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Phone scams
Comments
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It is horrible. It's how these scammers operate , trying to get an emotional reaction, so you react0
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Teach her to use the answer phone, and when it is important she can pick up the receiver!0
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Hi, im sorry this has affected your mum like this
Just a little tip though - A scam caller isn't going to politely check if a target is on the TPS or not before they call !!
The TPS is only useful for stopping REPUTABLE companies from cold calling
It also doesn't work if someone is calling from abroad.0 -
I have TPS but still get app 6 scam callers per week. I have my own call blocker and so far have over 60 numbers blocked but the scammers just change to a different number. Latest call today was from someone from Sky protection when I stated we didn't have Sky they asked if we used to, call ended by me. Unfortunately I answered a questionnaire regarding my Morrisons points card a few weeks ago before I realised they were just phishing as my spam filter hadn't picked it up, I never normally get caught but now I'm paying the price for being careless.0
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I don't get these calls hardly ever. But I'm ex directory and have been for ever, and use a free fake ish number to give out to utilities etc as I don't trust they won't sell my number on.
The number I give out let's them call me then tells they are " 2nd in the queue" etc eventually they give up and it messages me their number on my mobile.
I can't remember the last time I got a call so perhaps it works.
But I do understand that elderly people can get very lonely..and a telephone call might be the only human contact they get.
Thats the sad bit.
The choice is speak to no one, or don't answer the phone..hmm..0 -
I don't get these calls hardly ever. But I'm ex directory and have been for ever, and use a free fake ish number to give out to utilities etc as I don't trust they won't sell my number on.
The number I give out let's them call me then tells they are " 2nd in the queue" etc eventually they give up and it messages me their number on my mobile.
I can't remember the last time I got a call so perhaps it works.
But I do understand that elderly people can get very lonely..and a telephone call might be the only human contact they get.
Thats the sad bit.
The choice is speak to no one, or don't answer the phone..hmm..
We're ex-directory too.
We have very few unsolicited calls.
We're very careful who we give our number out to and have been for many years.
Ditto our mobile numbers.
We're also very careful to tick/untick boxes when we order something.
I agree.
It's very sad that it's necessary to have to 'educate' our parents to change their life-long habits to keep them financially safe.0 -
Hi, im sorry this has affected your mum like this
Just a little tip though - A scam caller isn't going to politely check if a target is on the TPS or not before they call !!
The TPS is only useful for stopping REPUTABLE companies from cold calling
Thanks. I am aware of this, hence my reference to autodials. I was just making it clear that I have taken that action.0 -
Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »Teach her to use the answer phone, and when it is important she can pick up the receiver!
Thanks. She knows that she can screen calls if she wants but she doesn't want to do that. To be honest, if she didn't pick up something quick enough or if they didn't leave a message, it would worry her more as she would be concerned that she had missed a call from the hospital or something. Her phone is constantly going as we have a big family so knowing my mum more than anyone and being as close as we are, it would get on her nerves.
I think my post has been interpreted as me needing advice, whereas it's actually okay and my mum is alright. I just really wanted to raise awareness of what age can do to us and its reaction on our bodies when our minds are perfectly capable of recognising scams when they happen. My mum is very "young-minded" for her age, in fact. I just found it interesting that we're all very savvy now but when we get to that age, our bodies may also give off that reaction then. I think it's just worth bearing in mind, from a pensioner's perspective (i.e. my mum).0 -
Just wanted to say thanks for all your comments.0
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We are ex-directory and always have been, but it’s my belief that the calls we were getting were randomly generated by a computer. Unfortunately when you or your machine answer, the computer knows it’s a live number and then the problem is self-perpetuating.
As I said in my earlier post, Sky Talk Shield seems to have stopped the issue.0
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