Just at the moment I logged into my terminal at the office, I received this e-mail:

Urgent Message from TELEKOM

To those who have a telekom home phone, please read. Here is the original text received from Telekom:

If you get a call from someone identifying himself as a phone technician performing a test, and this person asks you to touch nine(9), zero(0),hash sign (#) and then hang up… Please REFUSE TO DO SO!

By pushing 90#, you are giving the individual, who called you, access to your telephone line and allowing them to place a long distance call with the charges appearing on your telephone bill.

We were further informed that line scam has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons.

Please pass the word around.

This is not exactly a hoax, but I find it cute that people love to add spices to make it sounds more appealing to the reader. A quick check around Google reveals that this message have been circulating around since as early as 1997. Definitely NOT from Telekom Malaysia, and this “bug” usually only applies to offices or hotels that uses a PABX system (often they need to push 9 in order to dial an outside number).

Chances are it will not affect home landline and mobile phone users.

More info:
- #90 Phone Scam at Urban Legends Reference
- A user explaining this in a public forum

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