The 0906 661 1911 number for an undelivered parcel and a sca

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The 0906 661 1911 number for an undelivered parcel and a scam that just won't die

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I had an e-mail recently warning me about a telephone scam and fake parcels being delivered.

A card is posted through your letterbox from a company saying it has been unable to deliver a package. It tells you to call 0906 661 1911 to find out how to retrieve the parcel, but if you do this the call is charged at £15 immediately.

The e-mail says the scam has been confirmed by Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS. What is it?

Lee Boyce, of This is Money, replies: This scam seems to go around via e-mail year in, year out.

It picks up pace in the run-up to Christmas, as more people will be expecting packages through the post and the warning e-mail gets forwarded around accordingly.

We have written about this scam before at This is Money and it seems that this scam finished many years ago – but the e-mail continues to spook many.

I got in contact with PhonepayPlus, the UK premium rate telephone services regulator and when I mentioned that I had a query about a premium rate number, the member of staff over the phone didn’t even need to take it from me – she knew exactly what number I was going to ask about.

A PhonepayPlus statement reads: We are aware that a chain email 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 e-mail may want to find out more information about the alleged scam, but would like to reassure consumers that the e-mail is outdated and no longer poses a threat.

'The chain e-mail refers to a service operating on the premium rate number 0906 661 1911. This service was actually shut down by PhonepayPlus (then called ICSTIS) in December 2005. At that time, PhonepayPlus fined the Belize-based company behind the service £10,000.

'PhonepayPlus can confirm that the service is no longer running and has not been running since December 2005, so you do not need to contact PhonepayPlus, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost six years ago.'

Paul Whiteing, chief executive of PhonepayPlus said: ‘We shut this particular service down in 2005, but this chain e-mail has been widely forwarded every year since then – even though the number no longer works and there is no cause for concern.

‘We want to reassure consumers that they have no need to worry about this particular scam.

However, if you do receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number (these numbers usually begin with 09), you can contact us on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) for further guidance.’

PhonepayPlus advises that, if you receive a copy of the e-mail warning you about the alleged scam, you do not send it on to others, but forward this information instead.

Please visit PhonepayPlus’ FAQs for useful information about how to recognise premium rate services and understand what they cost, and some simple tips to help you use services with confidence.

[Pinky 1]

This is an email i got from South Wales Police and the Community Messaging Service. Seems this scam just goes on and on ..............
........ and anyway, where did the South Wales Police get my email addy from ?



Subj: : South Wales Community Messaging - Ringmaster - POST OFFICE SCAM

Be Aware!

[POST OFFICE SCAM]
Postal and e mail scam


Dear Watch Member,

Can you circulate this around especially as Christmas is fast approaching.
The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam which has been confirmed by the Post Office.
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).
DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655.
For more information, see the Crime Stoppers website.
Reply using our website


KEEPING SOUTH WALES SAFE

[arnold cheshire]

ive just rung the number i cant wait for next months phone bill

[Broxi51]

ive just rung the number i cant wait for next months phone bill

Couldn't you reverse the charges

[DGP1]

ive just rung the number i cant wait for next months phone bill

Couldn't you reverse the charges

Can't you ring from work

[arnold cheshire]

this has been mentioned in previous years didnt they say theres no way they can charge more than £1.50 a minute? they cant charge £15 for a short call

[POSTMAN]

Apparently the calls gets redirected abroad.

[arnold cheshire]

Apparently the calls gets redirected abroad.

yes but im sure thats what they said all those numbers are redirected abroad

[johnsouthwales]

can't they just disconnect the main 0906 number? save a lot of bother