New twist SCAM CALLS

LadyDee

The simplest (and cheapest) way to avoid scam calls is simply not to answer the phone if you don't recognise the number.  Once you do, that's a live number on a list that gets sold on to the next lot of scammers.
When my phone rings and I don't recognise the number/name I wait for the person to leave a message.  No message, not important.  If it's somebody I wish to speak to I ring them back.
I can't remember the last time I got one of these scam calls.  Some years at least, so my number must have dropped off the list of possible victims.

DoaM

Surely if the phone rings it's a live number? 🤔

LadyDee

DoaM said:

Surely if the phone rings it's a live number? 🤔

OK, I missed the "".  Those dialling the number know it's a "live" number if it's answered.  I am confident you knew that is what I meant.

rollingmoon

I've got one of those call blocker boxes from eBay. Best £25 I've ever spent.

Although, having time on my hands at the moment, as many of us do, I do enjoy the odd laugh at the expense of these crooks. I managed to keep one on the phone for half-an-hour recently, telling me how my Windows installation had malware in it etc. I strung him along, telling him nothing he suggested worked until he asked me in desperation what version on Windows I had. When I replied 'Linux', he shouted some very rude words indeed, and hung up.

JamoLew

DoaM said:

BT's name for it is Call Guardian and they build it in to some handsets. (I've got the 8500 series which was superseded by the 8600 - no idea if there's a newer-still version). In the several years since I've had it I can count on the fingers of 1 hand the number of spam/scam calls that have come through. Before that it was almost a daily thing.

I couldn't agree more
We have the 8600 - great bit of kit, stops 99.9% of these type of calls - the 0.1% are those that can actually be bothered to announce their name but you still don't have to accept them

forgotmyname

BT8510 phones and a £25/£30 call blocker.. Only calls that get through now are mobile ones that are easily blocked.
Call blocker seems to be able to differentiate dodgy international calls that pretend to be UK based numbers.

Rarely does anyone we know phone the house phone from their mobile.