MEP takes fight against Internet dialler scams to European Commission

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th Jul 2004

Internet scams can cost users thousands.

Elspeth Attwooll, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, is taking the fight against Internet "dialler" scams to the European Commission. In a written question to the Commission, lodged today, Ms Attwooll asks what steps they intend to take to tackle this Europe wide problem.

Dialler scams happen when people have software downloaded onto their computers, without their knowledge, which allows companies to charge users via premium rate lines. The victims only find out about this when they receive their phone bills and discover they have been charged extortionate rates by their telephone companies for premium rate services they did not consent to.

Commenting on this problem, Ms Attwooll said:

"Concern has been raised within the industry that the recent European Directive on E-commerce, which liberalised the market and relaxed vetting standards, has facilitated these scams. This is why I am bringing this matter to the attention of the European Commission and publicly calling on them to take action. This is a Europe wide problem and needs a Europe wide solution.

"My colleagues, Robert Brown MSP and Norman Lamb MP, have raised the matter in Holyrood and Westminster respectively and I support their campaigns. But what concerns me is that no-one in the industry seems willing to take the steps to stamp this problem out. The telecommunications companies say it is a matter for Internet service providers, and ISPs say it is a matter for telecom companies. And all the while the premium rate line regulator, Icstis, being swamped with complaints. It is time for the European Commission to acknowledge this problem and work to stop the scams."

The full text of the written question is as follows:

Is the Commission aware of the current internet "scam" involving premium rate numbers, whereby software that allows companies to charge for content on their websites is automatically downloaded onto a PC, with the consumer later discovering that they have been charged extortionate rates for internet use by their telephone company, without even having viewed a premium rate website? Many consumers across the EU have found that this software, called "diallers", has been automatically downloaded onto their computer without their knowledge. There is concern that this widespread scam is being facilitated by Directive 00/31/EC on Electronic Commerce. Is the Commission taking any action to tackle this problem? If not, how does it intend to do so?