New Sim Card got spam calls despite me not giving the number out

DaveyBoyJames

I ordered a free PAYG sim card directly from Three's website. I never gave out the number for the sim card to anyone except my Google Account. I got a few spam calls within the first week of using the number. How is that possible? Do Three recycle numbers or do they give you a number never used before? They told me they give a number never used before.

One time I bought a "New" loose sim on Ebay for Tesco mobile for 1p and I got loads of spam calls which I suspect is how the seller makes money but then I just called Tesco and got them to change my number and I never got spam calls again. Surely Three aren't doing a similar thing and sharing my number with spam companies?
Are there any services or mobile phone functions I can use to prevent spam calls, especially calls from outside Europe?

DaveyBoyJames

Is there any way to block all calls from numbers that aren't in my address book? But then I won't get calls from the jobcentre and other places where I don't know what number they'll call me from? Do text messages still get blocked such as texts from Google asking to verify my account?

J_B

I never (*) get spam call on my mobile number that I've had for about 25 years (and is featured on my website)

The landline is always spammed

* = will probably get loads now!

Jon_01

Numbers get recycled, the last owner must have signed up to a lot of stuff or had their number on a spammers list.
Three should change it for you.

Emmia

My work number gets loads of spam calls, and judging from the variation in callers it's clearly been the number of a few people in the past. 

My personal number which I've had for 21 years gets none. 

chistery

If it's a new range that Three are using, it's also possible spammers look at the number range on a new PAYG SIM and pick nearby numbers. 

JJ_Egan

As above random number generators .

Exemplar

We see this a lot (I work in IT for a business Telecoms company). It just happens OP, sorry. Part of modern life. The scammers are abroad and therefore not tied by the same laws (or morals). Look our for something coming called Shaken/ Stir which is coming at some point: STIR/SHAKEN - Wikipedia This will cut through the false identifiers (the number on the screen that's calling).

wild666

Install the free true caller app you can update to the paid-for version for around £18 per year. You have to set true caller as the default for calls and texts, you will be notified of the texts and calls with the free version, the calls will ring and say it's from either an unknown caller or a person/company you then reject the call and report it as a spammer and your phone won't accept any more calls from the number.