BBC news seems to be propagating a chain e-mail with obvious factual errors

BBC NEWS | England | Cumbria | Caution urged over delivery scam

Caution urged over delivery scam

Residents in Northumberland and Cumbria are being warned about a potentially costly parcel delivery scam.

Cards have been posted through doors suggesting a parcel could not be delivered and asking householders to call an 0906 number.

However' date=' once the recorded message has begun the caller has already been billed £15 for the call.

Officials say genuine parcel delivery companies do exist but people need to watch out for premium rate numbers.

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It's a good heads-up to warn anyone about ringing premium rate phone numbers. This scam has been around for a while. Why is the BBC wrong for advising people of it? :ne_nau:

Mo

It's a good heads-up to warn anyone about ringing premium rate phone numbers. This scam has been around for a while. Why is the BBC wrong for advising people of it? :ne_nau:

Because it's factually inaccurate - there's no premium rate number which will charge you

but it doesn't actually mention how long that premium rate call lasted. it's not impossible for it to have lasted 10 minutes

isn't this in the wrong place/forum?

but it doesn't actually mention how long that premium rate call lasted. it's not impossible for it to have lasted 10 minutes

However, once the recorded message has begun the caller has already been billed £15 for the call.

isn't this in the wrong place/forum?

Now there you have me I meant it to go in offtopic.

We've had this sent round at work twice this week by idiots.

There was a company trying this on but they closed years ago and the most expensive premium rate number costs £1.50 a minute.

This email claims that it's £15 immediately you make a call.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Parcel Delivery Service

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Parcel Delivery Service

http://www.icstis.org/pdfs_news/email.pdf

that'll learn me to actually read stuff, rather than skim over it...