BT pulls the plug on 1,000 rogue dialling lines

Since announcing a crackdown on rogue internet diallers BT has said it has blocked 1,000 numbers allegedly associated with the problem.

The telco was forced to take action three months ago after it was deluged with complaints from dial-up internet customers whose connections had been hijacked by malware on their PCs that diverted their usual connection to premium-rate lines.

Users often only realised the switch had been made after receiving a bill - some totalling hundreds of pounds instead of the expected flat rate.

BT said it has now dealt with 45,000 cases where customers have fallen foul of a rogue dialler, with a further 9,500 cases waiting to be resolved.

Generally the customer is asked to meet the full cost because BT has already paid the majority of the revenue to the company running the premium-rate lines before the customer receives their bill.

The telco has been working with the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (Icstis), which is responsible for regulating premium-rate services in the UK. In that time it has begun blocking internet traffic to both UK and international numbers it suspects of being used by a rogue dialler.

Icstis told vnunet.com that it was pleased BT was co-operating, but felt that all providers should be doing the same - and more.

"We have told the providers that there seems to be no reason for any of their customers to connect to the international numbers. Not one of these lines has registered with us [as Icstis rules require]," said an Icstis spokesman.

"Although we tell them of the rogue lines, these providers should be able to find them by monitoring an unusual amount of traffic and so should pull the plug on them immediately."

Gavin Patterson, group managing director of BT consumer and ventures, said in a statement: "BT is doing everything in its power to stop this menace.

"We have taken the decision to block numbers suspected of being associated with diallers as soon as we are alerted to a problem. We have offered free premium rate barring to all customers, and a removable bar for premium-rate and international calls for £1.75 a month.

"We have made it clear that we are not the ones profiteering from people's misfortune. In fact, we will continue to forego our share of the call revenue generated by these disputed calls."

See also:

BT cuts off rogue diallers

BT Modem Protection alerts users if modem dials an unauthorised number  16 Mar 2005

Watchdog issues porn dialler guidelines

Hang up on hackers  19 Oct 2004

Bugwatch: Trojan diallers on the loose

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to premium-rate dial-up scams  11 Aug 2004

Ofcom to review premium-rate rip offs

Watchdog could order crackdown on rogue diallers and mobile scams  04 Aug 2004

Watchdog cracks down on premium rate diallers

ICSTIS to license services following user backlash  16 Jul 2004

BT moves to block rogue diallers

But no joy for 19,000 customers disputing dialler-affected phone bills  29 Jun 2004

The perils of porn diallers

If your internet connection starts acting up, you may have unwittingly fallen prey to a porn dialler. Don't worry - Computeractive is here to help.  21 Oct 2003

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