Stefania Moretti, CTV.ca News
Cellular customers who've registered their numbers for a type of
mobile-only "do not call" registry could soon discover they are the
victims of credit card fraud and possibly even identity theft, a
spokesperson from a major Canadian telecom company said.
The fraudulent emails claim that Telus recently announced all wireless
numbers were scheduled for distribution to telemarketers by the end of
the month.
Telus detected the emails Nov. 18, said Jim Johannsson, director of
media relations for Telus.
"There is no basis in fact about the rumour," Johannsson told CTV.ca on
Wednesday.
The sham letter warned mobile customers they would be charged for
incoming telemarketing calls, but that they could stop the calls simply
by registering over the phone at one of two numbers, or online.
"It will only take a minute of your time," wrote the fraudsters. It ends
by saying "Help others by passing this on to all your friends."
The website and first number listed are actually valid and direct
customers to Canada's National Do Not Call List.
The second number however, was flagged by Telus' security team as a
known telemarketing scam coming out of the U.S., Johannsson said.
"It has been connected to folks who collect credit card information and
sell phone lists to companies in the U.S."
The criminal operation may also be involved in identity theft, though
that is still unconfirmed, Johannsson said.
"The fact is that it's not legitimate and that means it's dangerous.
Customers should stay away," Johannsson said, adding dozens of similar
emails are circulating at any given time.
On top of the dangers associated with contacting the imitation number,
cell phone customers could very well incur charges simply for placing
the call -- depending on their plan, Johannsson said.
Telus originally sent out a press release to media outlets in B.C. and
Alberta, thinking the emails were contained to that area.
But thanks to email forwarding and the blogosphere, the fake notice has
spread to countless Canadians.
"Thanks for the info I had no clue about this I am so calling that
number," one Internet user posted on Yahoo! Answers in response to the
fake advisory nearly two months ago.
Telus has polled wireless customers in the past to gauge whether they'd
like their numbers distributed to telemarketers, Johannsson said. The
majority of responses were "no."
"We totally respect that," he said.
Thanks Gary
No comments:
Post a Comment