I phoned BT to question and complain about these numbers, they start with 0906 and 0909, because they were not numbers I have ever called and the charges were extremely high. They said 'someone' had used my dial-up while I was logged on!!! It doesn't make sense. They checked the origin of the numbers and one was Dixons and the other was based in Andorra. I have never phoned those numbers and I don't get what they mean about someone using my dial-up; perhaps I didn't understand. I said I couldn't afford to pay and BT said I had to pay as they calls had been made from here! They also said I should make sure I get internet security. It really doesn't seem fair that I have to pay for something I didn't use and what's to say this isn't going to occur with the next bill? BT did say that they would put a block on Premium Rate calls but that it isn't 100 per cent safe. They said I could complain to the ICSTIS if I wanted, whoever they are! I don't understand.
2006-07-08 05:55:56 · 9 answers · asked by Sophie 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
It is likely to have been caused by a trojan horse dialler. Run Spybot Search and Destroy, and Adaware, on your machine to get rid of it/them (both available free and can be found via Google) I think you can change your dialup setup to notify you if the number changes. More information is available here http://www2.bt.com/static/i/btretail/consumer/premiumrates/index.html
2006-07-08 06:12:35 · answer #1 · answered by Paul B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Last time I received my phone bill BT had charged me for 62 calls to a premium rate number and I know I'd only made about 3. I never complained 'cos I knew it would be of no use. BT make enough profits so why the need for this.
2016-03-26 21:38:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a dialler. I'm glad BT are barring Premium rate calls as a first step.
Download some antispyware and run them:
Spybot Search& Destroy - http://www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/
Adaware - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/
also install SpywareBlaster - it gives you some added protection against malicious sites etc. You don't need to do anything with this - just install it and update it regularly. Get it here -
http://www.filehippo.com/download_spywareblaster/
A more permanent solution is stopITnow! It monitors your dial up connection to the internet and automatically disconnects if something bad tries to dial a different number. It's not free but it is cheap. Get it here -
http://www.stopitnow.com.au/
2006-07-08 07:13:33 · answer #3 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to pay because you didn't protect your phone line sufficiently when using the net, it isn't B.T's fault you did not protect your p.c. it is yours, why should they have to pay because you didn't bother with security.
Harsh I know but it's well known this can happen & has been known for a long time.
ICSTIS is a watchdog that looks into complaints about the internet and OFCOM is for B.T complaints however they will only tell you that you didn't bother with p.c security so it is your fault & you will have to pay.
There is a lot of software out there that can help to stop this happening and it's been available for years now, download some before you get caught again and pay greater attention to your p.c security or you'll just get more and more problems
2006-07-08 06:08:18 · answer #4 · answered by madamspud169 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a terrible thing to happen,and unfortunately these big companies are not very sympathetic to these things.Sounds like your computer was infected with a trojan horse dialler.These programs infect your computer and when you connect to the internet,it dials these premium rate phone numbers,and you think you have only connected to your local internet provider.Im not sure if there is much you can do apart from trying to make sure that it doesnt happen again.Get some good anti virus prtection,or consider going onto broadband as i have found this safer personally.I wish you luck with your dilemma
2006-07-08 06:01:47 · answer #5 · answered by Mick H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had this problem and it was expensive, calls at £20+ each, I fixed it by the phone company barring premium rate numbers being dialled, they gave me a special code. My charges were incuured when companies phoned me, and blocked the line, i put the phone down, picked it up 5 minutes later and they were still there! Phone company didnt believe me and said that I must have been dialling out, which wasnt the case. The telecoms watch dogs were hopeless
2006-07-08 06:12:18 · answer #6 · answered by Nimbus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need good security for you internet. If you don't have security, people are able to log on using your internet (hack in) and dialling premium numbers is the easiest fraud that these hackers can do.
It can also be done via bluetooth on peoples mobiles.
No-one is safe anymore.
Secure your internet & don't leave your bluetooth on unless you are using it.
:-)
2006-07-08 06:03:31 · answer #7 · answered by MISS B.ITCH 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like a shock. I can empathise,because something similar happened to me.
Is it possible that someone else could have made the calls?
I suggest that you do complain to the ICSTIS. Good luck.
2006-07-08 06:05:16 · answer #8 · answered by Suzita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Download FREE AD-AWARE-SE from their website and run a scan... you may have what is called a "claria" virus type thing.. which changes your dial-up settings to call expensive numbers....
2006-07-08 06:09:03 · answer #9 · answered by paulrb8 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋