Mobile phone scam fraud warning

MOBILE phone owners in Ulster were warned today to beware the latest scam from high-tech chancers.

A warning e-mail is circulating around Northern Ireland advising the public that they could get a call on their work, mobile or home phones with a recorded message telling them they have won a tempting, all-expenses paid trip.

The recipient is then asked to press number 9 on their phone to hear further details.

However, the e-mail warns that if you do press 9, you will be connected to a premium line that bills £20 per minute.

Apparently, if you press 9 and disconnect immediately, the other end remains connected for a minimum of 5 minutes at a cost to you of over £100.

The message lasts for 11 minutes, and the final part asks you to key in your postcode and house number, waits a further two minutes and then responds with the message: “Sorry, you are not one of the lucky ones.”

The call is then disconnected, but not before clocking up £260 on your bill.

A PSNI spokeswoman said they had not received any complaints and were not currently investigating any premium rate call scams.

However, police are looking into another “Canadian Lottery” con where people are asked to claim “winnings” by sending cash.

It has emerged that victims across the UK have already been fleeced of £3m.

In recent months a number of people from Co Londonderry, particularly the Desertmartin area, have complained that they have been targeted in the fraud. One Northern Ireland victim alone lost £12,500.

The PSNI spokeswoman said: “Our advice to the general public would be that where there has been unsolicited contact either by letter, phone or e-mail offering inducements to contact individuals or companies for awards, winnings or gifts, the public should ignore them.”