load of bollocks or not?

[minimax]

just had this through email from H/O..someone seems to think it's serious but snopes draws a blank..is it possible to do that with a phone?

a suspiciously paranoid email said:

This is an URGENT WARNING received from HAMPSHIRE POLICE 18/01/06 Dear All, If you receive a phone call on your mobile from any person, saying that, he or she is a company engineer, or telling that they're checking your mobile line, and you have to press # 90 or #09 or any other number. End this call immediately without pressing any numbers. There is a fraud company using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can access your "SIM" card and make calls at your expense. Forward this message to as many friends as you can, to stop it. All mobile users pay attention if you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays (XALAN) on the screen don't answer the call, END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY, if you answer the call, your phone will be infected by a virus.. This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network. You will have to buy a new phone. This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia. PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVING A MOBILE.

it's the last sentence that raises my suspicions..

would anyone care to debunk it?

[Einion Yrth]

www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/jailcall.asp

[minimax]

hmm obviously I have to get the hang of searching on snopes!

[JonRB]

minimax said:

it's the last sentence that raises my suspicions..

Absolutely. Any entreaty to forward it just screams "hoax" to me.

[Kentish]

Sounds like a chain mail to me but as a general rule....

Never give out ANY information to ANYONE by phone or by e-mail unless you called or contacted them.

Basically don't trust anyone who cold calls.

[mph999]

a suspiciously paranoid email said:

This is an URGENT WARNING received from HAMPSHIRE POLICE 18/01/06 Dear All, If you receive a phone call on your mobile from any person, saying that, he or she is a company engineer, or telling that they're checking your mobile line, and you have to press # 90 or #09 or any other number. End this call immediately without pressing any numbers. There is a fraud company using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can access your "SIM" card and make calls at your expense. Forward this message to as many friends as you can, to stop it. All mobile users pay attention if you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays (XALAN) on the screen don't answer the call, END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY, if you answer the call, your phone will be infected by a virus.. This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network. You will have to buy a new phone. This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia. PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVING A MOBILE.

it's the last sentence that raises my suspicions..

would anyone care to debunk it? [/quote]

Yep, it's bo****ks - you cannot erase the IMEI from the phone in this way, and the SIM cards are protected. Put out purley to cause panic.

Martin

[vixpy1]

mph999 said:

purley to cause

Is that near Purley Cross?

[Mr E]

mph999 said:

Yep, it's bo****ks - you cannot erase the IMEI from the phone in this way, and the SIM cards are protected.

Word. Sim burners are rather expensive and tricky to come by. A phone simply does not have the ability to do it.

[groomi]

minimax said:

a suspiciously paranoid email said: This is an URGENT WARNING received from HAMPSHIRE POLICE 18/01/06 blah, blah, blah... PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVING A MOBILE. it's the last sentence that raises my suspicions.. would anyone care to debunk it?

It's the first sentence that tells me it's fake. Since when have the police taken to emailing warnings to us?