Dial +44 70 (UK number) for international online fraud

A few years ago I created the Scam-O-Matic (www.scamomatic.com), a website that every month has helped thousands of people worldwide by automatically diagnosing online fraud emails that people have submitted to it. Scamomatic.com recognizes fake lotteries, “dead customer” scams, “dying widow” scams and many other common formats from scammers from Nigeria that you may have seen in your inbox before. Even when it can’t pinpoint the exact type of scam, it often recognizes it as a generic scam format, largely thanks to the presence in the email of UK phone numbers that start with +44 70. These numbers are everywhere in Nigerian online scams, regardless of the precise scam format. The +44 70 prefix might as well be called the country code of Nigerian scammers.

If you receive any email that mentions any +4470 phone number, do not reply to it! You can submit the body of any suspicious email message to www.scamomatic.com for instant feedback about what kind of scam it might be.

These +4470 numbers are a gift to online scammers by British phone regulators. They are primarily owned by obscure British phone companies offering an anonymous call forwarding service. The economic model of these services is simple: The caller dials a rather expensive UK number and the UK service provider forwards the incoming call to a somewhat less expensive to call international number (for example a Nigerian mobile phone, which remains hidden from the caller), pocketing the difference between the call rates. For example, the caller might pay 50 cents per minute to call a +44 70 number and the call will then be forwarded to a Nigerian mobile phone that costs 25 cents per minute, leaving 25 cents per minute as a net margin for the service operator. The more successful the scammers are, the more money the phone company makes. Who ever said crime doesn’t pay?

These UK phone numbers are very attractive to scammers: When people can be made to believe that they are dealing with a bank, lawyer or government official in London, UK when they’re actually talking to a scammer on his cell phone in an Internet cafe in Lagos, Nigeria then they are much more easily defrauded by criminals.

As far as I can tell these numbers aren’t really being used for any other purpose than to enable international online crimes to be committed. In some nine years of tracking Nigerian scam emails, I have yet to come across a single legitimate user of a +44 70 number. I really don’t understand why the British government has allowed those services to continue to operate.

Now, of course the service operators can claim that they don’t know that their services are being used for criminal purposes unless someone tells them about it. On the other hand, they are not exactly making it easy to report abuse and the high prices of these services means that it’s unlikely that they’ll get much legitimate use, if any.

There are several ways to curb abuse, other than suspending +44 70 numbers altogether and I would encourage the UK government to seriously consider them:

  • The UK regulators could make it a requirement that calls via this service either originate in the UK or terminate in the UK, i.e. to prevent unrestricted global relaying, with say calls from India or the US being forwarded to Nigeria or Côte d’Ivoire.
  • The UK regulators could require service providers to announce the country name of the phone number to which the call is being forwarded if the destination number is not a UK number.
  • The UK regulators could require service providers to block forwarding to mobile phone numbers in certain countries, e.g. Nigeria

Below is a sample list of +44 70 numbers that appeared in Nigerian scams reported to Scam-O-Matic over the course of the last seven days. These roughly 60 phone numbers per day are only the tip of the iceberg:

+447005801505
+447005802020
+447005810692
+447005934945
+447005942459
+447005963237
+447005977097
+447006001100
+447006002121
+447006002413
+447006029116
+447006062478
+447010023307
+447010027439
+447010027978
+447010027983
+447010028455
+447010030769
+447010285923
+447010306559
+447010476294
+447010786457
+447011120379
+447011120510
+447011120524
+447011121450
+447011121596
+447011128170
+447011129280
+447011129286
+447011129446
+447011130062
+447011130670
+447011130769
+447011131077
+447011131152
+447011133259
+447011140499
+447011140945
+447011140989
+447011146747
+447011146830
+447011147295
+447011149054
+447011152991
+447011153129
+447011162749
+447011163186
+447011163846
+447011164243
+447011182522
+447011183455
+447011184113
+447011196412
+447011197245
+447011197787
+447014225697
+447014232391
+447014232411
+447014232442
+447014236733
+447014244984
+447014275175
+447014275728
+447017026507
+447017430128
+447017769494
+447017848035
+447023011587
+447023056559
+447023058575
+447023069806
+447023086665
+447023087509
+447023092593
+447024010876
+447024010915
+447024011554
+447024012660
+447024013770
+447024014859
+447024016712
+447024017968
+447024018504
+447024018707
+447024018725
+447024018963
+447024019584
+447024019588
+447024021204
+447024021389
+447024023138
+447024023643
+447024024530
+447024024914
+447024024938
+447024025942
+447024028606
+447024029852
+447024032255
+447024033542
+447024034362
+447024034768
+447024035958
+447024036606
+447024037907
+447024038051
+447024038950
+447024041571
+447024041989
+447024042397
+447024043571
+447024045842
+447024046548
+447024047607
+447024047708
+447024051081
+447024051604
+447024053655
+447024054764
+447024056650
+447024056684
+447024057656
+447024057695
+447024059725
+447024061362
+447024061659
+447024061805
+447024062162
+447024063633
+447024063645
+447024064180
+447024065549
+447024066713
+447024066858
+447024067752
+447024068617
+447024069933
+447024070671
+447024071597
+447024071804
+447024071867
+447024072603
+447024072995
+447024073988
+447024074220
+447024074568
+447024074742
+447024075722
+447024075954
+447024077025
+447024078351
+447024079530
+447024079908
+447024080526
+447024080571
+447024080634
+447024082668
+447024082680
+447024082728
+447024083093
+447024083705
+447024084762
+447024084918
+447024084994
+447024086967
+447024087401
+447024087599
+447024087905
+447024091678
+447024091701
+447024091706
+447024092775
+447024092795
+447024092863
+447024095774
+447024095778
+447024095878
+447024096802
+447024096869
+447024097854
+447024098802
+447024098874
+447024099606
+447031740924
+447031742574
+447031744227
+447031744980
+447031744994
+447031745967
+447031746067
+447031746887
+447031747046
+447031747509
+447031749721
+447031801246
+447031801866
+447031803498
+447031803820
+447031808512
+447031809778
+447031814575
+447031814720
+447031815436
+447031816735
+447031818230
+447031821851
+447031822608
+447031823431
+447031824330
+447031825003
+447031826670
+447031830878
+447031833248
+447031833760
+447031834660
+447031835615
+447031835762
+447031837227
+447031843396
+447031844360
+447031845639
+447031846542
+447031850801
+447031851126
+447031855107
+447031855527
+447031858919
+447031859268
+447031859327
+447031859972
+447031861174
+447031861534
+447031865718
+447031877392
+447031877975
+447031880502
+447031885537
+447031890014
+447031891762
+447031894541
+447031898197
+447031903871
+447031906765
+447031908701
+447031909751
+447031911974
+447031913322
+447031915331
+447031918554
+447031918592
+447031918698
+447031918840
+447031920863
+447031928723
+447031930960
+447031931805
+447031934581
+447031938867
+447031940670
+4470319419882
+447031943771
+447031954666
+447031956661
+447031958680
+447031960513
+447031964131
+447031971731
+447031971766
+447031972833
+447031972850
+447031973785
+447031974969
+447031978795
+447031979858
+447031982694
+447031983660
+447031983882
+447031984862
+447031988864
+447031993596
+447031993967
+447031996818
+447032334576
+447035900183
+447035900344
+447035900914
+447035901588
+447035902188
+447035902683
+447035910276
+447035911140
+447035912873
+447035913994
+447035915768
+447035922616
+447035923742
+447035924448
+447035927916
+447035928180
+447035931142
+447035937446
+447035939194
+447035939320
+447035940617
+447035944729
+447035944779
+447035947431
+447035950853
+447035951254
+447035951405
+447035954295
+447035955376
+447035956312
+447035959966
+447035960942
+447035965038
+447035966176
+447035966188
+447035966289
+447035966480
+447035968588
+447035969249
+447035969496
+447035969754
+447035969801
+447035969823
+447035972572
+447035973164
+447035973821
+447035977317
+447035978042
+447035978343
+447035978550
+447035983963
+447035988651
+447035988847
+447035989086
+447035992118
+447035996148
+447035997215
+447035997533
+447035998886
+447035999080
+447040110515
+447041743214
+447045702581
+447045704323
+447045704570
+447045705126
+447045705374
+447045706975
+447045707234
+447045707660
+447045708253
+447045709129
+447045709292
+447045710531
+447045710917
+447045711325
+447045712243
+447045712434
+447045712662
+447045712816
+447045712993
+447045713815
+447045714219
+447045719541
+447045720546
+447045721125
+447045721617
+447045722125
+447045724094
+447045725176
+447045727388
+447045729804
+447045733035
+447045733518
+447045736862
+447045742669
+447045743467
+447045747569
+447045748609
+447045754338
+447045759317
+447045767521
+447045768060
+447045770961
+447045776356
+447045780693
+447045782120
+447045783777
+447045785147
+447045785239
+447045790181
+447045791709
+447045795051
+447045798638
+447045799030
+447053491702
+447053492393
+447075158182
+447092849621
+447092861761
+447092864823
+447092980578
+447092981646
+447092981769
+447092982175

887 thoughts on “Dial +44 70 (UK number) for international online fraud

  1. “Dr Donald” (ahospital661@gmail.com) sent the following scam email from IP 223.227.109.50 in India:
    ====
    We are urgently in need of kidney donor in a very good health condition for the sum of $470,000,00 and we will take properly care of the donor doling the whole process, here you can contact us via email address: ahospital661@gmail.com or phone number-+919677345881 by name Dr Donald Moore.
    ====
    BEWARE, THIS IS A FRAUD!

  2. Do you know Helen Patrick with lawyer mr. Dallas?
    Mrs Patrick is in a hospital.
    She offered $2700000 to get from a Los Angeles bank OneWest.
    From her late husband.

  3. I have a friend on Facebook his name was Aurel boian his chat with me on wattsapp +447758158689 one day he tell me he send a gift for me after that I received a call from 918377866260 they want money from me because they said that in your parcel they find money my friend forced me send them money I send them sixteen lakh but there was no parcel I am sure that my friend is a partner of the scammers pls help me thankyou

  4. Arjsto Jager,

    That sounds exactly like the “Dying Widow” scam. You will be told that she has passed away (either by her fake lawyer or her fake doctor). Then there will be money to be paid for legal fees, inheritance taxes, etc. Since the fortune doesn’t even exist and it’s all fake, even if you send money, no money will ever be sent your way. It’s a scam.

  5. Hello Surinder,

    Yes, your Facebook “friend” is one of the scammers. You can report the scam to the police, though it’s unlikely they’ll investigate much. You can report the Facebook account of the scammer to Facebook so it will be shut down.

  6. Me llegó un correo electrónico que me ofrecen un trabajo para trabajar como marino en una empresa delta marine ltda con un sueldo de 4.000 libras mensuales y me solicitan mucha información mia
    Firmada por un señor Denis paine director de reclutamiento offshore
    No existe visible esta empresa y he tratado de llamar al +44 703 1980 669 y este teléfono es un fraude Dejo esto para aquel que pudiese caer en lo mismo este prevenido

    (Google Translate, JW:
    I received an email that offered me a job to work as a marine in a delta marine ltda company with a salary of 4,000 pounds a month and they ask me for a lot of information
    Signed by a Mr. Denis Paine director of offshore recruitment
    There is no visible this company and I have tried to call +44 703 1980 669 and this phone is a fraud I leave this to anyone who could fall prey to the same)

  7. This guy is from London City…+447729931724,name Tony Olive…when I talked to him it sound not like British..its look like an indian or negarian..if he do video call I can’t see him because he told me that it is not allowed in his country and he is only can see me..pls help me to confirm if he is belong to a scammer..

  8. Just this morning Feb.1,2018 at 10:40am I received a text message from +447839757876 giving # for my Facebook password reset code. I’m not familiar with this number that’s why I use google to help me identify this number. Beware of Scammer!!!

  9. I keep on getting a telephone call from +44 22 0319 0706 on my cell +27 7988 222 31 and I am getting worried

  10. Hi there, there is another young lady giving this number ‭+44 70 1004 1660‬ in her email to me, and I’m checking with it, I need to know if this number belongs to scammers. Thanks for your feed back

  11. Hello joe,

    I just read the comment from Ms Grace posted on 14 Jan 2018 at 23:12.

    Recently I have been chatting with a guy whose cell phone no. is exactly the same as Grace mentioned. +44 7752 652283

    Don’t know if he is a scammer or not.
    And the photos and name appeared on “his” Facebook… I doubt they don’t truly belong to “him”, but just were stolen from another victim.

    Actually I also want to have a chat with Ms Grace.. to see if she is also under the similar situation as mine.

    Thanks joe!

    Phoenix

  12. Hello joe,

    I just read the comment from Ms Grace posted on *24 Jan 2018 at 23:12.
    *(Sorry should be 24 Jan, I had a typo in my first post.)

    Recently I have been chatting with a guy whose cell phone no. is exactly the same as Grace mentioned. +44 7752 652283

    Don’t know if he is a scammer or not.
    And the photos and name appeared on “his” Facebook… I doubt they don’t truly belong to “him”, but just were stolen from another victim.

    Actually I also want to have a chat with Ms Grace.. to see if she is also under the similar situation as mine.

    Thanks joe!

    Phoenix

  13. Hi I want to know what is address of my Facebook friend Aurel boian I want his mobile number

  14. I got a blank whatsapp message from this number:

    +44 7946 474352

    Can anyone please enlighten me whether this is also a fraudulent number.

    I’m resident in Sydney, Australia.

  15. Is this number from scameers…
    She told me that she will come to my country next month for a job with Malaysia airlines…
    44 703 188 7592

  16. I got a call form this number ‭+44 7596 811710 and this is about next of Kin for calming the amount from UK.

    Please advice is it a scam?

  17. I sm taking to this guy name Danny smith I know he is a scamer #+447424671463

  18. From the number 00 44 777 042 42 90 – I just got a strange email on the phone which I wrote below and I am asking for an answer if someone comes in contact with this phone number and with similar content;;

      COMPLETE: its been signed of 2852.62 waiting, for the accident you have to fill your bank. Now fill out http://claiminone.click/?=7011103

  19. ‭+44 7555 694696‬ I have got a message from this number saying some claim money is ready to collect and could I possibly send my bank details.. Yea right!!!!!! 😜😜😜😜. How the hell do they get numbers..???

  20. Hi,I got chatting with a lady picture o. Facebook.So she said she wanted me to download qq app on my iPhone.I told her I used android phone,she said she was going to send me iphone & Laptop.According to her she said she sent it today via British airway cargo.Pls help me check.Her name on facebook is Anita Steven,phone number
    +44 70 8820 9663.

  21. Peter,

    If they use a +44 70 number and claim to be in Britain then it’s a scam. These numbers are for worldwide call forwarding at the expense of the caller. Basically there’s no point using such a number to receive calls unless you’re outside the UK.

  22. Hey.

    I have been writen and talken to a guy via fb Howard Glenn he said he is from UK, he don’t want me to call him? I have seen pictures but i have doubts that it is him? I have sent him 16.000USD because he was in trouble. He’s number is 447564395847
    Is this a scammer??

    Connie

  23. Most likely yes, he’s a scammer. Anything involving large amounts of money to be sent to strangers that you only know via the internet and have never personally met is likely to be a scam.

    Is this the Facebook profile of that person?
    https://www.facebook.com/Howard.glenn900

    A few other details about the Facebook profile: Notice that the profile is misconfigured, with the sex set to female (“To see what she shares with friends, send her a friend request.”)! Also, the cover photo with the bicycle trailer and the kid was not taken in the UK. The cars on the bridge in the background drive on the right (like in the US) and the single rear light on the bike trailer is on the left, also suggesting it’s being used in a country where people (unlike in Britain) drive on the right hand side of the road.

  24. I have been getting calls on my mobile from these numbers. They hang-up or don’t say anything. I do not try to call back. I’m based in Singapore.
    The numbers are:
    +44 20 3905 8431 (on Wed, 21 Mar, 2018)
    +44 20 3346 0348 (on Tue, 20 Mar, 2018)
    +44 20 3074 4951 (on Mon, 19 Mar, 2018)

    Are these scam numbers?

  25. +44 70 1193 2731
    Please add this too, this number solicit phishing by mentioning credit card usage. location S.E ASIA.

  26. Hi Joe, like Grace I have got contacted by this number +44 7752 652283, wanting to be in a relationship, but nothing about money yet. Is this too good to be true? Scam waiting to happen?

  27. In addition to that, he calls himself Hilary Wong on instagram, instagram name is hilarywong0

  28. Helpneed,

    If they don’t ask for money immediately, that unfortunately is no sign of the person being genuine. I have come across scams where emails were exchanged for as long as SIX MONTHS before the first money demand was made! But then they asked for thousands of dollars 🙁 Be extremely careful with anyone you have not met in real life. The internet and mobile phones make it virtually impossible to trace a person after a fraud has been committed. It’s very easy for them to operate under an assumed identity.

  29. Hi, Joe
    I know someone from Muslima App. He said he is from UK. He called me by voice call only for several times, but he never ask for money. I just wanna know he is scamer or not. This is his number +44 7592 421528 and he said that his name is Hosayn.

  30. Oh my God that’s true this is frod thank God I check feak phon no..DANSKE Bank (UK)
    Plc 75 King William Street,
    London EC4N 7DT
    United Kingdom

    SWIFT/BIC: DABAGB2L

    Tel: +44 203-095-4718
    Tel: +44 203-322-6170
    Fax: +44 701-004-3196
    EMAIL: info@dnskebn.com

    .in this website

  31. Thanks for info. I also almost be a victim Of scamer. I remove the number but it start from +477…

  32. i got phone no#447784013091 , he said that he stayed at Guangzhou China. He still didnt ask for anything from me and according from voice call he has a good english,looks like a british man. Is he scammer or not?

    warmest regards
    Erna

  33. +44 7404 622949 beware of this no I think this person is fraud he is in Facebook and his name is Anthony Cullen pretending as dental surgeon first he make friendship on Facebook the he wants your what’s app no after he start appreciating you make you godess of beauty also share pics of his family after sometime start sex talk wants your nude pics and also wants to share his own nude pics to you wants your full address I think for black mailing purpose and never receive your your video call.

  34. help me identify this two numbers +447435830753 and+447501128035

  35. i know a guy named Marcus through tinder(tinder account name: jamie) who said he come from uk, is an architect and own a company called G blossom consult limited, he talk to me for a month and said he will come to HK to meet me and plan to move permanently, but 2 days before he came, he said he had a project in india and has error.So he went to india, then ask for help, the compensation fee was 497000 usd. i talk to him for 2 months more. He insists he was real and can not leave india, after 2 months, he said if i dont send him the money, dont talk to him again. there is no registration information in company house uk. you can not find his name in architect, ARB website in uk, his friend David Ching was mentioned by others too. from what he said finanlly i can sure that he is lying and hurts girls thoroughly. what all he said sounds so real. he use wechat and whatsapp.

  36. this guy said he send me parcel WITH LARGE AMOUND and i have to pay so i can received it. no worries my husband already reported his friend from US to north way finding this guy. GOODLUCK MAN

    +447751660301

  37. thankful i did not pay for it cos who crazy man will send you large amount of money. so stupid!

  38. +447480054302 is a scammer’s mobile. I know him through Tinder, Tinder account name is Jamie, he said his name is Marcus, full name Mason Jamie, came from Manchester in the UK. He said his is an architect and own a company G_Blossom Consult Ltd. I talk to him for a month, what he said sounds so sweet and real and will come to HK in March, suddenly just 2 days before he came, he said there is an error in a contract job in India, so he went to India instead. Then ask for help due to the compensation fee is 49,7000 usd. He ask me for $2,0000 usd. After research, there is no such architect in ARB website UK, no registration info in company house UK and no company website. His co partner is David Ching and Grey Trevor, Grey even send me 3 company certificates, company registration number 75330923, I verified with company house, the company is non exist in the past 20 years the whole UK. Despite all the facts, I want to trust him and tortured & worry about him for more than 3 months. In Late May, he said if i do not send money to him, don’t talk to him any more. And I see anther Tinder account: Edward yesterday is using his picture. So the fact is clear, they are a group crime, create different accounts to continue to cheat on girls, and maybe using fake GPS app to show the distance, the group is using a handsome Chinese face and his video, for whom looks like an angel but actually is an evil and just want to get money, please do not send any money to strangers not meet in person.

  39. Hi! I want report a new one; Daniel Ethan as petroleum saler ftom UK…telefonnumber 0447564395847…the same as Connie Ehlers Pedersen 18-03-19 reported…
    His covers like widow and har 2 kids…living in UK…
    Be careful with these layers and cheater…criminals!
    Thank you Joe🌹👍🙏

  40. Please don’t tell me I have been scammed. This is the number +447480039160. Said his name is Alex. Alex Wilson from the site he sent. I met him through Tinder, he sent a parcel for me, and I borrowed money for the delivery to Lagos. Now he no longer replies my chat nor does the so called delivery company representative. I don’t know what to do again. I’m finished. I feel so terrible right now.

  41. I also get called by an number that strats with +44 but everytime they call they have a different number. One time i picked up and they knew my name. How do they come to that information pls help.

  42. The phone companies ahould be held accountable. They provide the platform making it easy for scammers and profit of it aswell.

  43. +447480054302 is a scammer’s mobile. I know him through Tinder, Tinder account name is Gareth. He said he is B.B.C. came from Manchester in the UK. He said his is an architect and own a company G_Blossom Consult Ltd. I talked to him for almost a month, what he said sounds so sweet and real and will come to Taiwan to celebrate my birthday, suddenly just 2 days before he came, he said there was an error in a contracted job in India, so he went to India instead. Then ask for help due to the compensation fee is 20,000 USD. Luckly, I saw a comment posted here. The scamming model is as same as I met. I would like to remind every single or divorced woman in Asia that please be careful of that guy. He looks like a model and very handsome which could catch your eyes easily. He always changed his name in different cases. the group is using a handsome Chinese face and his video, for whom looks like an angel but actually is an evil and just want to get money, please do not send any money to strangers not meet in person.

  44. +447934774862, china man,send parcel to me and said he will put inside a lot of money in parcel.after that need paid a lot of money when received the parcel.
    shipper address:1st floor,184-192 drummond st,kings cross,london nw1 3hp,uk

  45. message from shipper.
    The receiver of this parcel MUST pay the sum of this RM2,800 for duty import because of the weight, before we deliver to the final destination. NOTE: There must be no illegal, harmful object or anything against our polices else it attracts penalties. Receiver must be set to receive at stated date, else charges for delay might be applied. Kindly contact us at info@easywaylinkcourier.com for inquiry and confirmation of payment.

  46. Hi, Joe,

    Could you contact with Wendy who posted a message here on May 25, 2018? I think we met the same guy. I want to share his pictures to Wendy to confirm it. Hope you can help me to connect with her. Many thanks in advance.

  47. hello,
    i get number from one who is investor is there any chance to check if it is scamer
    last week i was scemed i dont want be again
    this is number:+447917797103

    thank u anyway

  48. hi datatrix i had a similar instance stating he is the middleman or broker .
    can we link up with each other ?

  49. I need your help i met a guy who say he staying in london .. After few days passed away he came india to meet me then he stuck in mumbai airport due to he lost his yellow card .. He asked me for paying money .. And his number is still working which start from +447768…. If he is in india how can his number rang ..

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