What does mobile phone fraud involve?
Mobile phone fraud involves fraudsters targeting mobile phone
users and trying to persuade them to:
- Purchase phone-related products/services that
turn out to be substandard or nonexistent
- Make phone calls or texts to premium services
by accident
- Unknowingly sign up to expensive subscription
services.
How can mobile phone fraud affect me?
There are two variations on premium services fraud: the text
message and the missed call.
Text message fraud
With text message fraud, you receive a text
message congratulating you on winning a
cash prize. This is known as m-spam. According to the bogus
message, all you have to do to collect your prize is dial a number
that begins with 0906. What the fraudsters don't
tell you is that this is a premium rate number,
that the call will last several minutes, and that you won't receive
your prize
Missed call fraud
With missed call fraud, your mobile rings once
then disconnects, leaving you with a missed call. If you ring back,
you're redirected to a premium rate line for a
prize. Again, these calls can be expensive and the promised prize
never materialises. According to some sources, the missed call
often comes from a number with the prefix 0709.
These numbers are not normal mobile numbers and often attract a
high charge. To be safe, treat 0709 calls as you would treat calls
from a premium rate number.
Then there's reverse texting, where you end up
paying to receive text messages such as ringtones
and wallpapers.
Meanwhile, subscriber fraud happens when
criminals fraudulently obtain your personal information and use it
to set up a mobile phone account in your name.
What should I do?
Check with your mobile phone provider how much
it costs to call or text phonepaid/premium rate services from your
phone. Currently, these services cost between 10 pence to £1.50 per
minute for calls or text messages. Please note that your phone
provider (landline, cable or mobile) may also add an additional
charge in addition to the advertised rate. Any additional charge
will vary depending on your phone provider.
To avoid fraudsters
- It’s best to be safe and not respond to unknown
numbers at all
- If you get a text message from someone you don't know,
don't reply. If it is important, they will call
again
- If you receive a text message offering you a
prize, delete it without replying. Remember, you
can’t win a prize if you have not entered a competition
- Don't reply to any number with a 090 prefix.
It's a premium-rate line
- If you respond to a missed call, hang up at the very
first indication your call is being redirected. For
example, when a recorded voice says: "I'll put you through", or
something similar. Also, be aware that fraudsters often use a
recording of what sounds like a ringing tone to keep you on the
line for longer
- If you call a number back and get a recorded message informing
you that you’ve won a prize, hang up
immediately
- Don't subscribe to anything that you suspect
involves reverse texting. Investigate before you do anything.
If you have been defrauded
- Tell your mobile phone provider. They won’t be
able to refund your money, but they can investigate and inform
others
- Inform PhonepayPlus, which regulates
premium numbers and has statutory powers to stop mobile phone
frauds and fine the offenders
- With reverse texting: if you text the word STOP to the
subscription number, the sender is legally obliged to stop sending
text messages immediately. If they don’t, contact PhonepayPlus, which
investigates complaints about phone-paid services.
There are companies that use premium numbers legitimately.
However, they should always make it clear that they are using
premium numbers and you should check their small print before
signing up to anything.
Contact your mobile phone provider. They won’t
be able to refund your money, but they can investigate and inform
others.