Another 'Phone Scam

John Durrant has written in with details of a scam recently attempted on him:

"I got a telephone call this morning claiming to be from a BT engineer. He gave an English name but had an Indian accent, so I suspected a scam immediately, however I have had legitimate 'phone calls from BT engineers with such an accent in the past, so I continued with the call.

He said they were going to cut off my internet connection, which got my attention! He then gave me a 'phone number – 020 328 77690 – and then a BT Employment number D-84420. He also gave me a long number which he said was my computer ID, which only BT would know – and made me copy it down.

Up to then it sounded fairly legitimate. He then went on to say there was a problem with a particular piece of software which had got past my virus protection. I am sure BT wouldn't be interested in that – they only provide the broadband service – so at that point I told him I had to go out to an appointment which couldn't wait, so I would ring him back later. He said no, he would ring me at 3:00 PM (it's now 3:40 – no call!).

Of course I rang BT and checked, and of course it's a scam. Also an internet search on the 'phone number he gave shows it to be a scam number- it seems that if I had continued, he would have tried to sell me some anti-virus software and get my bank details to pay for it.

So if anyone gets a call from a BT engineer, be suspicious and ring BT separately to check (after the 'phone has been down for some time, or on a different 'phone). Call using the number on the back of a BT bill, not the number the scammer gives you."

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