Cold calling scum

GingerBob_3

Just received a call from some pond life trying to sell PPI. The number they called from was 0188633823, a non-existent number.


Is it beyond the whit of man, or in this case BT, to stop calls from non-existent numbers? I mean, !!!!!! what is going on here!!! BT have a lot to answer for. As soon as a number is reported as a tele-pest they should take it down.

teddysmum

They can't act on calls from abroad.

Mr.Generous

we get regular automated messages to our landline phone about an amazing government backed kitchen scrappage scheme, sounds too good to be true! We also get SMS text messages to the blinkin' landline, selling same sort of crud like double glazing, cavity wall insulation etc.
Would anyone ever be stupid enough to respond to this cr4p?

Ian011

The number you see on screen is merely a 'presentation number' programmed by the caller.

It is emphatically not the number of the landline or mobile that made the call.

DigForVictory

Stick with the basics - any call you don't want, ask the caller what they are wearing...

Um, you may not want to use that on your more irritating relatives as the fallout goes on for Ages.

esuhl

GingerBob wrote: »

Just received a call from some pond life trying to sell PPI. The number they called from was 0188633823, a non-existent number.


Is it beyond the whit of man, or in this case BT, to stop calls from non-existent numbers? I mean, !!!!!! what is going on here!!! BT have a lot to answer for. As soon as a number is reported as a tele-pest they should take it down.

Caller ID (CLI or CLID) does not validate the numbers it is given. This makes it easy, for example, for call centres to provide a switchboard number on CLI, even when agents call from other direct-dial numbers.

You can buy a CLI machine and type in any number you want. This is why you should never give personal information on an incoming call without verifying the caller's identity. The CLI may say it's your bank calling, but it could be anyone.

LadyDee

Any call which I receive will only be answered if their number is in my callers list and the screen tells me who is calling. If it isn't then I simply don't answer it. If the call is important they will leave a message (or I can pick up if it is someone I think I might wish to speak to), if it isn't important they will hang up. Simple.

I might get one of these unidentified calls once a month if that - once you answer they know it's a 'live' number, it's added to the list and gets sold on.

Mister_G

As has been posted by several people on this forum, the BT8500/8600 does a marvelous job of screening out all of these unwanted calls.

I installed mine nearly a year ago now and not one call of this type has got through.

As the poster above says, if they seriously want to talk to you then they will leave a message (even the Police will!)

PasturesNew

I always answer with a noise that sounds like a foreign word... you can make one up. Then wait for them to speak.... if they're Indian sounding, then speak back to them in your own Indian-fake-accent... they hate it and hang up.

If they're not Indian, then speak to them in any made up accent .... with one word replies and poor English. They hate it and hang up.

teddysmum

I have to answer withheld calls as our council (and so library service advising that a book is in), GP (if the call is not from the admin desk), hospital and a dog rescue, I do home visits for (in that case for the privacy of the caller, who is not employed by the rescue) all use number withheld. However, none of the withhelds seem to be scams; just the silly numbers (eg 999 , my own number or non-standard number combinations), which are ignored , unless I feel like annoying them back.

Robisere

As I have said here some time ago:
If you have the time, and are not expecting another call, this is my method. I listen, then ask them "Can you hold please? Someone at the door/on the mobile." Then I walk away for a time - up to the individual, I usually give it 10 or 15 minutes. Then I walk back to the phone: "Are you still there? Oh good, that's your time and money wasted, not mine!"
-And hang up.

For some reason, I don't get many calls of that nature nowadays.

teddy's mum:
Our local Council library uses emails to tell us when a book is due. Does yours have that facility? Much easier.