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COMMENT
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The Trading Standards Institute recently said that more money is probably being taken from consumers every day in premium rate scams than through any other con. It also said that scams using premium rate phone lines have now reached "epidemic levels". It is so easy to fall for one of these premium rate scams. It can happen when mobile phone users receive an innocent-looking text message informing them that they have won a prize. The message points out that all you need to do is to call a number to claim your reward. Sometimes, you may also unwittingly call a premium rate number if you use a dial-up Internet service. By clicking on seemingly-innocent pop-ups or links, you may inadvertently change the dial-up setting on your PC to a premium rate number. Invariably, these premium rate numbers are eleven-digit long, and has a "09" prefix. However, once you dial this number, you will be connected to a service provider that could charge you as much as £1.50 a minute. (That equates to a whopping £90 an hour!) It has been reported that one unsuspecting consumer was stung for £1,677 despite hanging up her phone after just 40 seconds. (The premium service provider claimed she was on the line for 18 hours and 38 minutes.) Thankfully, her money has been refunded, though this was not without a struggle that took 15 months to resolve. Now, and at long last, Ofcom plans to crack down on rogue premium rate phone service providers. The regulator wants to levy heftier fines in cases of fraud, which currently stands at just £100,000. Ofcom also wants service providers to refund customers that have been misled. Until Ofcom's proposals are in place, consumers should be on their guard against premium rate phone scams. However, here are some things that you can do now. Check Your Bill Always look through your phone bill for unusual entries. Premium rate numbers are easily identified by their "09" pre-fix. Ignore Spoof Prizes Disregard any letter, phone call or text message advising that you have won a prize. Be especially suspicious if you haven't even entered a competition! Bar Premium Rate Calls Some telecom providers will let you bar numbers with a "09" prefix, though they may charge for this service. Bear in mind, though, that premium rate numbers are also used legitimately for chat lines and for voting on some popular reality television shows. Rogue Diallers If you use a dial-up Internet service, check the settings on your PC regularly. If the settings have been changed then you most probably have been infected by a rogue dialler. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that your computer is always protected by anti-virus software and have an up-to-date firewall installed. ICSTIS Finally, you can check any premium rate number through ICSTIS, The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services. You can also forward your complaints to the regulator. More scams to watch out for: Fraud detection departments | Criminal cashback | Property seminars