ABB125
Established Member
I've had a few of these in the last month or so. Delete and ignore!
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A scam phone calls and emails discussion.
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Howardh
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 May 2011
- Messages
- 9,120
I get those and when asked if I own the house just say "no" (I do); they then either terminate the call or start asking "who does?" so I give them some flippant answer back; usually "the council" or "my dad".
The upsetting ones are the ones who still insist on speaking to my dad who died in 2018.
Generally, calls that don't get identified because their presentation number isn't on the phone's phonebook are listened to until the system picks it up, then when the recorded message to leave a message kicks in, not surprisingly, they hang up. The problem recently has been when I get a hospital calling, don't recognise the number, so there is a decision/panic whether to answer or miss the message. Some hospital callers won't leave a message for 'privacy' reasons.
lookapigeon
Member
- Joined
- 18 Dec 2009
- Messages
- 147
Are people overly trusting of people that purport to be in authority in this country? I watched the BBC scammers programme last night and there was someone that was completely following every single word of the scammer, from installing the remote control software on their phone, to ignoring the warnings provided by the banking app and attempting to transfer the money into a "safe account" without question at all.
ABB125
Established Member
And another this afternoon.
Howardh
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 May 2011
- Messages
- 9,120
When I had power of attourney over Mum I got a phone call from "my bank" although it did give the name of the bank and mum's surname. But, of course, I rejected the automated call as a scam - they said there had been suspicious activity etc. yeah, right.
They rang three times. I refused to engage three times. But I thought I'd just check mum's online accounts; and sure enough, there had been three unauthorised withdrawls from her account so I rather sheepishly rang my the bank back and explained! Happily they understood, and also refunded the fraud which amounted to a few hundred pounds. Also their system recognised that I had registered my POA with them so that wasn't an issue. No way could mum have managed.
But, yes, I'm surprised anyone falls for it, but there are many who aren't savvy and simply panic when called.
dangie
Established Member
There are also many, usually of the older generation, who can’t accept that anyone could be dishonest and try to cheat others out of money. Some may say they are extremely naive, which they may be, but being naive is not a crime and should not be criticised but helped.
Note to Howardh: I know you haven’t criticised, I’m just adding my bit.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Someone mentioned to me ages ago that middle-aged women are specifically targeted by romance scammers.
PeterY
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,350
One reason I'm reluctant to change to a "smart" phone. I don't get scam calls either.
That won't increase the number or type of calls you receive.
dangie
Established Member
Whenever I receive a call from a number which I don’t recognise, I cancel the call then enter the number into Google search. If it should come up with a legitimate number or business I do recognise then I’ll decide whether to call it back, otherwise I ignore it.
Buzby
Member
Sounds like a VOIP provider with virtual numbers in the various areas. Should be fairly easy to track who the number range is allocated to.
Had 3 in the past two weeks - none of which got through my 'Call Guardian' system. Reference to the 'Who Called Me?' website suggests two were the common energy/insulation scam and one was an AI bank card scam.
Ivor
Member
I’ve done it more than once after stringing them along until they get to the point of asking for bank details, it seems to have really increased past few weeks again.Normally ignored, I had the pleasure of a "scam vent" earlier today.
My one regret was I was maybe too hasty to put the phone down on them. If my mother was still alive she would have been appalled at my language.
Anyway a call last week I let him have it with industrial language I’m not proud of, he kept ringing every 5 mins with different spoofed numbers, he got bored two days on as I ignored the calls & all the time calling me he’s not robbing someone else.
What really got me was I put on a frail voice stating I was 97 (got 26 years to get there if I make it) & that didn’t deter him, they really are the dregs.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
It must be two years now since someone asked for my bank details, to which I responded that it had a big varnished wooden front door and two polished brass handles, white painted window frames and a big sign over the door, but it did not have toilets for customer use. The line went dead.
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Today, Saturday morning, at 10:00, the telephone rang and I expected it would have been one of my twin sons informing me how their three week holiday in Anglesey had fared, as they were due back very late on Friday.
Indeed, what was heard was the most heavily accented male Indian voice stating it was " Domestic and General" asking to speak to the "Man of the House". I responded by saying that I was Lord Snooty, and noting that the calling company dealt with domestics, asked what their company charge would be for a two week hire of a scullery maid, as we were expecting guests at the manor from France for that period and we would need a second scullery maid. I wonder why the call was terminated by them?
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Today, Saturday morning, at 10:00, the telephone rang and I expected it would have been one of my twin sons informing me how their three week holiday in Anglesey had fared, as they were due back very late on Friday.
Indeed, what was heard was the most heavily accented male Indian voice stating it was " Domestic and General" asking to speak to the "Man of the House". I responded by saying that I was Lord Snooty, and noting that the calling company dealt with domestics, asked what their company charge would be for a two week hire of a scullery maid, as we were expecting guests at the manor from France for that period and we would need a second scullery maid. I wonder why the call was terminated by them?
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Halwynd
Member
I seldom use Amazon, perhaps twice a year, and my purchases are from the same reputable Marketplace supplier who I have used for several years without a problem.
I placed an order with them a few days ago - the first this year - and it was delivered by Royal Mail this morning. Just a couple of hours later I received one of the Royal Mail scam text messages, which was so obviously a scam that I'm surprised people still fall for them.
What is interesting is that I have had the same mobile number for many years and which I have managed to keep 'clean' - never have I received either a scam text or phone call in all this time.
Seems a heck of a coincidence.
I placed an order with them a few days ago - the first this year - and it was delivered by Royal Mail this morning. Just a couple of hours later I received one of the Royal Mail scam text messages, which was so obviously a scam that I'm surprised people still fall for them.
What is interesting is that I have had the same mobile number for many years and which I have managed to keep 'clean' - never have I received either a scam text or phone call in all this time.
Seems a heck of a coincidence.
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on the opposite side of things today - almost didn't answer a call from the hospital (automated system asking if was going to attend an appointment) because it was from a number in the same area code as me, on a number i don't normally give out (but I guess the NHS had it). it is not uncommon for scammers to spoof numbers in the same code in the hopes you'll answer.
I was under the impression that the healthcare sector normally used withheld numbers to maintain confidentiality. not only was this not the case, but it said which trust it was and asked if i was <my name>. i feel like that could be potentially embarrassing...
I was under the impression that the healthcare sector normally used withheld numbers to maintain confidentiality. not only was this not the case, but it said which trust it was and asked if i was <my name>. i feel like that could be potentially embarrassing...
Buzby
Member
This was only because their original antiquated PABX systems had no facility to provide a central number, so Withheld their number. As time progressed, people became suspicious of Number Unavailable calls and didn't answer. As the new systems went in, NHS Trusts usually presented an local(ish) number as an identifier, but if called would either identify the trust and/or say they would call back.
The automated appointment reminder calls (in my area at least) asks if it is me and to confirm enter my birth year as 4 digits. If you pass this, it moves on to reminding you of your appointment date and time, asking for 1 if you'll attend and 2 if you won't. I was quite impressed!
I was complaining a month or two back that since the start of this year the monthly total of unwanted calls (albeit intercepted by my 'Call Guardian' system so they don't trouble me) had about trebled compared to the call rate in 2023. August had 33 calls - the highest this year - but to my great surprise there were only 12 such calls in September. A welcome decrease!
Had a call from an Indian gentleman this morning. He asked if he was speaking to "The man of the house"! I should have asked him if he was calling from the 18th century, but I wasn't quick-thinking enough, so just did my usual "I don't accept unsolicited calls" and put the phone down. Made me smile.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Sounds like the one in my posting #1,968, who also asked to speak to "The man of the house". He claimed to be from Domestic and General.
Apologies, I missed that for some reason. Is Rees-Mogg writing their scripts now he's out of a job?. I never let them get far enough to tell me where they're from.
Gloster
Established Member
Just had one in my spam box titled ‘Your email require (sic) verification to avoid shutdown ‘ : it says I have 9 pending and cannot send or receive e-mails. It also has an update button. it appears to come from yahoo, but underneath is a completely different address. I propose to dump it.
That's a new government department to me! .. or maybe even 'old'
These did the rounds on the last cost of living payouts, dont think there are any more payments though.
Donny Dave
Established Member
I've had a couple In the last 2 or 3 months supposedly from mobile phone companies, checking to see if I meet the criteria to have a one third discount on my contract. The first one was ended by them when I said I was on pay as you go, the second went something like this....
'I'm calling from Tesco Mobile to see if you're eligible for a 33% discount on your contract.'
Me. No your not.
Them. No, we're not what?
Me. Calling from Tesco Mobile. If you was, you would know that I'm not a customer.
The line went dead.
'I'm calling from Tesco Mobile to see if you're eligible for a 33% discount on your contract.'
Me. No your not.
Them. No, we're not what?
Me. Calling from Tesco Mobile. If you was, you would know that I'm not a customer.
The line went dead.
I've had two of these scam texts within the last two days regarding my eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance. I'm not eligible anyway because I haven't reached State Pension Age. Nor did the texts mention me by name, so I knew it was a scam straightaway. Both blocked and deleted.