"Windows PC" - 4th call today

firefox1956

CPR Call Blocker.....best 37.00 quid I have ever spent !!!

katejo

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Ex-Directory doesn't protect you. I'm ex-directory but got enough nuisance calls to goad me into buying a blocker.

They use machine dialers that just go through every possible number. That's what the silent calls are - machine gets an answer but has no available human to connect you to so hangs up.

Actually I get very few. The ones I do get are mainly from companies like Virgin media who will have my number anyway. I did get one this week from someone who claimed that I had had an accident recently. I just told him that he was wrong and he hung up on me. I make a point of never answering if the number is withheld. Also my voicemail tells them that I never respond if I can't see the caller number.

katejo

firefox1956 wrote: »

CPR Call Blocker.....best 37.00 quid I have ever spent !!!

But how do you block a withheld number?

thenudeone

katejo wrote: »

But how do you block a withheld number?

Your telephone provider will probably offer this service, possibly for a couple of quid extra a month (mine does, and I've only had one or two silent or spam calls since I signed up some years ago.).

But if you do that, anyone who withholds their number automatically, sometimes for legitimate reasons (such as the police; credit card companies, or perhaps friends who've had problems with a stalker), won't be able to contact you unless they know how to over-ride the setting and force their phone provider to send the Caller ID number when they call. For a domestic landline, this is pretty easy - just ask them to dial 1470 before your number; but it may be more complicated to do this for a switchboard.

dealer_wins

Just screen all calls to voicemail. Let family and friends know to speak and you will pick up.

Scammers never leave a message, they hang up as soon as the "We cant take your call right now, please leave a message" starts.

kwikbreaks

katejo wrote: »

But how do you block a withheld number?

It's one of the options the CPR box lets you set. I don't actually use that option myself as I use Vonage VOIP which can also block withheld but makes an announcement telling the caller why they arebeing cut off. Some legitimate callers withhold their numbers (schools and doctors being just two).

donnac2558

My doctor shows as Private on caller display.

Usually the spammers come up as Out of Area, or a weird looking code number. I had one last night didn't answer but it was 02973, so not a UK dialing code for a start.

kwikbreaks

dealer_wins wrote: »

Scammers never leave a message, they hang up as soon as the "We cant take your call right now, please leave a message" starts.

Scammers hang up for sure but I've had an answering machine full of recorded messages from the green deal free boiler sellers in the past. It was those that prompted me to get my blocker.

fairy_lights

I tell them that the householders have all recently passed away in tragic circumstances, and I'm just there to clear out there house. Usually stops them calling again.

donnac2558

fairy_lights wrote: »

I tell them that the householders have all recently passed away in tragic circumstances, and I'm just there to clear out there house. Usually stops them calling again.

Not for me. Told them I was dead(person they named), and I had come to help clear the house. They still phoned a week later.