[jambutty]

With acknowledgment to the Bard.

Once upon a time those pre-recorded unwanted phone calls would ask the listener to ring a number to claim their prize or whatever. The number was always a high value premium number often not even in the UK. US mostly. Of course most people would put the phone down and carry on with their life. Sadly a few gullible people would fall for the scam and not find out until they get a hefty phone bill.

However there has been a change of tactic recently. You are no longer asked to ring a premium rate number. Instead you are asked to press 0 or 9 or some other number to claim your holiday or prize or whatever.

Now what’s the betting that pressing the required number automatically connects you to a premium number line where you will be kept connected for several minutes? I have not tried to find out if my theory is correct or not because I have no intention of giving some of my meagre funds to someone else.

In the first instance I blame BT for allowing these premium rate numbers. In the second instance Ofcom for not taking action to stop the use. I suppose that the government also bears some responsibility as well.

So beware if you get one of those pre-recorded calls. That innocent “please press 9 etc” could cost you dear.