Nine people have been arrested over a complicated digital crime involving fraudulently-bought smartphones and premium rate phone numbers, according to City of London police.The scheme started with gang members buying iPhones and other handsets in stores and online using fake identities, so that they could ring up bills without being traced.
The SIM cards from the phones were used 24/7 to call international premium line telephone numbers costing up to £10 a minute that had been set-up by the same criminal gang, the police said.
The gang would then collect the money racked up through the premium rate number, and officers involved in the case said the syndicate was making more money by the day.
The police were only alerted to the problem when O2 went to them after suffering heavy losses from having to pick up the tab. The BBC reported that O2 lost £1.2 million in July alone, although the company told PC Pro it did not recognise the figures quoted.
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Topic: Nine arrested in iPhone premium rate fraud (Read 1411 times)