DEAD NASTY; Conmen fleece mobile phone users with fake funeral texts.

Byline: BY GARY ANDERSON 

SICK phone scammers have been trying to rip off Irish mobile users with premium rate messages about a fake funeral, it emerged yesterday.

The crooks send out random texts with the details of a fictitious removal service and funeral mass details.

They hope to exploit the kindness of people who respond by explaining the text has gone to the wrong number - with charges of up to EUR5 for their reply.

By responding, the phone owner also runs a risk of being bombarded with unwanted texts - and being charged bill-busting rates to receive them.

Radio phone-in caller David said: "I got this text - it's a con. It reads, 'Andy Moylan's father died recently. His remains will be taken to North William Street this evening at 5pm. The funeral mass will be at 7.10 in the morning.' "This scam is Irish and it has a very Irish feel to it. And it's very clever - it gives the time for the funeral, which is the time the mass would normally be on at in Ireland.

"You'd say, 'Oh My God I'd better tip them off and let them know that this isn't meant for me and they need to get in contact with the right person'. So you would reply to the text to tell them they've got the wrong person, but the number is one of those premium rate numbers."

Consumers Association chief Dermot Jewell said phone users should report scammers immediately.

He added: "Consumers affected should immediately get in touch with the regulator who should be able to help by stopping the texts and alleviating the difficulty for the customer."

The premium rate text regulator said the scam seemed particularly worrying because the language used and content appeared to target Irish people.

But a Regtel spokesman said it would be difficult to track down those responsible if they were based in a foreign country.

He added: "We are aware of these funeral texts - we are trying to get more information and we are investigating.

"It sounds like the messages could be originating from abroad, but if there are Irish people behind the scam we can go after them."