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Telephone Scam Warning
From: Dean Huffman (perinatl@sprynet.com)
Wed, 05 Aug 1998 06:36:04 -0500
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I received the following message, below, from a freind of mine, Sean Edwards, this evening. It represents a possible telephone scam. I have seen it mentioned on the internet elsewhere in the past, but I have not been able to personally verify it. Rick French indicated to me last spring (I think) that it is, indeed, a genuine scam.Whether a genuine scam or not (and I think it is), one should be very careful when giving out information on the telephone -- credit card numbers, checking account numbers, passwords, etc. -- especially when you cannot verify to whom it is you are talking.
This past Friday, one of the national TV networks discussed a scam where someone calls a number of telephones at busy locations such as airports, using a number of telephone dialing machines. The machine then gives a dial tone. Some unsuspecting people will pick up the ringing phone, hear a dial tone and think it is safe to dial. They then put in their calling code numbers, which the scammer then immediately steals. What is worse, even if you hang up the phone then pick it up again, you will still have the dial tone from the scammer and he can still steal your calling code number. It takes 15 seconds for the scammer's connection to disconnect.
Anyway, here is what I received from Sean:
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-- Date: Sunday, August 02, 1998 8:42 AMHave you guys ever heard of this one?
Phone Service Information
I received a telephone call from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T service technician that was running a test on our telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test we should touch nine (9), zero (0), pound sign (#) and hang up.
Luckily, we were suspicious and refused. Upon contacting the telephone company we were informed that by pushing 90# you end up giving the individual that called you access to your telephone line and allows them to place a long distance telephone call, with the charge appearing on your telephone bill. We were further informed that this scam has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons. I have verified with Club Telecomm that this actually happens.
I called GTE security this morning and verified that this is definitely possible and DO NOT press 90# for anyone. It will give them access to your phone line to make long distance calls ANYWHERE. The GTE Security Department told me to go ahead and share this information with everyone I know.
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