An official at the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has confirmed that the telephone numbers involved in a phone sex scam were indeed issued to a Grenadian company which has a roaming arrangement with Verizon.
According to regulatory body, the company registered to use the 520 code is the St Andrew based aisle.com but the official explains that the scam don’t necessarily have to be one which directly involves the company.
“This company has a roaming arrangement with Verizon and it can involve clients of aisle.com,” said the official who wishes not to be identified.
Up to Monday Verizon was receiving complains about the calls which cost US$19.95 per minute. Last week the police departments across Utah began warning people not to answer calls from the 473 area code.
When they answer, they hear a commotion or sounds of moaning or someone in distress before the caller abruptly hangs up. Utah Department of Public Safety spokesman Dwayne Baird said residents were reporting that regardless of whether they call back, they’re getting a $19.95 charge immediately tacked on to their cell phone bill.
He said the scammers are able to use Utah’s basic cell phone information gathered when they answer to add the charge to the bill. Police said they didn’t know what was prompting the charges, but Fox 13 reported the number is linked to a phone sex business.
Two of the numbers from which calls originated are 473-520-9784 and 473 520 9734.
Although the scam was mainly reported to affect USA Verizon customers, telecommunications provider LIME also issued a warning to its cell phone customers about the scam. “An SMS is circulating, asking customers to call back on an international number. This message is a scam. Delete it and don’t call or click any of the links,” said the message from LIME.
by Linda Straker
