0161 numbers

epm-84

daveyjp said:

0161 is code for Manchester, 0113 code for Leeds.  However it does not mean that is where the caller is calling from.

Indeed.  Sometimes caller ID brings up a number which is invalid as callers can manipulate the displays.  For instance, I sometimes get numbers which appear local where the first number after the dialing code is 3, yet there are no real phone numbers which have a 1, 2, 3 or 4 as the first number after my local dialling code (which only covers one town and the surrounding villages.)

The ones using the 0161 numbers may be in Swansea* but think if they use 0161 number people will recognise it as a Manchester number and pick up.

* A Channel 5 documentary revealed many of the illegal call centres in the UK are in Swansea

jon81uk

epm-84 said:

daveyjp said:

Voyager2002 said:

It's those 0207 numbers that are a real nuisance.

Personally I never accept calls from anyone: if the message is important they can send me an email.

020 is the area dialling code for London!

Only some numbers starting with 020 are London.  Some are ones which BT allocate to businesses who have no UK office but want a UK phone number and also Foreign Office locations outside the UK.  So a number starting 020 could be someone phoning from Westminster, Mumbai, New York, Vienna or any other worldwide city you can think of.

Pretty sure that applies to all numbers, I think you can get a caller ID that shows any number.

But all numbers starting 020 should be London.

Vegastare

I have caller ID and noticed a while back that it showed UK numbers -  just another way for them to get through.  I spoke with BT who just wanted to sell me a phone.  So I but a message on answer machine saying  - I may not regonise your number so please leave a message etc, it has worked a treat.  Still get unknown random  dialing but not as much and do call blocker on number.   Have noticed that if I get these calls I get about 3 or 4 in a week then nothing for months.
Like I other have said if they want to speak with you they will leave message.

daveyjp

Just had an 020 call, but obviously in India.  Scam about my broadband speed dropping to unacceptable levels over the last two days.

Needless to say when I pressed for details of what speed I am paying for and should be receiving he couldn't give a straight answer.

JamoLew

Were_Doomed said:

On my landline I have BT Call Guardian (their version of Truecall) ... if the caller is not in my VIP/contacts list then they get asked to make an announced message before we decide whether to accept the call ... scammers/parasites never do. 

Likewise - one of the best purchases that we ever made

epm-84

daveyjp said:

Just had an 020 call, but obviously in India.  Scam about my broadband speed dropping to unacceptable levels over the last two days.

Needless to say when I pressed for details of what speed I am paying for and should be receiving he couldn't give a straight answer.

With a lot of people working from home at the moment it would be easy to scam the scammers by pretending you're a Openreach or Virgin Media employee.

daveyjp

It wouldn't work.  Any suspicion that you aren't playing the game which takes them off script and the line gets cut off. 

All they want is remote access to your PC.

epm-84

daveyjp said:

It wouldn't work.  Any suspicion that you aren't playing the game which takes them off script and the line gets cut off. 

All they want is remote access to your PC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15690898

daveyjp

Thats an old piece, but this from a tech reporter surprised me:

"The other question which I wanted answered was how the firm had got hold of my number - which I've listed with the Telephone Preference Service in order to avoid getting these calls."

I have known about autodialling for at least 20 years.  The callers don't have any number, the auto dial system dials thousands of numbers an hour.  Many don't exist, but many others do.  If the number results in a connection it confirms the number exists and it stays on the database of the autodialler, this list can then be sold.

badmemory

I don't mind calls to my landline too much as I just dial 1572 & it is sorted.  But I have had my mobile no for years & had no unwelcome calls.  5 years ago someone hit my car & the insurance company insisted (yes I do mean insisted, like they wouldn't proceed) if they didn't have a mobile number.  Since then my mobile keeps ringing, when I have a signal which is why I rarely use it unless away from home.  I am sick of them flattening my battery & ringing when I am driving.  I remain convinced that the insurance company or one of their associates sold my number.  It is the only logical conclusion.