Renewed warning over scam '231' and '212' 'phone calls

A RENEWED appeal has been issued to the public to ignore phone calls from numbers beginning with 231, 212, 235 or 269.

The Connaught Telegraph's Facebook site attracted a huge response when it issued a warning to its readers yesterday about the scam.

People are advised to neither answer the call or ring back because it will cost them money.

Susan Prendergast told us: "I' got seven missed calls from these numbers yesterday, not to count the numerous times they have rang me previously.”

Ailish Brid Bourke stated she also got a call from the number yesterday.

“I heard of these scams before so I didn't answer. I hope nobody gets caught out.”

Cindy Guthrie told The Connaught Telegraph she got one call yesterday from a 231 number and a member of her family answered it.

“There was a young girl crying on the line. When we rang back, they took €19 of our credit.”

Eirin Foster said she received many of those calls over the past number of days, first started with 212 number and every second day it's 231 number.

“They ring very early in morning. I never answer,” she added.

On some calls the country from which it is originating shows up on screen. A call to a member of the staff of this newspaper showed that it originated from Liberia.

*See yesterday's post on our Facebook page for 394 comments on the matter so far.