Premium rate phone line scams

Such scams are committed in several ways. In some cases, the scammers pose as call connection service providers, and they visit the premises of the house or office to check the switchboard and modify the settings to premium rate connection. 

Sometimes they call the victim and ask them to redial on a number to claim a tax refund or acquire a grant or access the government's insolvency services. If the number looks like a premium rate number, you should not answer it. 

How Does It Happen?

• The tricksters sell other people's ability to make premium calls by redirecting the connection settings to increase the number of calls from the victim's phone. It is a call selling trick where the fraudsters extract a phone service and sell while they have no intention to pay the bills.

• Sometimes they get phone service with a fake identity, which leaves a debt in the name of a person – who does not know their identity has been used by someone else. 

• They claim to be from authorised connection services, but any approved provider will always tell you the cost of calls. In addition, any firm that updates its numbers will inform the users on the websites about the related changes, the documents, signage and paperwork where they will display the old number.  

• If you get unsolicited messages related to a premium number subscription, you can check its credibility on the standard search engine to see if it is legitimate or not. If you suspect a fraud, report it to the authorities.