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MSE News: UK joins transatlantic crackdown on 'spoof' junk calls

"UK regulators are teaming up with counterparts in the USA and Canada to crack down on 'spoof' calls from telemarketing schemes...."
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UK joins transatlantic crackdown on 'spoof' junk calls

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  • mattytun
    mattytun Posts: 13,920 Forumite
    Rampant Recycler Xmas Saver! Savvy Shopper! Energy Saving Champion
    edited 21 October 2013 at 1:22PM
    I used to get a cold call every day between 12pm & 12.15pm then I started putting the phone handset next to my laptop speakers and played "silence of the lambs" then the strange thing is ive never had another call since.dbaae121-1b50-41c9-80db-c78559e5928d_zps5879fca1.jpg
    Can't sleep, quit counting sheep and talk directly to the shepherd :cool:
  • Atidi
    Atidi Posts: 943 Forumite
    Maybe Ofgem should spend it's time & efforts getting it's act together to prevent unwanted calls that originate from within the UK, before trying to sort out problems that come from the rest of the world?

    There are many reports that the TPS is toothless, and only today I received an unwanted, unsolicited & misleading telephone call from within the UK despite being signed up to the TPS. I cannot report it because the caller simply withheld their number.

    Calls from abroad rarely show their CLI anyway, it's often just 'INTERNATIONAL' or number not available.
  • I_luv_cats
    I_luv_cats Posts: 14,449 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Ban the payment of referral fees and that would stop a lot.

    The marketing calls are often made by third parties and they get a fee/kick-back (if they manage to get past the few choice words/phone hung up!) when they pass on your details to accident/PPI etc. co's.
  • Caddyman
    Caddyman Posts: 342 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I recognise that there are many people out there who are literally 'petrified' of not answering their landline 'in case it's something really important'. Personally, I'm just not bothered anymore about who 'phones my landline. When I'm home and the 'phone rings, I just let it ring until the answerphone kicks in. When its rung off, I wait a minute and pick up the receiver. If the call is genuine, the caller leaves a message, but almost always, they never bother and when I dial 1471, if the number hasn't been withheld, I just look at 'whocallsme.com' and I usually find that any number revealed on 1471 has been complained about umpteen times before. I then always send a complaint to Ofcom via their website. I was going to buy a call blocker, but my way is cheaper!

    .
  • bargepole
    bargepole Posts: 3,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I frequently get calls from some firm claiming to be 'windows support' with a strong Indian accent. They tell me that there are problems with my windows which need to be fixed.

    So I keep them on the line while I go outside, and say "no, all my windows appear to be in working order, and anyway, they're still under warranty from Everest".

    They get very agitated, and try to explain that they mean the Windows operating system on my computer. Then when I tell them that my computer is very old, and runs MS-DOS, they put the phone down.

    I have been providing assistance, including Lay Representation at Court hearings (current score: won 57, lost 14), to defendants in parking cases for over 5 years. I have an LLB (Hons) degree, and have a Graduate Diploma in Civil Litigation from CILEx. However, any advice given on these forums by me is NOT formal legal advice, and I accept no liability for its accuracy.
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,611 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Still haven't found anyone from India who knows what Ubuntu is!!!
  • fionajbanana
    fionajbanana Posts: 1,611 Forumite
    Will it stop those prerecorded calls 'congrats you won a Florida cruise' I get at 4am? I have complained to Ofcom about these calls waking me up and the frequency of these - once a week and they said there's nothing they can do!

    If I get a call, I ask them where did they get my number from.
  • Oblivion
    Oblivion Posts: 20,248 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic
    edited 22 October 2013 at 11:51AM
    Caddyman wrote: »
    When I'm home and the 'phone rings, I just let it ring until the answerphone kicks in.

    This has worked well for us for many years now; a digital answering machine left on 24/7.

    Anyone phoning us hears my greetings message ... "You have connected with (our names), we do not accept calls from telesales companies or scammers but other callers are most welcome. If you announce yourself after the tone, we will pick up your call if we are available to do so; otherwise, please leave us a message."

    It really does work as an effective filter for unwanted callers, and it gives us more time to get to the phone when it rings if we are not near it. The machine also carries out an automatic 1471 enquiry to see what number called if it's available.
    ... Dave
    Happily retired and enjoying my 14th year of leisure
    I am cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
    Bring me sunshine in your smile
  • So Ofcom do nothing but now want to join up with others to let them do all the work!!!

    Why do we pay taxes to fund this organisation?

    Why don't they as a first step (this is not hard) get BT to release the CILD of international calls? Wonder why they have never thought about doing that?
    Signature removed club member No1.

    It had no link, It was not to long and I have no idea why.
  • It's far too little, far too late.

    The stable door was left wide open, the horse is now 2,000 miles away, and Ofcom only now want to try and close the door...

    Except, we all know how friendly they are with the telecoms firms, and they'll have a bet on how far the horse will get before this strategy takes effect, and they want to win it :)
This discussion has been closed.
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