Scam phone calls

Why would putting the phone down prevent friends from ringing? I just ask them to take my name off their database ( but maybe after a wee bit of sport, depending on how bored I am!)

If you leave the phone 'off the hook', after a minute or so with no sound on the line, the phone emits a siren noise starting quietly and getting louder until you end the call, or after a certain time the phone automatically ends the call.

It is a nice thought to think you can spare others these calls, but these scammers ring from phone banks and even if it stopped one line being used they would just switch the callers phone to another line.

I haven't had any microsoft calls since I greeted their telling me about the fault with my computer by saying 'Oh, yes, I know all about it. My DH is a manager with microsoft and he deals with this problem' (he isn't and he doesn't).

I've had quite a few harrowing days following scam calls and thought I would give GNetters the heads up in case it happens to you. Sorry it’s rather long.

Last Thursday evening I was suddenly without wi-fi connection. Thought nothing of it, annoying, but as it came back on after about 30 mins, put it down to just one of those things. Friday a.m. I got a call from a woman purporting to be from BT in London, saying my wi-fi had been hacked and internet connection was going to be down for 15 days, unless I gave her a number on my computer and she would then send me a new router on Monday. She had my provider and my phone number, so I engaged with her for a while in case it was from them. She called me Ma’m, spoke very fast and was very ‘challenging’. She said it wasn’t the number on the router she needed, but a number on my computer. I said you tell me the number and I’ll tell you whether it’s correct, she then reeled off a very long number and kept repeating that she was trying to help me. By that time, everything about it was screaming scam, so I told her I had to go to work and would call BT later. I asked for her number and she said, I’ll get it for you… and the line went dead. I called BT and they had not called.

I was out Sunday and on my return, there was a recorded message with part of a phone number on my answering machine. I dialled 1471 and up came a number beginning 00 98 which Google tells me is the international code for Iraq. So, all was calm until Monday morning, when I got another call and someone launched into the same intense conversation, so I put the phone down. Rang BT and again they said it was a scam. I asked if they could block all calls from that number but I had to do it myself on my handset. The number is now blocked. It was very unpleasant and for a while I felt nervous about even using my computer and ran the security check repeatedly.

I called the police to ask if they were interested in tracing this source as they may have sinister intent, access to bank details for cash for arms, etc. They said there are literally thousands a day and they don’t do anything; that if they were still asking for information they clearly hadn’t got what they wanted the first time.

Well anyway, I felt threatened in my own home and a little nervous for a few days and wouldn’t like anyone else to have to cope with this kind of thing; far more challenging than an aggressive telesales person. I hope this helps to prepare you for such a call and perhaps you wouldn’t listen for as long as I did the first time.

We have had a few of these calls over the past couple of days. I usually ignore any numbers which come up on my handset that are unknown to me, or,witheld, international etc. until the answerphone kicks in. Then if someone responds to the message, I will choose to answer it or not.
Today I was away with the fairies and absent mindedly answered the phone straight away. 'Frank' with his list of questions for me was at the other end. I also went into doddery old dear mode whilst rummaging in a nearby drawer for my Acme referee whistle. When I was convinced that 'Frank' was listening carefully, I took at deep breath and blasted his eardrums. I sincerely hope I gave him severe pain, if only temporarily. ?

I get these calls too , if there are 1000`s a day then why are we not told what to do about them ? I never know whether to just hang up or not. Asking a scammer to take your number of their database will do absolutely nothing !

Ginny that was a horrible experience.

When I establish it's a hoax or a call centre or similar i just hang up. Perhaps that's rude, but I didn't ask to be called, so tough.

I do miss having my youngest GS to look after now he's at school. As a 3-4 year old he was great at answering the phone and having conversations with these intruders.

It has got so bad with these constant calls trying to sell me something or scam me that I have switched my phone permanently to silent . Family etc have my mobile so I can be reached , it really is a massive problem and I would love to know what can be done about it. I am registered with the database which is supposed to block these calls but it has done nothing to stop them . If it is accidentally left on ring the calls will happen several times a day and I have such trouble hoisting myself of the sofa !! to answer .

We have phases when we have lots these calls, then they tail off a bit. Yesterday, though, I had an email, purportedly from HMRC telling me that £16,705.74 would be taken from my bank as I hadn't responded by paying my VAT by correct date. There was an email address '[email protected]' so it sort of looked genuine. I didn't click on the attachment but emailed HMRC who said it was a scam. If I'd clicked on the link where they'd no doubt have asked for my bank details etc, I dread to think what may have happened.

We bought a BT phone off Amazon called Phone Guardian, not expensive(sure other makes are available). Added names and numbers of relatives and friends, all other callers have to announce themselves and you have the option to accept or block caller. Unknown numbers or international numbers can be blocked and phone doesn't even ring if they try to get through.You can check the phone log to see how many calls you have missed. Can check answerphone for genuine messages. We were getting up to 20 calls a day before, now when the phone rings we know who is ringing as caller is displayed on phone from our list of contacts.

We have lots of scam phone calls. I complained to BT who put me on a 'list' and it seems, we now have more! We do not pick up any calls showing international, withheld or unavailable, hoping real callers will leave a message on our answerphone. We get some computerised scammers leaving messages but, mostly, there is no message. In our experience Telephone Preference Service is no defence.

We also had a new kind of e-mail scam recently. A half-feasible job opportunity addressed to my wife, worryingly by name, based on a non-existent online resume. It was obviously sent to attract a response from people who do have a resume online. It purported to come from an HR department but, looking behind the name, the address was something exotic from the Netherlands. The reply address was, though, a sensible one in the UK.

Sadly, scammers, like hackers and spoofers, are getting better at their job.

I agree with many of the previous posters, you need a phone that displays the callers name. Make sure you store all the numbers of your friends/family etc. If you get any calls from unidentified numbers don't answer, leave them to go to voicemail. Ideally buy a phone like the one mentioned by Glamorousgray which will block nuisance calls.

Pointless asking to be removed from data base as the calls are generated by computer and are random, if you pick up then they get the information they are after.
I put the phone down, the other day, it was a call centre and I blocked the number. I checked the phone this morning and they had rung another five times in the next two hours. TPS is not really helpful now as most scam calls come from outside the UK.