/minute that is the maximum rate for premium rate lines.

Had a message left on my ansafone yesterday - I'd won another holiday :clap: Thats 4 this month, I'm so lucky!

Anyway I had to press '0' to claim...

Of course my finger slipped & I deleted the message by mistake!

I had a missed call message from a perculiar looking number just before christmas. I thought it was odd, because I hadn't heard it ring. I texted the number back, but got no reply :suspect:

Thought 0709 was the old land line code for Rotherham before they introduced the 01709?