Missed-Call Scam Hits Ireland

Tens of thousands of handset owners in Ireland have been targeted by an international missed-call scam over the weekend.

The scammers milked money from consumers by sending missed calls appearing as numbers from the 086 network but, when the phone owners returned the call, they were connected to a premium rate number in Slovenia. The missed calls were made to mobile phone numbers which were randomly generated by a computer and then machine-dialled. Returning the calls could be costly, as the connection charge is believed to be in excess of 2 euros, with similar rates for each additional minute spent on the line.

Ireland’s Commission for Communications Regulation has moved swiftly to block connections to the premium number from all Irish networks. It’s also working to ensure that the people behind the scam won’t be getting paid.

Victims are likely to be reimbursed by their providers for any charges incurred. Irish mobile users with 087 numbers were targeted by the scam.

Labour MEP for Munster, Phil Prendergast, says that more action is needed to ensure that the missed-call scam and similar activities won’t spread throughout Europe. Ms. Prendergast said that the European Commission should make it impossible to automatically redirect a national number to a premium line.