BT to send rogue dialler warnings via text

BT is giving internet customers free software to eliminate rogue dialler programs.

Rogue diallers trick a computer into calling premium-rate phone numbers instead of the usual internet service provider (ISP), which means that phone bills can become expensive.

If BT's Privacy Online software is installed, the company said it will send early warning text messages to anyone suspected of accidentally calling expensive numbers for internet access.

Gavin Patterson, BT group managing director, said: "[This] is giving customers the power to derail a dialler before it costs them a penny. BT is not responsible for internet diallers but we are leading the fight to tackle this industry problem."

BT has alerted an average of 304 customers per day using the text to landline technology, which leaves a warning message on the victim's telephone if they have no mobile phone.

The company said it received more than 80,000 complaints about unwanted internet diallers.