0809, 0284 & 0876 number hoax
So-called warnings about numbers starting 0809, 0284 and 0876 have been circulating online for many years. Unfortunately, these warnings are nothing but pointless hoaxes that contain wildly inaccurate information and serve only to alarm people needlessly.
Typically a social media post or email will contain information about how it is 'dangerous' to call area codes 0809, 0284 or 0876 because they will be charged at £50 per minute or more. Often it will be falsely claimed that the warning has come from the Police, from BT or from Trading Standards.
These fake warning messages contain nothing but a lot of nonsense and should be deleted or ignored.
Example
The social media posts or emails typically say something like:
Do not dial area code 0809, 0284, and 0876 from the UK... They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. In each case, you are told to call the 0809 number right away. If you call from the UK, you will apparently be charged £100 per minute and you'll get a long recorded message.
If you receive this warning
These emails and Facebook posts are hoaxes. They are a poor copy of old chain emails from the United States, where the similar-looking but completely unrelated area codes 809, 284 and 876 are for international calls and get charged at a higher rate than normal calls.
You should ignore the advice given about these numbers and you should not share or forward the warning. However, it is worth being aware of the lower-cost scams that can take place using other numbers.
Should I be worried?
Ignore warnings about 0284, 0809 and 0876 codes. Numbers starting with 028 are normal landlines, while numbers starting with 0809 or 0876 do not even exist in the UK.
However, be sensible about calling back any number you don't recognise. Similar scams have been run using different numbers - although the charges involved are much, much lower.
What numbers are safe to call?
No numbers cost £50 per minute to call, but some cost a little more than a normal phone call. In particular, watch out for numbers starting 00, 070, 09 or 118.
Look up the first two digits of a phone number in the table below for general advice.
Where a number is classed as 'safe' it costs relatively little to call - usually under 25p per minute from a landline or 50p per minute from a mobile at most. It does not guarantee that calls to such numbers are included in free talk time or call allowances.
| 00 | Be aware | This is the code for dialling internationally. Most numbers are legitimate, but will cost more than a normal national call. |
| 01 02 03 | Safe | Normal landline numbers charged at standard rate. |
| 05 | Safe | Corporate numbers for business. |
| 070 | Caution | Personal numbers. Often legitimate, but aren't included in talktime and can cost much more to call than a mobile phone. |
| 071 072 073 074 075 | Safe | Mobile numbers. |
| 076 | Be aware | Mobile phones in Isle of Man and pagers. Mostly safe, but have been used for a few low-value scams in the past. |
| 077 078 079 | Safe | Mobile numbers. |
| 080 | Safe | Freephone numbers. |
| 084 087 | Be aware | Service numbers. Charges of up to 13p per minute and/or 13p per call, plus your phone company's access charge. |
| 09 | Caution | Service numbers. Charges of up to £3.60 per minute and/or £6.00 per call, plus your phone company's access charge. |
| 116 | Safe | Freephone special helplines. |
| 118 | Caution | Directory enquiries services. Often very expensive, especially if you choose to be put through to the company or person you're calling. |
