Pension scam phone call-new tactic

CathA

Today I had a call on my mobile, with our local dialling code but the main number was not one I recognised. However as I'm waiting for a call from a local glazing company I answered it.

It was from a pension review firm called Kemsley? Couldn't quite get the name but they weren't from round here. Anyway, after the usual round of bull s**the about completely free, top to bottom, (his exact phrase) pension review that everyone is entitled to after the recent reforms, he asked if I had any paperwork relating to my pensions. I said yes, put the phone by the radio and carried on cleaning the cooker! 15 minutes later he was still there so I hung up.

The point I'm making is that if you have caller id (as I have, I don't answer if it's a strange number but with the companies somehow getting the local dialling code showing it's more than likely you will. The only thing I thought odd is that all the local numbers here start with either 22, 22, 84 or 30 but this started with 603,after the local code.

Please be aware.

greenglide

So you don't answer the phone if you dont recognise the number, solely to avoid junk calls?

So what happens if a friend or other person whose number you would "recognise" needs to contact you as a matter of urgency but they arent at home, do not have access to their mobile etc?

A bit over the top, isnt it?

atush

She could always use the telephone preferance serivce?

I get calls from overseas ("kevin calling from bangalore about my windows computer) but they arent covered by TPS

CathA

greenglide wrote: »

So you don't answer the phone if you dont recognise the number, solely to avoid junk calls?

So what happens if a friend or other person whose number you would "recognise" needs to contact you as a matter of urgency but they arent at home, do not have access to their mobile etc?

A bit over the top, isnt it?

Yes I take your point but if it was that urgent they would leave a message. I get a lot of spam calls and generally speaking if it's an 0845/0843 they are the ones I avoid. However I've had a couple of calls that have either our dialling call or a local code that makes me think it could be from someone I know. I'm just advising people that this seems to be a new way of pension review firms getting that first foot in the door.

le_loup

atush wrote: »

(kevin calling from bangalore about my windows computer)

Oh, you know him too! What a small world - and such a nice guy - so helpful.

CathA

le_loup wrote: »

Oh, you know him too! What a small world - and such a nice guy - so helpful.

My chap was called Kevin! X

OldBeanz

atush wrote: »

She could always use the telephone preferance serivce?

I get calls from overseas ("kevin calling from bangalore about my windows computer) but they arent covered by TPS

Had one of these today for the first time in a while. After listening to the shpiel for a while ( which included giving a MS staff member name and office address) I eventually owned up to having a non MS laptop and asking him what his mother would think about him trying to scam people. He was duly embarrassed.

dunstonh

He was duly embarrassed.

You would like to think it was genuine embarrassment but its not. It's more a case of don't know what to say. They know they are scamming. Gits that they are.

brewerdave

greenglide wrote: »

So you don't answer the phone if you dont recognise the number, solely to avoid junk calls?

So what happens if a friend or other person whose number you would "recognise" needs to contact you as a matter of urgency but they arent at home, do not have access to their mobile etc?

A bit over the top, isnt it?

Off topic but ......I don't answer the phone at all now during the day - the ansaphone message makes it clear why!!! but anyone who needs to contact me urgently knows to leave message.:)

OldBeanz

dunstonh wrote: »

You would like to think it was genuine embarrassment but its not. It's more a case of don't know what to say. They know they are scamming. Gits that they are.

The only reason I say that is because he did not immediately disconnect. You are right though - the training to keep the scam going obviously kicks in although widely off script.

atush

OldBeanz wrote: »

Had one of these today for the first time in a while. After listening to the shpiel for a while ( which included giving a MS staff member name and office address) I eventually owned up to having a non MS laptop and asking him what his mother would think about him trying to scam people. He was duly embarrassed.

First It ell them their name isn't Kevin (they choose a common name for the country they are scamming) then I tell them either I dont have any computers (as if lol) or that I have a mac.