Receiving daily scam calls from “Debt companies”

BrumBab30

For the last two weeks, I’ve been receiving up to 2 calls a day from different numbers across the UK. I’ve answered a couple of times and it’s usually someone with a foreign account asking my name (they use my maiden name every time) and I ask who is calling and they say calling on behalf of DRS and I have outstanding debts that I need paying off. Today I thought I would push them a bit further as they said they’ve received legal communication from DRS saying that I need to pay off my debts. So I asked what debts are these and the woman I spoke to said, we were hoping you could tell us. I responded as you contacted me, you would have that information to hand as I wouldn’t share personal information like that with a cold caller. She then changed her tune and said I’ve only got your name and number of this website…

Basically, I’ve tried ignoring these calls, but I need to check calls coming in as they could be calls from my GP, midwife or hospital as I’m pregnant plus as they’re daily I want to know whether it’s serious or not. I’ve registered my number on the TPS website before all this and I’ve done it again recently and it hasn’t made a difference. Any advice on how to put a stop to this? It’s driving me crazy!

Neil_Jones

If you don't recognise the number don't answer the call.

Could you not add numbers to the contact list and then you'll know who's calling?

As for the debts, why are you engaging?  If you know you don't owe anybody money just tell them to hop it.

PRAISETHESUN

I'd also recommend you avoid engaging with them - at best they are wasting your time, somewhere in the middle they could be a debt collection company trying to pin a debt on you, or at worst they are scammers trying to phish personal info from you. 

If it's a real debt collection company then eventually they will write to you, and that's the point at which you bother responding. Until then it's safest to ignore.

ButterCheese

Do not answer the calls.  After each call, block and report the number (depends what phone you have, but on mobiles there's usually an option to block and report as spam).  I had to do this for about 2-3 weeks a while ago, I was probably getting 2 calls a day every day.  Eventually after blocking every one, they stopped.  There is also a paid service you can use to get your number taken off various lists of data brokers and the parties they sell data to.  I can't remember what it's called now

BrumBab30

Thank you all. I forgot to say I am blocking the calls but I receive another call the following day from another number from the same area or a different area. Like I can keep doing this but it’s a nuisance and I can’t be doing this forever. Might research that paid service though to see if that could work for me.

Neil_Jones

BrumBab30 said:

Thank you all. I forgot to say I am blocking the calls but I receive another call the following day from another number from the same area or a different area. Like I can keep doing this but it’s a nuisance and I can’t be doing this forever. Might research that paid service though to see if that could work for me.

I wouldn't bother, as it won't work for random calls.

As I said before the cheapest solution is if you don't recognise the number don't answer the call..  Blocking is pointless as they're often spoofed or randomly generated.

If you're expecting calls from the the doctor, midwife or the hospital those number won't change I would have thought. So memorise them or add them to contact and when they call, answer them.  Otherwise, don't.