Telephone Scam

Hey HTMers,

I got this internet email rumor from my friend about a telephone scam. I don't know if it is true, but he said it is.

A person identifying themselves as a service technician from your telephone service provider calls your phone and states that they are conducting tests on the phone lines. The scam artist ask you to complete the test by dialing 90# and hanging up.

Also, the email states the operator, telephone company, GTE Security Department, and Verizon says by pushing 90# you give the scam artist full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.

So, I did a little research into the rumor. I found some information saying that the rumor is partly true. Dialing 90# only gives access on phones where you must dial 9 first to place an outgoing call. So, residential and mobile phones are not targeted. But, office phones are being targeted. Usually, office phones are the only phones that you need to dial 9 to make a call outside of the office.

I still don't know if it is true, but I thought it was interesting enough to share.


HTMBaLLuH