Alarming New Hospital Phone Practice

Some time ago I wrote a Blog about a phone scam where you could be tricked into pressing a number when you receive a call which then connects you to a premium rate line. There are far worse ones that people have been warned about that hands over your phone to the caller in such a way that they can then make loads of International calls, premium rate calls etc. on your account and you may not find out about it for up to three months when your next bill arrives. It was with shock today that I leaned of a very dangerous practice that has started that could have very bad consequences.

My mother was telling me that this morning she received a phone call from someone with what sounded like an Australian accent. "Are you Mrs. xxx?" he said, "If you are press 1." Following instructions she pressed 1.

I was aghast at this. "I've told you, when you get a phone call from someone you don't know that tells you to press a number, don't do it." and explained why again. Anyway, she had pressed one and then heard "This is such and such hospital reminding you about your appointment tomorrow at such and such time. If you can't make it press...."

OK, so this time it was Innocent, but, after publicity of so many phone scams and now hospitals using auto dialing and messaging and being directed by a computer to press buttons before you even know who or what they are, there is a great danger of people, especially the old and vulnerable, falling foul of real phone scams again thinking they are official.

Not only that, but, evidently hospitals are doing this due to over booking to meet targets set by government. If you were to be out and miss the call, or worse, take the call and think it is a phone scam so put the phone down without pressing that button, you would be bumped of the queue, lose your appointment and have to start over again. One up to the hospital, it was your fault you lost your appointment so they meet their target and get their money.

Fraudsters, however, are quick off the mark and will very soon be taking advantage of this new practice.

"Hello, is that Mrs. xxx? If so press #4....."