Phone scams

muffins2

jon81uk said:

muffins2 said:

Thanks, John, but I want to get something done about all the calls I get despite TPS. Both foreign callers, and UK callers who don't care about TPS because enforcement is so lax. There was a bill in Parliament in around 2013 but it foundered at the end of that Parliament. Also - Action Fraud - I've tried them but they only get involved if an actual attempt to defraud you has been made, so pretty pointless as far as stopping the calls is concerned.

You could try writing to your MP, but I don't think anyone can do anything about calls coming from abroad as our government has no jurisdiction.

That's not quite true. The phone system can block such calls as they enter our network. They choose not to. It's probably complicated, but if my phone can tell it's a call from abroad the network can. And in any case, most of the calls I've had lately have been from UK numbers which have been noted on services like whocallsme by dozens of people over periods of months, and Ofcom hasn't lifted a finger.

muffins2

MeteredOut said:

I find the best way is to waste their time, play along, annoy them "hang on, there's someone at the door" and then just go back to do what you were doing.

Or, if you have some time, string them along, tell them you're doing things you're not doing, make things up, act silly so they have to repeat themselves, and finally laugh at them,

It'll likely end up with them swearing at you and threatening you "I know where you live, you'll have someone at the door" but that's all hot air.

If you really want to wind them up, google for some common "local dialect" put-down phrases to throw back to them; they really don't like that.

Not productive, but cathartic.

My usual tactic is to ask them if they have children. That stops them in their tracks. Eventually they say yes or no. If yes, I say "Are you bringing them up to be liars like you?" If no, "At least you're not bringing them up to be liars like you". The indignation with which some of them respond is truly breathtaking. But I'm fed up with doing that. I want these calls to stop.

forgotmyname

Bought the BT call blocking phones and also added an external call blocker that allows upto 1000 numbers or even
area codes to be added, not had any scam calls for years now.

iris

I receive nuisance phone calls to my landline, and I block the numbers, only for new numbers to be used- is there anything I can do?  I do not want to change my landline number.

sheramber

We used BT's call guardian.

You list numbers that are allowed through. Numbers  not on the list are diverted and aksed to state their name . You then recieve a call  advising you who is calling and you can accept or decline.

With cold calling they do not announce who they are but hang up, so the call doesn't come through.

If arranging for someone to call us, say we have ordered something and they will phone when available , we explained that tney would have to announce who they were. Most places said they were aware of the system.

Phine mumber so family, friends , doctors, dentist etc can be listed to be accepted automatically.