Essex Police warning - Mobile Phone Scam
Nov 30, 2003, 3:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Essex Police warning - Mobile Phone Scam
Sorry to post this non-aviation related topic, but many BA Flyertalkers will reside in Britain or be passing through Britain shortly, and I felt it may be useful to pass on their message:
ALLEGED PHONE SCAM - REPORTED BY THE ESSEX POLICE
If you receive a text message on your mobile from the number 15477 indicating that you have won a 2 night stay in the Druid's Marriott in Wicklow, saying that they you must reply with the text "#90" or "#09", You should delete this text immediately and not reply.
This is a fraud company using a device, that once you press #90 or #09 and reply text, they can access your "SIM" card and make calls at your expense.
Forward this message to as many friends as you can to stop it."
You are advised to take care if you are asked to use any unusual dialing
codes on your mobile phone.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Abstract:
News from Essex Police about a mobile phone scam that could cost you dearly.</font>
News from Essex Police about a mobile phone scam that could cost you dearly.</font>
If you receive a text message on your mobile from the number 15477 indicating that you have won a 2 night stay in the Druid's Marriott in Wicklow, saying that they you must reply with the text "#90" or "#09", You should delete this text immediately and not reply.
This is a fraud company using a device, that once you press #90 or #09 and reply text, they can access your "SIM" card and make calls at your expense.
Forward this message to as many friends as you can to stop it."
You are advised to take care if you are asked to use any unusual dialing
codes on your mobile phone.
Nov 30, 2003, 4:39 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: Not much these days: BA Silver, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 1,326
Nov 30, 2003, 5:05 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,398
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Forward this message to as many friends as you can to stop it.</font>
.
[This message has been edited by dnw (edited Nov 30, 2003).]
Nov 30, 2003, 5:50 am
#4
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,175
So what is everyone saying? Is this a scam or a scare? Sorry to sound thick, but if it is real we need to know about it. Sorru but the previous two poast are a bit ambiguous.
Grateful in advance!
Grateful in advance!
Nov 30, 2003, 6:05 am
#5
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
It is a hoax. That would not give someone access to your SIM.
However, if you get any such a message, delete it immediately, and don't agree to any 'auto-reply'. Chances are you'll end up texting a premium number which will cost you a few quid. But that's about the worst that can happen.
There is a danger of service messages being generated to phones to change your settings, but this would not appear like that (and it's extremely difficult for a non-operator to generate). If you do get an alert for a 'service message' you don't expect, you can always call your mobile operator to make sure it's scheduled.
However, if you get any such a message, delete it immediately, and don't agree to any 'auto-reply'. Chances are you'll end up texting a premium number which will cost you a few quid. But that's about the worst that can happen.
There is a danger of service messages being generated to phones to change your settings, but this would not appear like that (and it's extremely difficult for a non-operator to generate). If you do get an alert for a 'service message' you don't expect, you can always call your mobile operator to make sure it's scheduled.
Dec 1, 2003, 3:40 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
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Posts: 2,923
This is a copy book example of a chain e-mail.
Everyone mails everyone else to warn them about a non-existent virus, scam, etc. etc.
It might also be an attempt to start a chain SMS message - text your friends to warm them not so reply to a some phantom text message.
-- Dambus
[This message has been edited by Dambus (edited Dec 01, 2003).]
Everyone mails everyone else to warn them about a non-existent virus, scam, etc. etc.
It might also be an attempt to start a chain SMS message - text your friends to warm them not so reply to a some phantom text message.
-- Dambus
[This message has been edited by Dambus (edited Dec 01, 2003).]
Dec 1, 2003, 6:50 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 55
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PUCCI GALORE:
So what is everyone saying? Is this a scam or a scare? Sorry to sound thick, but if it is real we need to know about it. Sorru but the previous two poast are a bit ambiguous.
Grateful in advance!</font>
So what is everyone saying? Is this a scam or a scare? Sorry to sound thick, but if it is real we need to know about it. Sorru but the previous two poast are a bit ambiguous.
Grateful in advance!</font>
As with most "scares" of this type its not real, someone made the story up so that people like us spend time talking about it. I suppose it gives them some kind of kick. Well, people like that are just sad, smelly geeks with no friends.
BUT, BA have just announced a newsflash, OLCI has developed a virus, if you check in with an exec card number beginning with 9, the virus will delete all your airmiles, cancel all your bookings and set fire to your house. It will then sleep with your husband/wife and leave the toilet seat up in all your bathrooms. It will also put a note against your BA membership to the effect of "never upgrade this person and deny boarding wherever possible". Once the virus has done all that it will send naughty pictures of you to everyone in your address book.
Send a copy of this warning to everyone you know. This virus must be stopped.