Last week, I wrote about the ICE idea, where it’s suggested that you prefix an entry on your mobile phone with ICE or "In Case of Emergency". That way authorities know who to contact if you’re involved in some kind of incident.
This is perfectly legitmate and you should do it, if you haven’t already.
But in a bizarre twist, hoaxers are trying to spread another rumour to the effect that prefixing an address with ICE will somehow empty your PAYG account. For example:
I have just received information from XXXXXXX Solicitors that there
is a new mobile phone scam concerning Pay as You Go (PAYG) Mobiles.
The
scam is that you are asked to set up an "In Case of Emergency (ICE) Account" on
your PAYG mobile.
Apparently this is a modular system that searches for
the word ICE text and then changes your phones setting and takes any PAYG credit
left on your phone.
Please ensure that this information is circulated to
all staff and please pass on to family and friends.
Source Hoax Slayer
I’ve seen similar mesages in chat rooms recirculating this kind of advice from CTOs of Global Banks.
It’s rubbish, of course. Pure and simple bollox. Ignore it and laugh hard in the face of anyone who tries to convince you and walk away shaking your head sadly.
I’ve been a proponent of an ICE-style “Emergency” number in my phone’s address book for years now, so I’ve happily changed it to “ICE”. But I haven’t seen anyone comment on its (purely low-level nuisance) downside. If, as in my case, your ICE number is also, say, your partner’s mobile number, the address book gets confused. When she rings me, I don’t get her name, image etc. like I do for everyone else, because it doesn’t know which entry to serve up - the “ICE” one, or the “Tamara” one. Fortunately, I know her phone number (I think….)
Jon