I've got no way of knowing how true this is but just in case here's a copy of an email I received earlier:


I received a call from a representative of BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00 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, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line-rental! I asked the guy's name - he gave me the very English John  Peacock with a very African accent - phone number - 0800 0800 152. 
Obviously the fellow realized I didn’t believe his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how he told me to hang up try phoning someone - he would dis-connect 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.
I asked how the payment was to be made and he said credit card, there and then. I said that I didn’t know how he’d done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn’t believe his name or that he worked for BT. He hung up. I dialled 1471 - number withheld. I 
phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized, so I phoned the police to let them know.
I wasn’t the first! It’s only just started apparently, but it is escalating. Their advice was to let as many people as possible know of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it’s real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this. 
How is it done? This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800 152 which takes you through to BT Business.
The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can’t dial out - but he can hear you trying. (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back. You could almost be convinced!
The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.
By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details which include the security number so that it can 
 be used for far larger purchases. 
 

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good post as you say the person who phones keeps the line open although if you and they are inactive for a set time [dont know how long ]you will get a dialing tone
although providing there was some noise like a ping or click every so often the exchange would think the line was active

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we are all ------------------still learning

Tis true, Oh man of little faith. Been going on for years.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bt-unpaid-bi ... scam.shtml

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I see you've heard about it too Scruff

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As always help on here is free, however if you think you have saved a decent sum of money why not click the link to find out about the charity we're currently supporting? A couple of quid makes a real difference.

donnas-dream-house-charity-t52110.html

I have heard about this also but as people have been conned by this or similar it does not hurt to tell people.

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Nick

If UHM's helped then please check out UHM's Nominated charity - http://www.donnasdreamhouse.co.uk/

Just to add to this,,,, Anyone on Skype?? Check your settings and make sure they are set so you can only receive calls and chats from people on your contact list. I had one the other evening from Ghana and a chat box opened up. This person was telling me he was a refugee from Libya and needed my help getting his rather large ($$$$ Millions) inheritance out of Ghana. I tagged along for a bit telling him I worked for HM Govt Security Services and as we chatted, his IP address was being known to me and my associates. He kept on saying I was now his very good friend etc etc. I told him I had to go as I was having dinner with the Deputy PM and Richard Branston. He then asked if I could have a word with them and could they possibly come to Ghana to prove he wasn't a fraudster I ended up telling him the Foreign Secretary would be on his/her way on the next flight available from Heathrow

See:
http://astrocat.proboards.com/index.cgi ... thread=124

I knew about it around two years ago.

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I started out with nothing, I still have most of it.

Directmail scam information site: http://astrocat.proboards.com/index.cgi?

Just passed this onto my mum. She had BT out the other week because her connection was intermittent. The BT man said that the connection box on her wall was letting in water and all the connections were rotten so he would have to put in a new line. The connection box was outside of her bedroom and the line comes in along the wall past the lounge window so she asked BT man if it would be easier (and better for her) if he put the master socket in the lounge, which he did. Now she has got a bill for £130 because she asked for the master socket to be moved. Her BT account has more than £200 in it but she was a bit peeved and asked if anyone else does land lines (she has always been with BT). Now she is switching to Orange.

Because of all the above I can imagine my mum falling very easily (she is a bit gullible) for this scam

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Mike
http://rebuildingatimberbungalow.blogspot.com/
any advice welcome

Don't go to Orange.

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My mum gets her broadband off them so I thought she might get a cheaper deal if she adds the line onto it too. She never really uses her landline (so much I don’t even know her home number!). My dad (divorced from my mum) has orange for his & wife's mobiles and landline/broadband (he even has an 0800 number for free from the deal to his house) and raves about it. I tried orange once and that lasted about a week!

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Mike
http://rebuildingatimberbungalow.blogspot.com/
any advice welcome