Phonecall from 04065

moneyistooshorttomention

Quick query time = who are these people?

I had an odd phonecall from someone saying it was to do with "Windows". I put the phone down pretty quickly on the call and then dialled 1471 to see what the originating phone number would come up as.

It came up as 04065
= huh! a 5-figure phone number!

Any thoughts? Wonders if this is some sort of attempted scam, but presume "no harm done", as I terminated the call pretty quickly.

PeteHerts

I spoke to BT a while ago about these odd numbers and it would appear that, with the right equipment, people outside the UK can ring and display any number they want and BT cannot do anything about this.
You mentioned Windows and this sound like a scam that's going on at the moment whereby they try and tell you your computer has a virus and they need a payment to remove the virus.

moneyistooshorttomention

Thanks for that.:T

So my suspicions were correct as to what that call was likely to be and that I would be perfectly safe if I just said I wasn't interested and put the phone down.

It was just nagging at me whether these people might have found some way to charge me just for receiving their phonecall somehow.

kwikbreaks

BBC report from 2010
Grauniad report from 2010
and still crops up here most weeks.

I know a novice computer user who was caught by this.

And still there is no effective legislation to protect the unwary from this and other unsolicited telemarketing calls at least half of which are outright scams of some sort or another. Surely the telecoms providers could be forced to block any calls without a valid callerid (even ones not displayed) from ever getting through.

Gratis

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Surely the telecoms providers could be forced to block any calls without a valid callerid (even ones not displayed) from ever getting through.

Most outgoing calls from British hospitals, and many doctors surgeries now, go through switchboards which withhold their number…

Uxb

Though they could easily get the switchboard systems to put out the generic switchboard CLI number.

Then again it is possible to spoof the declared CLI.

spud17

Just a heads up re. spoofing.

There's possibly a new variation.

My local code is 01392, then numbers start with 841, 811, 43, 21, etc (possibly more)

I've received several calls that appear to be local, but the part after the code is 'impossible', e.g 01392 98****.

Easily to be taken in when seeing the first part of the number.

I just let them go to answer phone.

kwikbreaks

With all telecoms now effectively computerised I can't believe that there is no technological fix possible for telecos to be able to recognise and drop spoofed calls whatever method the spoofer uses. Once that is in place they should then be forced to drop calls from sources reliably reported as unsolicited call generators not adheriing to the requirements laid down for UK companies - ie they must respect TPS "no unsolicited calls" registrations.

On the "witheld number" front the requirement is for the recipient not to see the number there is no reason for the caller not to have to use one which the teleco strips before onward delivery to the end user.

I block witheld callerids and any number I get a marketing call from but can do little about the annoying free boiler people who leave messages on the answerphone and have multiple spoofed numbers.

moneyistooshorttomention

Well....having scanned those articles too and thought "B&ggers wanted to stick a virus on me and try and steal my personal information. They wouldn't have got very far...but still"...

Now I'm almost hoping they phone up again, as I was polite last time, but (from what people have said here) I certainly wouldn't be polite in any future attempts to (ab)use my computer to steal from me. I'd rather like the chance to tell one of these characters what I think of them....Hmm....think I'd start with "Now...I'm interested....what does it actually feel like being a thief? Do you like being one? Does it give you job satisfaction?"

PeteHerts

In a funny way I use these con artists to vent any aggression I have when they ring and I don't feel guilty afterwards lol

fifeken

spud17 wrote: »

My local code is 01392, then numbers start with 841, 811, 43, 21, etc (possibly more)

I've received several calls that appear to be local, but the part after the code is 'impossible', e.g 01392 98****.

I don't know if it's the same, but I've something that sounds similar just now. There are no area using my local code followed by 3*****, however I've been given these numbers by Localphone to use for cheap access to my overseas numbers.

I don't know why/how someone would be calling me back on one but I've had almost daily missed calls from a similar number.

Could yours be along the same lines?