Scam Calls (landline and mobile)

Telegraph_Sam

These are getting repetitive enough in my case for the most frequent automated calls to be recognizeable:  The "Amazon Prime Renewal" and the "Your Visa account has been debited with £300" are the most popular.  These come from different numbers - surprisingly they do not seem to conceal the source from 1471 - I make a note of them.  I just leave them hanging on but without pressing any number key - hopefully this costs them time and money.  I am guessing that there is no way of blocking such calls without investing in dedicated call blocking phones or subscribing to a service (at a cost) that blocks everything?

RobM99

Blocking them should be a service offered by your provider. My mobile has that facility, as does my landline.

JJ_Egan

Latest is they are using spoofed local to you numbers .

1471 only gives the spoofed number .

Call Blocking phones with a whitelist then such calls ring but  sorry please leave a message .

Or like the BT call protect where you can go on the web and blacklist .

However as 99% are not ringing from those numbers but faking them its a bit pointless .

Telegraph_Sam

My provider John Lewis Broadband does not offer this facility though I believe that the parent PlusNet does. I think this varies with each provider. But as you say I fear it could be a waste of time if "they" can use a different spoofed number each time.

MalMonroe

Didn't you see the programme about this on TV last week? Don't do 1471, it doesn't help, these are scammers who can reproduce actual legitimate phone numbers at will. No good making a note of them because scammers just use a number then delete it. They don't care if you leave them hanging on because it doesn't cost them anything and even if it does, they can afford it. The TV programme advised that even if scammers are 1% successful they are making a jolly good living. 

I don't answer my phone, either mobile or landline. If someone really wants me they can leave a message and I'll call them back. Immediately, if needs be. All my family and friends know this, and it's the same thing with most of them. If it's a scammer they don't leave a message and I don't bother with them. If I do accidentally answer the phone and it's someone spouting nonsense I just hang up. Don't let them get to you. You are in control. You don't need to block anything or invest in expensive blockers. I've found by not answering the phone, these calls are becoming fewer and fewer. My mobile has a blocking facility and so does my landline, although that's BT. 

Don't let them get to you. And just don't be too eager to answer the phone, that's what these scammers are relying on. Also they love to get hold of older people because they assume they are most gullible. I'm older but they get nowhere with me. Just because a phone rings doesn't mean you have to answer it.

Mister_G

I've had the BT 8500 with TrueCall for about three years now.  In that time only one scammer has tried to get through the questioning session.  All the other hundreds have just given up.

It's a bit of a pain to programme in the numbers that you do want to get through, but well worth it.

Telegraph_Sam

I suspect that there are no easy answers - it's a least worst choice.  Personally I don't like relying on messages, and I have always felt put off when having to jump through Q & A hoops in order to speak to whoever. As long as the scam level is not excessive - and cannot apparently be prevented by other means - I will put up with it.  If I leave them hanging on then it wastes their time even if they are not bothered about the cost. I guess that the scam call is only "worth it" if the respondent presses a key and incurs the cost of a premium rate call (as I did on the first Amazon occasion).

Grumpy_chap

I always like to have a chat with them. 

I usually start by how it is lovely they called as I didn't think anyone cared, but they do and then generally trail off into how wonderful they are and I was about to end it all because the world is so tough but maybe as they are so lovely I won't and then develop into when can we meet as I really want to thank them for their kindness in person, and they are so kind to call and chat to a lonely old soul and they have made my day, my week, my year.  

I rarely get the same person call me back.  

Telegraph_Sam

That's the spirit.  It's always amusing to see what  happens when they get diverted from what's on their crib sheet.

Grumpy_chap

Think I have been sussed and beaten at my own game!
Just had a call from someone trying to sell funeral plans and responded with my 'feeling down 3 months of lockdown and shielding practically like prison'  but the caller passed through dejection and finally thanked me for helping with his learning English.

[Deleted User]

MalMonroe said:

Didn't you see the programme about this on TV last week? Don't do 1471, it doesn't help, these are scammers who can reproduce actual legitimate phone numbers at will. No good making a note of them because scammers just use a number then delete it. They don't care if you leave them hanging on because it doesn't cost them anything and even if it does, they can afford it. The TV programme advised that even if scammers are 1% successful they are making a jolly good living. 

I don't answer my phone, either mobile or landline. If someone really wants me they can leave a message and I'll call them back. Immediately, if needs be. All my family and friends know this, and it's the same thing with most of them. If it's a scammer they don't leave a message and I don't bother with them. If I do accidentally answer the phone and it's someone spouting nonsense I just hang up. Don't let them get to you. You are in control. You don't need to block anything or invest in expensive blockers. I've found by not answering the phone, these calls are becoming fewer and fewer. My mobile has a blocking facility and so does my landline, although that's BT. 

Don't let them get to you. And just don't be too eager to answer the phone, that's what these scammers are relying on. Also they love to get hold of older people because they assume they are most gullible. I'm older but they get nowhere with me. Just because a phone rings doesn't mean you have to answer it.

Saw the programme last week, very good!