People are receiving calls from a ‘representative’ of BT, informing them that they were  disconnecting the line because of an unpaid bill. In one such case the representative demanded immediate payment of £31.00 or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later date. The guy wasn’t even fazed when one subscriber told him that he was with Virgin Media as allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
The representative gives a very English name “John Peacock” but with a very ‘African’ accent – & phone number – 0800 800 152 (which turns out to be unobtainable).
Many people query the veracity of the statement and so John Peacock offers to demonstrate that he is from BT. The subscriber is told to hang up & try phoning someone – and he would disconnect the phone to prevent this and he does !
The phone then goes dead- no engaged tone, nothing – and then he phones again.
Very pleased with himself, he asks if it is enough proof that he was with BT. When asked  how the payment was to be made and he offers to take credit card details there and then.
How’s it done: the cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can’t dial out – but he can hear you trying (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back.
The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.
Incidentally this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services – it is all about getting the credit card details including the security number so that it can be used for far larger purchases later.