Vodafone selling information? How else did this nuisance caller get my number?

roberts100

I have a 'throwaway' phone on Vodafone PAYG - I was told it was registered anonymously when I bought it so no details should be attached to it. The phone is purely for contacting one person, so it's not been used to sign up to anything. I just received a nuisance call on it (googled the number, its been reported as PPI scammers), so I'm now a bit suspicious of Vodafone. Has there been a data leak with them? Otherwise how else might spammers get hold of a barely used number like that?

Buzby

They call blocks of numbers with auto diallers - no data leak, they go through number ranges and ignore all 'dead' numbers, moving on to the next one.

roberts100

Ahh I see! Sounds like a lot of effort. So since I didn't answer is it likely that number is considered inactive then?

Ian011

The fact that it rang has flagged it as as being a valid number.

worried_jim

roberts100 wrote: »

Ahh I see! Sounds like a lot of effort. So since I didn't answer is it likely that number is considered inactive then?

No effort, it's a computer program calling approx 60,000 random numbers a day.

DCFC79

Just block the number if its available on the phone.

[Deleted User]

Or answer it and tell them no.

forgotmyname

Not so sure on the Vodafone not losing or selling the data.

I created a post recently and Vodafone have tried contacting me but ive missed their call.

The contract is my name but the phone was given to my wife. I have no links to the phone number in question other than its linked to my account.
So its rather strange to get a scam caller asking for me in person and even knew my address.

No link to my name and that phone number other than Vodafone themselves.

[Deleted User]

Three possibilities

1 - Random number dialling as Buzby says

2 - Company selling information as forgotmyname says

3 - There are no new numbers available so numbers are now being recycled - resulting in calls that would have been to the previous owner of the number dialled.