New BT Router scam

[DulwichFox]

The Windows Technical Support scam is well documented and we have all become aware of it.

However there seems to be a new approach to the same scam.

I have recieved a couple of calls claiming to be from th B.T. Technical Support Team.

I was told there was a problem with by B.T. Router causing errors on my P.C..

and that I would be recieving a new router the next day in the post.

Then the scam seems to take on the same proccedure as the original .. asking people to log on to their computer.

I just told the caller that my number was a Premium Rate Number and was being charged at 38p per min. He cleared down.

I googled this and yes it's already been established as a new scam.

DulwichFox

[TheArtfulDogger]

It's been around for a while, normally from India and the best response is I changed service provider last week as they kept on having problems with my router ... They then are stuffed as they have claimed they are calling from bt, virgin.... And as such can't back track to say they are from your new (made up ) provider

[jaywalker]

I don't understand why these scams are not traceable.

Why is it legal for firms to call me everyday? And why have those that gave them my name not been prosecuted? (I know how, but it should be if it is not already, illegal.) OK I can cope. But my very elderly parents CANNOT.

It is like the banking scams. Banks could end these immediately (only transfer money to validated accounts, and then only at their own, not the customer's, risk.) Yet the regulatory authorities just go on about other things (today that they seem to have given up their inflation target). The technology is there and trivial. Yet nothing is done.

[P.O.U.S.theWonderCat]

It isn't legal, but when the call originates outside of the country there's not much that the authorities can do to enforce it.

[Sue]

I never answer my landline any more.

The answering machine kicks in and if it's a bona fide call the caller starts speaking and I can hear who it is and pick it up.

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I never answer my landline any more.

>

> The answering machine kicks in and if it's a bona

> fide call the caller starts speaking and I can

> hear who it is and pick it up.

That's a good way of confirming to the caller your name and number..

Foxy

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Sue Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I never answer my landline any more.

> >

> > The answering machine kicks in and if it's a

> bona

> > fide call the caller starts speaking and I can

> > hear who it is and pick it up.

>

> That's a good way of confirming to the caller your

> name and number..

>

I don't have either my name nor number on the message, so I don't see how it could do that.

In any case they generally ring off as soon as the answering machine cuts in. They certainly never leave a message.

Anyway, obviously they know the number, because they have just dialled it :))

[PeckhamRose]

The scariest one was when the Indian guy "from BT" knew my account number. I reported this to BT themselves.

They do have a big team of people trying to deal with this. I was in touch with them for a while with a named BT techie who did find that stream and I stopped getting them. But then another company starts up and they do not know my account number so not much I can do about that.