DO NOT RETURN MISSED CALLS STARTING 0709

A question about : DO NOT RETURN MISSED CALLS STARTING 0709

I received this warning today

We have been made aware of the following mobile phone scam:

A missed call will show on your mobile phone. The number is 0709 020 3840.
The last four numbers may vary, but the first four numbers remain the same.
If you call this number back, you will be charged Ј50.00 per minute. People
have complained about their phone bills once they have realised the cost of
the call, however this is completely legal. Please beware, do not call back
numbers beginning with 0709. We have been advised by BT & Vodafone Business
Solutions that this scam is true.

Please do not return any missed calls beginning with an 0709 prefix as you
will be liable for the cost of the call.

************************************************** ********************
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Best answers:

• No you won't. It's an urban myth. If you called BT yourself you would know.
• It is a scam, but who came up with Ј50/min?
  I also thought the max charge the "0709" / personal numbers regulator allows is about 50p/min. When my wife was in the hospital, the direct number to her bedside phone start with "0709". The "09" numbers are the one to avoid.
  Makes you wonder how much money the telephone operators have made with people calling up for clarification.
• Thanks for the warning.
  My Orange mobile has several times, over the past few weeks, has come up with a number (which I cannot remember) informing me I have missed 3 calls and to ring a particular number to retreive them.
  I just hit the delete button.
  Probably more out of luck than judgement.
• Orange have started a service when you have your mobile turned off and someone rings you, they will send you a free text saying that you have missed a call from a particular number. You may not recognise it because it is in the international form
  eg :+447973 123456
  would be: 07973 123456
  Try it yourself. Turn you phone off, ring your number with a different phone, turn your phone back on and wait. I'm not sure if it only mobiles that this is for or landlines as well. It took about 5 minutes to show up in a message. But I think the rule applies, if you don't know the number, don't ring it.
• You should be aware of any missed calls with an 070 code. Although these 'personal rate' numbers do not allow the end user to generate any income any more, businesses supplying these numbers can generate some income.
  All they do is supply the 070 number to themselves, make a quick call (so quick it is not answered). You then call them back and get put in a queing system!