| READERS
LETTERS |
Typical of an MP to alert people to a scam a good time
after the scam has been exploded as a myth.
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/press9.html
http://www.icstis.org.uk/icstis2002/default.asp?node=-1
£20 Per Minute Telephone 'Scam' - An Urban Myth
Over the last few days ICSTIS has received hundreds of enquiries about the above 'scam',
which is being widely publicised by e-mail. To help us put an end to the current spate of
enquiries, please pass this information on to all contacts.
The apparent 'deception' takes place when people receive a recorded message informing them
that they have won an all-expenses paid holiday and are asked to press 9 to hear further
details. It is then claimed that callers are connected to a £20.00 per minute premium
rate line that will still charge them for a minimum of five minutes even if they
disconnect immediately. It is also claimed that, if callers stay connected, the entire
message lasts for approximately 11 minutes, costing £220.00. Please note this is not
true.
A £20.00 per minute premium rate tariff does not exist - the highest premium rate tariff
available is £1.50 per minute. Despite the hundreds of enquiries received by ICSTIS about
this 'scam' (and most have heard about it second or third-hand), not one person who claims
that it has actually happened to them has been able to produce a phone bill to
support their story.
ICSTIS urges any individual or organisation that receives an e-mail about this scam to
delete it immediately. Please do not forward it on to others.
Still with the tory's waning in the popularity polls again I suppose any publicity, even
if it makes the old MP look like a gullible fool who might now have a few probs backing up
his claim to having had a call himself:-) Another Jeff Archer in the making:-)?
Name Withheld
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| BROADBAND UPDATE |
Its less than a month away before individuals
and businesses in Sheringham, Upper Sheringham, Beeston Regis and parts of West Beckham,
can have Broadband Internet Access via a standard BT phone line. From the 11th February
the service will be available, so if you want broadband as soon as it arrives, now is the
time to be thinking about which Internet Service Provider to choose and making contact to
find out what they offer as part of their package.
For a home user AOL's Broadband services did well recently in a national review and has
systems to help filter out unsolicited email as well as parental controls to help
youngsters surf the internet safely.
Woolworths in Sheringham has some sign up CD disks on their counters. However, when we
last checked the special offers mentioned with the disk expired on the 31st of December
last year. BT did significantly less well, particularly in terms of customer
service, but tends to be a popular choice as people know the name.
A national company called Tiscali are offering cut down version of broadband from £15.99
per month, however, they aren't as fast as real broadband, the £15.99 service operate at
150kb/s rather than 512kb/s. Make sure you know what you are buying before signing up.
Tiscali didn't do particularly well in the recent OFCOM survey.
As you will remember from earlier articles in at-Sheringham you should have a firewall in
place on your PC, particularly when running broadband. With out a firewall you are at risk
of having your computer(s) attacked and disabled or worse information from your computer
being sent to parties without your knowledge. For more information on this look at
http://www.zonelabs.co.uk. Some of the providers above provide a free software firewall
with their broadband package.
If you need any help or advice about purchasing your broadband connection local Internet
provider Paston Chase have offered to help and can be contacted on 01603 502061. |
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