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

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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. +44 7438 510073 can anybody tell me if this uk number true or fake it is urgent

  2. +4407 9270 5003
    äp P lu s fo ur 4 ze ro 7 ni ne 2 7 z ero f-ive 0 z-ero 3

    They sent me a message on Airbnb, in this way for the system to not detect.

  3. Could please check this number claims captain of cruise ship +44 7405 308978

  4. Hi.. Please check me this no which is just friend with through FB & IG.. This man want to sent some gift (as what he said) so i need to check is this Nigar or scammer..
    +447 856 421703
    +447 424 975234
    +447 541 257845

  5. Hi please check this no, this girl wants to send me gift so i need to check it. Please tell me as soon as possible
    +44 7856 403139

  6. Somebody you only know online (you have not met in person) wants to send you something valuable, but first you need to make a payment to some third party? That’s the hallmark of a scam, with or without the +44 70 number!

  8. +44 121 3182023 can someone check for me the number if its for access reliance bank limited

  9. If you are asking about Reliance Bank, the Salvation Army Bank, they are based in London. +44 121 is a Birmingham number. But that is not really important: even if the number was in the right city, if you are told by some stranger to contact some bank to receive a huge amount of money, expect this to be a scam. There will always be a demand for an upfront payment that you supposedly will have to make before you can access the bank account. Google the name of the bank and you will most likely find a different website and different phone numbers from what you have been given.

  10. Hi team , I received a call from a lady telling that she is coming India to purchase fabrics 2 days ago… But I got call from a number today morning asking for payment of 135000rupees to register as she is carrying 5000 pounds which is huge amount claiming that they are calling from customs clearance department! As I did not get any valid reason thought it might be a scam… The land she chatting with +44 7459 590525 this number

  11. Добрый день. Убедительная просьба проверить номер +447999930733 . Спасибо.

  12. Please help, am from Papua new Guinea and this number unbox me on FBI +447721659268. Is a scam?

  13. See dis number had one widowed male
    His name is Paul Antony is number one frod . So don’t believe such kind of people anyone becarefull.
    See no one is there in dis world true so don’t believe such number calls n mages so note dis number
    447448024521 and is name Paul Antony

  14. 447448025421 his name Paul Antony is a number one froud in dis world so don’t believe him , he is flirter his trapping widowed women
    His target is only widowed women so don’t believe such kind of people
    Firstly he will make FB request n ofter dat he asking WhatsApp numbers for chatting ofter dat his will tell dat I will send gift for u ofter 2 days, he sent courier reciept also ,later one cal will comes the name of
    dalta courier express service company its located in New Delhi
    girl will Cal n ask us u one have a parcel from UK u hav to pay customs clearance fee 35000k like dat her name is madan sanchinta Sharma
    from dis 8130750981she will contact n infotming day dis is they were doing drama for cheating people im requesting u all don’t believe such kind of people….

  15. 447448025421 his name Paul Antony is a number one froud in dis world so don’t believe him , he is flirter his trapping widowed women
    His target is only widowed women so don’t believe such kind of people
    Firstly he will make FB request n ofter dat he asking WhatsApp numbers for chatting ofter dat his will tell dat I will send gift for u ofter 2 days, he sent courier reciept also ,later one cal will comes the name of
    dalta courier express service company its located in New Delhi
    girl will Cal n ask us u one have a parcel from UK u hav to pay customs clearance fee 35000k like dat her name is madan sanchinta Sharma
    from dis 8130750981she will contact n infotming day dis is they were doing drama for cheating people im requesting u all don’t believe such kind of people….

  16. Saya mendapat kiriman dari inggris dengan nomer telpon ++447752493602 nomer telpon logistics +447857619734 dari avent logistics,dan tracking number 3-1608212172 tapi saya tidak percaya dan saya mencari informasi dari teman di pemerintahan ternyata juga bilang itu penipuan.nama orang yang telpon saya.silva delalata de laurinete.silva tainara laurinete.

  18. +44774743987 name phillip minn tan. He admit singaporian raised in UK.
    can anyone tell me scammer or not

  19. Hi
    I also got scammed by this guy named mohamed aayan a pilot bruneian but grew up in london…what will happen if I don’t pay the custom clearance fee? He’s using someone else photos in instagram and it seem legit +447723543183

  21. This number is a scammer. +44 7537189904. He befriended me on instagram with an account Frankchong6 then pretend to be nice and friendly. then tried to pretend he has fallen in love with me. He refuses to do video calls, saying his camera is bad. He then proceeded to say his late father had worked for Petronas as a contractor, and he had died few years ago. Then he say, as his next of kin, he is going to Petronas to get a large sum of money which was not paid to his late father. So he goes there, and says he has to pay a 5% tax upfront before the money will be released to him. He says he has paid most of the money but needs 25K usd from me. he starts to beg and plead for help. when I refused to send the money, he got very angry and started shouting and saying vulgarities. His malaysian landline is +60 116237 6550. this just happened on 14 Jan 2020.

  22. My mother stays in south africa.
    We have a person calling her all the time from this number. +44 7452 268354.
    She is convinced that this guy is for real. And we are trying to help her out of tbis mess
    This person already asked for money 3 times.
    Please help us.

  23. Hello,
    I also got this number from suspicious person that confirmed himself as a distillery owner in Scotland, just wanna know if he is real or just a psycho scammer..
    +447452378950
    +447596075229

    please can you help me on this … thank you …

  24. Please check this if it’s genuine,+447435830946,thanks

  26. An e-mail offered me a Job factory. The operator’s name is Samantha. She gave me an instruction and website how to avail the European Pass Application.
    How can I identify if this is a scam?
    +447949711835

  27. An e-mail offered me a Job factory. The operator’s name is Samantha. She gave me an instruction and website how to avail the European. They also provide the name and bank account for payment. How will I know if this is scam.
    +447949711835

  28. If you’re asked to apply for a UK visa or work permit, that would always be done via the UK embassy in your country. If you are being asked to send money to the UK, then it’s definitely a scam.

  31. called by +447520642667. I suppose is total shit, can you check this!

  34. Can you check this number for me please.
    +44 7871 316155.

  35. Can i know if this is a scammer +44 7561 252740?

  36. This number chatted me up +447723704981 on messenger claiming to base at Georgia in USA please help me check for scam

  37. This number chatted me up +447723704981 on messenger claiming to base at California in USA please help me check for scammer

  39. who is that?
    +447427095959
    +447533270467
    +447729191589
    +447841537039
    I have problem with this number

  40. +447466413965
    +447721657144
    on messenger claiming to base at London in UK please help me check for scammer

  41. please confirm this number for me +447949711835.. This number was sent to me, for a job requirements and I was ask to send some money for document. Please help me check for scam

  42. Hello everyone, please help if you are in UK if this number’s owner is actually Ramond: +447451287041. He said he’s a Chinese born raised in UK and asking for my address to send over a gift. This sounds like a scam. Thank you!!

  44. who is operating this mobile no. +44 7405 783445 seems scam.
    just chat with me and asked to send some gifts for me . now disappear everything on Facebook and on whtsup also. can u.pl. check

  45. who is operating this mobile no. +44 7405 783445 seems scam.
    just chat with me and asked to send some gifts for me . now disappear everything on Facebook and on whtsup also. can u.pl. check

  46. Pretending to be others … Even real numbers are faked as callers
    +447449548083
    How to find out?

  47. This number. He says his name is Brian and he’s British and is a production engineer working on a submarine off the coast of Scotland. He has a british accent. I can’t figure out if he’s a scammer or not. He found me on Instagram and called me on Whats app. Number is +447440521612

  48. hello, can you please check this number if legit? +447537189214. he said is in need of au pair and willing to sponsor me to get in to UK and said it is his whatsapp number with the name “d primus woods”. hope to hear from you asap. thank you so much

  49. Can help me with this number +44 20 3504 0846…actually three days back I got a call from this number i didn’t pick up. Again I got a call and answered a man asking whether he is talking to me Or not I don’t know how he know my name. Today also I got a missed call from this number.. Can you please help if it is a scam or not?

  50. Pls look into this phone no.447387216283 is it scammer no.or else

    Thank you

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