Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 36310 2003-08-05 23:28:00 Phone Scam: Do not press 90# agent (30) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
165679 2003-08-05 23:28:00 Some people have been receiving calls from people perpetrating to be line technicians, who have been conducting tests on their telephone lines.

This is not true. If anyone phones you and asks you to press 9 (nine), 0 (zero), and # (hash) consecutively, please be aware that by doing so, you will be giving the person full access to your telephone line. This means that they can then conduct long distance telephone calls, that are billed to your account.

Apparently, this scam has been originating largely from local prisons. Telecom are, and I quote, "aware of the problem and are doing our best to address it". I received notice of this scam via email, but I assure you it is not fake. I personally phoned Telecom to verify that this alert was real, and they confirmed it for me. If you don't believe it, dial 123 from a landline, press 0, and ask the operator about the 90# scam.

Regards,
agent
agent (30)
165680 2003-08-05 23:39:00 I received that email and was wondering if it was one of those hoaxes or not.

Thanks for the warning, I will have to tell the rest of the house about it.
Susan B (19)
165681 2003-08-05 23:49:00 I've spoken with a contact within Telecom who said it is not a problem in the Telecom network. But don't do it, anyway.
robo.
robo (205)
165682 2003-08-06 00:02:00 Its simply not an issue for residential telephones, it has no effect.

It would only work where businesses have a PABX, and use 9 for an outside line.
godfather (25)
165683 2003-08-06 00:11:00 The email I received was from a TelstraClear customer, but all the same, I phoned Telecom, and they said the scam was real (didn't say anything else to me, though), so it's probably safer not to do it anyway. agent (30)
165684 2003-08-06 00:22:00 If you don't believe that it does not affect normal residential telephones then read this (www.fcc.gov) from the FCC.

Its an old trick, and there would be only a few businesses in NZ that could be affected, as most use 0 or 1 for an outside line.

Basically it would result in the incoming trunk line for a business being re-directed outside the business for unfettered use.

Many modern PABX are programmed to deny this operation as well.

So don't panic. Google if you want to read up on it.
godfather (25)
165685 2003-08-06 00:58:00 hahahhaahha you'd have to be a fool to do that... must be the same people that give out their eftpos pin number when the bank gives them a call. -=JM=- (16)
165686 2003-08-06 01:09:00 hi Agent .

Just found your posting and actully rang Telecom myself to check this out .

Was told gategorically that this is incorrect, it can't happen and Telecom have done some exhaustive checking .

The operator I spoke to was pleased that I had rung, they'd much rather people be safe than sorry but she also said "thank heavens their calls about this are beginning to taper off"

I did use a landline and did ring 123 .
Iris (475)
165687 2003-08-06 02:17:00 Please people, this is effectively Junk Mail / Hoax Virus material.

Its technically possible overseas, less so here as I have stated above.

PLEASE read this (www.itd.umich.edu) article, and leave poor old Telecom alone.

This Junk Email is 5 years old now, so please please read at least one of the 15,600 sites listed on Google exposing it before ringing Telecom...
godfather (25)
165688 2003-08-06 02:29:00 Right then.

Still, my school system uses 9 to access an outside line... ]:)
agent (30)
1 2