Exactly as Paddy has described. I guessed it was a scam - they let it ring twice, it hangs up and you're meant to think, 'Who was that? I'll call back and see' = money for them. No chance! I'll complain to OfTel - cheers Paddy.
Called me while I was in class, so I sent it to my voicemail, but they did not leave a message. Since I do not answer calls unless I know who they are, I am curious as to who this person is.
I have just received a call from the number +448702448833 ,
I am in Italy. I answered it without thinking too much because I don't display the number immediately. I will not call it back, it's sure.. . I have paid 0.10 euro because of the unswered. I want to know what autority or protections of consumers I have to make it know.
I live in Ireland and I've had this same problem. The 0870 or 0044870 number is actually a "legitimate" UK phone number. (0044 is the international code from the UK.) You can't normally be charged for receiving the call. (It is impossible to be charged when you haven't even answered the phone - whoever claimed that is mistaken, she should check her call charges.)
The code 0870 is often used by well-known companies and UK government offices, including the vehicle licensing department DVLA. When you call them the charge is higher and the profit is shared between the telecom company providing the number and whoever licensed it. Many people have complained to the UK Oftel (short for Office of Telecommunications) about the 0870 numbers in general and specific abuse such as described here for the 08702448833 number. You can go to the Oftel website and complain: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/
What seems to be happening with the 0870244833 number is that a particulalry nasty company has licensed this number and is randomly phoning people all over Europe. They deliberately only ring twice and hang up. (It would be automated by a computer.) This scam is to get people to phone back and thereby make money. The call charges are highest from mobile phones in other countries (again taking advantage of the inadequate current regulations). The answerphone people reported here is clearly a way to maximise the length of call in order to charge more and, of course, it is automatic because there is no-one there anyway.
If you get such a call from 08702448833 , or indeed any number starting 0870 or 0044870 then do not answer or ring back.
I suggest you copy and paste this message and email it to your friends. (No, please don't start spamming!)
Please complain about 08702448833 to the UK Oftel department which has power to stop these calls.
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