Beware-active phone and/or Ebay scam.

Nos4r2 · 21 June 2009, 11:29

I've just had a really odd international phone call on my mobile. The phone number calling was +17738671399
It rang, I answered and an automated voice said 'this is Ebay, if you are expecting this call press 6'. I hung up.
It rang back 10 seconds later.I answered and an automated voice said 'this is Ebay, if you are expecting this call press 9'.
I pressed 9 (being certain they couldn't tap into my phone bill like this) and it said 'Your reference number is (4 digit number I can't remember)' then hung up.

I rang ebay because my mobile number is registered to an ebay account I haven't used for a while,thinking maybe someone was trying to hack the account but they say it was a spoof call.
I then rang Vodafone to make absolutely sure I couldn't have given out any details or had my phone bill/credit tapped into and they say the call originated in Chicago, (though the international dialling code suggested the call originated in the area of Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands ) and they confirm there's definitely no way it could have taken any details or stolen phone credit/calls. The credit on my pay-as-you go card hasn't dropped,so it wasn't a reverse charge scam.

This leaves me to think that it's either:-
A) a scam designed to get you to ring back and pay a fortune for a toll number, or
B)A very elaborate phishing scam to get ebay or Paypal account details that relies on you ringing the number back.

If you receive a call like this,it's probably a good idea if you don't ring it back!

JSP · 21 June 2009, 11:54

It sounds like the phone call you get when your setting up an ebay account.
If your remember when you where setting up your account, towards the end you had to press a button saying ring me now, they rang, asked the questions above and gave you a code to enter into your accoutn set up.

Why it would do it to you now is strange, maybe someones trying to set up an account in your name? But hasn't got the brains to realise you'l get the phone call.

Nos4r2 · 21 June 2009, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

It sounds like the phone call you get when your setting up an ebay account.
If your remember when you where setting up your account, towards the end you had to press a button saying ring me now, they rang, asked the questions above and gave you a code to enter into your accoutn set up.

Why it would do it to you now is strange, maybe someones trying to set up an account in your name? But hasn't got the brains to realise you'l get the phone call.

It wasn't-if it was genuine, I very much doubt the call would originate in Chicago and be routed through Puerto Rico where shedloads of pay lines are based.
Besides, Ebay said it was a spoof call.

Bigmuz7 · 21 June 2009, 12:33

The only thing that would give me concern although Im sure its nothing to worry about, but worth bearing in mind is that you can use your account make purchases through your airtime contract

"Vodafone m-pay / Pay For It
Payforit is the new way to pay for things via your mobile phone. Whenever you see the Payforit logo, you can pay for low cost products and services using your mobile phone account or airtime credit"

But as you say your balance hasnt dropped its unlikely, but I wasnt even aware you could do this with your phone, and only happened to see this this morning whilst surfing through my account

Poly · 21 June 2009, 13:43

Nos,

Not sure why you think it is in Puerto Rico - its a US number - +1 (US intl code) 773 dialing code for Illinois/Chicago.

http://tnid.org/lookup/7738671399/

Nos4r2 · 21 June 2009, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Nos,

Not sure why you think it is in Puerto Rico - its a US number - +1 (US intl code) 773 dialing code for Illinois/Chicago.

http://tnid.org/lookup/7738671399/

Ahhhh..... I see! It was the +17 I was looking at,and Voda guy thought the +17 was Puerto Rico.

geoffs · 21 June 2009, 21:47

There was a scam around a while ago where if you pressed a key it unlocked your phone so they could use your number for their calls, worth having a google as I am sure there are still details around.

John Kennett · 22 June 2009, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffs

There was a scam around a while ago where if you pressed a key it unlocked your phone so they could use your number for their calls, worth having a google as I am sure there are still details around.

Looks like that's probably a false alarm