If you are called by a scammer and asked to press a button (eg press 1 to...) it is impossible for you to be charged a premium rate call.
Many said they were worried about this, having had similar calls to the HMRC scam one I tweeted about yesterday. So I wanted to clear it up (and I've double checked with Ofgem).
However if you call them, or if you click to call back after they've left a voicemail or from a missed call, you may be charged a premium rate. So the best thing if you're in any doubt is exercise caution and not engage.
Frankly anyone calling you out of the blue to tell you you must take urgent or secret financial (or tech) action is almost certainly a criminal scammer (common ones are from HMRC, Microsoft, delivery firms, NHS). Be very wary.
Any reputable organisation will have a way you can contact them (find their number independently, don't use one from the potential scam call) to check if the call is real, if you're worried.
These people are clever, nasty, conscience-less criminals who prey on inattention, fear and vulnerability. The sooner laws are tightened to stop them having access to mass calling, and social media sites, the better.
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