Strange Starling Bank scam...that I fell for

ColdIron

sheramber said:

ColdIron said:

M25 said:

Block ALL numbers on your mobile unless it's people in your white list.

I missed a GP telephone appointment, a hospital call to book an appointment and a plasterer trying to rebook a visit before I decided it's a damned silly thing to do

My GP number is in my list of callers. So is my NHS contacts and any workman I am dealing with, so their number comes up with their name. 

It was the pharmacist at the GP practice who used their own mobile, I don't have any of the GPs mobile numbers either. The hospital was from a department I had not used before

The point still stands, prepare for many missed important legitimate calls

M25

Blocking all numbers might be a bit extreme and TBH I have invested £2.00PM on a RGW SIM https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/pay-monthly/teaser-bundle-100-mins-100-sms-750mb-data-£2-month/ I give that number out to:

GP

Dentist

Hospital

Pharmacy

Police (if I had to give them a number)

Council

Funeral care plan (for a relative, This was the original reason for the extra SIM and I expanded its use)

That's it. I have the SIM in a spare phone that needs a charge once every 10 days or so. Had it for years never had anyone phone me apart from some of those people and the odd text from the NHS or pharmacy.

Nobody on this forum NEEDS to speak to their bank via an unsolicited call. We're not talking billions of pounds. If there's a problem with your bank you'll soon know about it.

The other day I had a problem with a delivery and was told to expect a call so I turned off my block and of course within an hour I get a phone call from someone with a very thick Indian accent pretending to be Vodafone. I was in the middle of doing a 3 point turn and told them to **** OFF. Bit extreme but I got quite a shock first scam/spam call for years even before COVID.

It's really simple, don't speak to strangers.

Although our telephones are lovely toys our telephone numbers are not.

Section62

M25 said:

Nobody on this forum NEEDS to speak to their bank via an unsolicited call. We're not talking billions of pounds. If there's a problem with your bank you'll soon know about it.

If there's an unsolicited call apparently from your bank it isn't a good idea to ignore it completely.  It could be a genuine call, or it could be someone attempting to access your accounts.  Either way, terminating the call and then calling your own bank (taking appropriate precautions) for confirmation could save yourself a lot of hassle later.

M25 said:

The other day I had a problem with a delivery and was told to expect a call so I turned off my block and of course within an hour I get a phone call from someone with a very thick Indian accent pretending to be Vodafone. I was in the middle of doing a 3 point turn and told them to **** OFF. Bit extreme but I got quite a shock first scam/spam call for years even before COVID.

Using offensive language isn't a good idea.  If the call turned out to be a genuine one it is a good way to get your account closed.  For anyone else, they know your number and you don't know theirs. If you offend them enough they could, if they wanted, easily get revenge on you.  Best to say nothing and just hang up.

flaneurs_lobster

M25 said:

The other day I had a problem with a delivery and was told to expect a call so I turned off my block and of course within an hour I get a phone call from someone with a very thick Indian accent pretending to be Vodafone. I was in the middle of doing a 3 point turn and told them to **** OFF. Bit extreme but I got quite a shock first scam/spam call for years even before COVID.

Taking a call while performing a driving maneuver and swearing at foreigners.

Perfectly reasonable. 

 

Grumpy_chap

M25 said:

The other day I had a problem with a delivery and was told to expect a call so I turned off my block and of course within an hour I get a phone call from someone with a very thick Indian accent pretending to be Vodafone. I was in the middle of doing a 3 point turn and told them to **** OFF. Bit extreme but I got quite a shock first scam/spam call for years even before COVID.

It's really simple,

If driving and in a position or part way through a manoeuvre that makes it unsafe to answer the call, let the call ring out and go to voicemail, even if the car is equipped with hands-free the distraction can be real and, as evidenced, causes additional and avoidable stress.

Sea_Shell

confederated said:

I have a Google Pixel so when I receive a call from an unknown number I press the ‘screen call’ button and Google answers the call and asks who the caller is and what do they want. The caller’s response comes up on screen and I can intercept if it’s a call I want. If it’s a scammer they ALWAYS disconnect. For the past year I have never had to speak to a scammer or cold-caller.

Which model?

Does the 8a have this feature and does it need enabling?

I haven't had any calls from unknown numbers since I've had my new phone, so haven't seen this button.

flaneurs_lobster

Sea_Shell said:

I haven't had any calls from unknown numbers since I've had my new phone, so haven't seen this button.

Stick your mobile number in here and that problem will be sorted.*

*Don't.

The_Green_Hornet

Sea_Shell said:

confederated said:

I have a Google Pixel so when I receive a call from an unknown number I press the ‘screen call’ button and Google answers the call and asks who the caller is and what do they want. The caller’s response comes up on screen and I can intercept if it’s a call I want. If it’s a scammer they ALWAYS disconnect. For the past year I have never had to speak to a scammer or cold-caller.

Which model?

Does the 8a have this feature and does it need enabling?

I haven't had any calls from unknown numbers since I've had my new phone, so haven't seen this button.

Screen your calls before you answer them - Phone app Help

wmb194

I haven’t tried it yet but the recent iOS26 introduced call screening to iPhones.

flaneurs_lobster

wmb194 said:

I haven’t tried it yet but the recent iOS26 introduced call screening to iPhones.

Apparently Samsung are adding a Pixel-like (sounds identical) screening service with the next release of One UI (8.5). 

Problem is that it will need the use of Samsung's Digital Assistant, Bixby, which most Samsung users have never heard of and absolutely none have ever used.