Harry's Blog

We had a note put through the door the other day warning of a particular scam. It involved being told you had a parcel to collect and to phone a certain number, a premium rate number.

This is not a current scam, it was briefly active in 2005 and was quickly stamped on by authorities. Even when active the warning email was wrong. Yes the scam involved getting you to phone a premium rate line. But this was charged at £1.50 minute, there was no instant £15 connection charge as the warning states.

Unfortunately warnings of the scam are being spread once again. I can completely understand why helpful people would warn others of this. But please don't pass it on yourself, because it's not true anymore.

Click through from a statement regarding this scam from the premium phone line regulatory body which you should give to anyone spreading the scare story.

A STATEMENT FROM PHONEPAYPLUS ABOUT THE CURRENT 'POSTAL SCAM' CHAIN EMAIL

PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid services regulator, is aware that a chain e-mail about an alleged postal scam is being circulated on the internet. The email refers to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (PhonepayPlus’ former name).

PhonepayPlus appreciates that recipients of the email may want to find out more information about the alleged scam and has therefore issued the following statement:

• The chain email refers to a service that was shut down by us in December 2005.

• We subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), £10,000.

• The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.

• The email refers to a £15 charge for simply being connected to a recorded message. This is NOT TRUE – a £15 connection charge does NOT exist. The service in question actually cost £1.50 per minute and lasted six minutes, making a total cost of £9 if callers stayed on the line for the full six minutes.

• You do NOT need to contact us, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost two years ago.

• If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward this statement from PhonepayPlus.

• Please go to www.phonepayplus.org.uk/pdfs_news/ConsumerGuide.pdf for useful information about how to recognise phone-paid services and understand what they cost, and some simple tips to help you enjoy using services with confidence.

• For more detailed information about our work, please visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk.