From Roger Willcocks
Knebworth, Hertfordshire
The “♯90” fraud may be an urban legend as told, but it’s related to a real one
(Feedback, 8 December).
The US phone company AT&T warns its mobile
subscribers at www.att.com/fraud/home.html that they may receive an automated
message promising they have won a prize. The message directs them to dial a
two-digit code preceded or followed by the * or ♯ key
(such as *79 or 72♯), and then an “800 number” to claim a prize.
When they dial the number, though, they program their telephone to forward
calls to a long-distance operator. Con artists can then call their number, be
forwarded to the long-distance operator and place calls that are billed to their
telephone number. All mobile users are advised to find out what forwarding code
their network uses, and not dial it.
