Answering calls from foreign numbers

CiniO

I've seen it all over social media, tv, radio, etc - where they advise if you get a call from unknown foreign number to never answer or call back or text back.

And while not calling back or texting back makes perfect sense, as it might be premium rate numbers and cost fortune to call/text, I don't get this about not answering.

AFAIK there's no charge in Ireland whether you're using mobile or landline for answering any calls - no matter where they originate from.

So why are we all advised not to answer calls from foreign numbers?


I never hesitate to answer any call. And though most people would be similar - but no.
Currently I have a plan with 100 minutes from Vodafone, and it is normally sufficient for me, but from time to time, I run out of free minutes towards the end of the month. However as I have dual sim phone and always carry my Polish sim, I then use my Polish sim to make calls to friends/etc (as roaming is free anyway) so that way I don't get hit with high out of bundle vodafone call charges.

But to my suprise, most of people I ring, never answer. They later always explain the same - I've seen foreign number so I thought it was a scam...
I was recently shopping for a car, and used my Polish number as well to call sellers, and 90% didn't answer.
In general, it's pretty much impossible to use foreign phone in Ireland as people just don't answer.


Can someone explain it to me why is it like that?

wexie

It's probably more a case of 'don't waste your time' no?

Least that's how I look at it, same way I don't open emails that are clearly spam

Mint Sauce

You are not gloing to get scammed for answering a call, but you could if you give away personal information. Similar if people call you from ex directory, it will appear as private number, does not mean its a scam.

Nollog

It's easier than explaining the scams people do on old people about "viruses on their network in their computer".

endacl

The scam is that you return the call. Which will be to a premium number.

I've had two from Burundi today...

ohnonotgmail

I dont answer calls from unknown numbers full stop.

TallGlass

Answering the calls will prompt more of them. As the automated dialer will register it as active. Your confirming the number exists and is active if you answer, I would imagine.

job seeker

I'm after answering one 2 minutes ago. I assumed it was an 01 dublin number. Then they didn't talk, so I called it back. I got no answer so I text "u ok hun? Xoxo".. Just to make sure they were ok.

topper75

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

I dont answer calls from unknown numbers full stop.

Yes correct approach. The Prize Bonds etc. will write a letter.

So no need to answer anything unrecognised.

ED E

CiniO wrote: »

Can someone explain it to me why is it like that?

Ignorance.

VinLieger

The scam is you answer they hang up after spouting some cryptic half sentence prompting you to call them back and thats where they get some of their money from, they will then try to weasel card details etc out of you if they can.

I ignore any calls from foreign numbers, ill usually google to see if theres any reports of it being a scam and then blacklist it so it can never call back

CiniO

VinLieger wrote: »

The scam is you answer they hang up after spouting some cryptic half sentence prompting you to call them back and thats where they get some of their money from, they will then try to weasel card details etc out of you if they can.

As I said returning foreign calls or giving card details is pure stupid.

I ignore any calls from foreign numbers, ill usually google to see if theres any reports of it being a scam and then blacklist it so it can never call back

But why assumption that all foreign number calls are scam ?

VinLieger

CiniO wrote: »

But why assumption that all foreign number calls are scam ?

Because all foreign numbers that have called me in the last couple of years have been scams..... if anyone i know from another country wants to talk to me theres much easier and cheaper ways to do it via whatsapp etc

ohnonotgmail

CiniO wrote: »

As I said returning foreign calls or giving card details is pure stupid.



But why assumption that all foreign number calls are scam ?

because anybody with a foreign number that might call me is already in my phone and so their name would pop up instead.

Bob Harris

CiniO wrote: »

I've seen it all over social media, tv, radio, etc - where they advise if you get a call from unknown foreign number to never answer or call back or text back.


But to my suprise, most of people I ring, never answer. They later always explain the same - I've seen foreign number so I thought it was a scam...


Can someone explain it to me why is it like that?

You just explained it to yourself.

Mint Sauce

VinLieger wrote: »

Because all foreign numbers that have called me in the last couple of years have been scams..... if anyone i know from another country wants to talk to me theres much easier and cheaper ways to do it via whatsapp etc

Is Whatsapp, Viber, etc popular outside of the UK and Ireland. I have American family who have heard of neither.

cantdecide

endacl wrote: »

The scam is that you return the call. I've had two from Burundi today...

Lucky beggar. None of mine ever call me back

VinLieger

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Is Whatsapp, Viber, etc popular outside of the UK and Ireland. I have American family who have heard of neither.

Viber ive no idea, but whatsapp has over 1 billion active users and everyone i know in the states uses it.

Do your family use any messaging apps at all or do they just text?

Tony H

got one from Burundi about 10 mins ago

*+257 89779914‬

kept on ringing for about 20 sec which was unusual

punisher5112

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

I dont answer calls from unknown numbers full stop.

But I could be calling to tell you your windows is faulty or I have many many millions to put in your bank account as I can't bring it into the country....

weldoninhio

endacl wrote: »

The scam is that you return the call. Which will be to a premium number.

I've had two from Burundi today...

Snap. I've had 2 from Burundi too today.

punisher5112

Tony H wrote: »

got one from Burundi about 10 mins ago

*+257 89779914‬

kept on ringing for about 20 sec which was unusual

Had that this morning....

Harry Palmr

Damn, I feel so Billy No Mates

the_syco

I get a lot less phonecalls from foreign numbers when they copped that I'll answer their phonecalls :P

cantdecide

Albania just called me.

punisher5112

cantdecide wrote: »

Albania just called me.

How are they over the water.

Hector Bellend

Any foreign numbers or unrecognisable numbers are to be ignored.

simples

Mint Sauce

VinLieger wrote: »

Viber ive no idea, but whatsapp has over 1 billion active users and everyone i know in the states uses it.

Do your family use any messaging apps at all or do they just text?

Text and FB Messenger.

CiniO

the_syco wrote: »

I get a lot less phonecalls from foreign numbers when they copped that I'll answer their phonecalls :P

I was thinking that.
In the end it costs them probably full 1 minute rate if you answer the phone.
Not worth it for them.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I never answer foreign numbers. I will usually google the number to see where it is from when they stop ringing. My attitude is that there is no one is any other country other than here that could have anything worthwhile to talk to me about and if they did and really needed to get in contact with me then they can send a message and tell me who they are and what they want.

CiniO

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I never answer foreign numbers. I will usually google the number to see where it is from when they stop ringing. My attitude is that there is no one is any other country other than here that could have anything worthwhile to talk to me about and if they did and really needed to get in contact with me then they can send a message and tell me who they are and what they want.

What if you're advertising something for sale on donedeal or the likes?
You'd still not interested to deal with buyer with foreign number?

punisher5112

CiniO wrote: »

What if you're advertising something for sale on donedeal or the likes?
You'd still not interested to deal with buyer with foreign number?

Dang foreigner numbers......

cantdecide

punisher5112 wrote: »

How are they over the water.

I'll call them back an... wait, oh you trickster!

FishOnABike

CiniO wrote: »

I was thinking that.
In the end it costs them probably full 1 minute rate if you answer the phone.
Not worth it for them.

They probably use a VoIP service to make their outgoing calls at next to no cost to them and fake the calling line ID to show an international premium cost phone number for unsuspecting victims to call them back on.

JupiterKid

Like others here, I screen my incoming calls and never answer from a number I don't recognise.

goonbag

Tony H wrote: »

got one from Burundi about 10 mins ago

*+257 89779914‬

kept on ringing for about 20 sec which was unusual

Should have answered that one, I talked to the lad and it turns out he's a prince, he's giving me half his fortune once I pay the bank transaction fees

FingerDeKat

Hector Bellend wrote: »

Any foreign numbers or unrecognisable numbers are to be ignored.

simples

If it's someone I do know they can text me if needed.Have my voicemail setup saying that if I don't recognise your number...i aint answering

CiniO

So - lot's of answers in this thread confirming what I was saying. Most people don't answer calls from foreign/unknown numbers.

However I still can't understand why?

Like do you get those call few times a day?
For me, over last year, i probably got maybe 5 to 10 missed calls from some usually African countries which were so short, I had not even remotely a chance to answer. These were very likely scam.
But if someone was normally ringing me from foreign number I would be more than curious who is that and what he wants. I'd always answer.

Pity that people are so scared off answering those.

FingerDeKat

CiniO wrote: »

Pity that people are so scared off answering those.

Not scared...just have better things to do with my time.

ED E

CiniO wrote: »

So - lot's of answers in this thread confirming what I was saying. Most people don't answer calls from foreign/unknown numbers.

However I still can't understand why?

Like do you get those call few times a day?
For me, i probably got maybe 5 to 10 missed calls from some usually African countries which were so short, I had not even remotely a chance to answer. These were very likely scam.
But if someone was normally ringing me from foreign number I would be more than curious who is that and what he wants. I'd always answer.

Pity that people are so scared off answering those.

Like you I happen to have a Polish number but the thing is it's not common. Average Joe might receive 200 Irish calls a month, 10 scammer calls and 0.05 calls from legit foreign numbers (excluding 0044). So the mindshare out there is foreign = scammer.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

RiderOnTheStorm

CiniO wrote:

And while not calling back or texting back makes perfect sense, as it might be premium rate numbers and cost fortune to call/text, I don't get this about not answering.

A couple of years ago I got 4 texts from a number I didn't recognise. All arrived within seconds of each other. That should have set bells ringing, but I was innocent then. I opened the texts and there was a link inside. Same link in each text. I didn't open link (I'm not that innocent!). Still, I got a bill for 12e (3e for each txt). I queried it with Eircom and they said the "business caller" had the riht to charge me as I opened an earlier txt which meant I basically accepted the businesses terms & conditions.

I am still looking for that package that will allow me to call others and they pay for it. Seems it is out there, but must be closely guarded secret.

DeeTee100

CiniO wrote:

What if you're advertising something for sale on donedeal or the likes? You'd still not interested to deal with buyer with foreign number?

Definitely not. Almost got caught out with a PayPal scam before when selling something on Donedeal. They sent me a text from a UK number, asked me to post to Liverpool. It actually seemed fairly genuine at first. Luckily I copped it in time.

Foreign number is an instant red flag for me now for this sort of thing.

Cee-Jay-Cee

CiniO wrote: »

What if you're advertising something for sale on donedeal or the likes?
You'd still not interested to deal with buyer with foreign number?

Nope and like I said if it is important enough (to them at least) they can text me and tell me what they want.

scamalert

well OPs question answer why 1% get scammed and what keeps them scammers alive, old folk dont have knowledge so its easier to say dont answer or call back without getting into details.

CiniO wrote: »

What if you're advertising something for sale on donedeal or the likes?
You'd still not interested to deal with buyer with foreign number?

specially crap like this usually guaranteed scam, will give story not in country etc, send funds = scammed, if someone cant bother to use local country number then might move to next add.as saying goes if its to good to be true most likely its not.

cbreeze

Its the old one ring scam Its to tempt you to ring the number back when you've missed it to incur premium rate charges.

EPAndlee

Got a good few of those phone calls, never answered the calls but then again I don't even answer the phone to people I know so hardly going to answer to some dodgy numbers

ArchXStanton

I've had a rash of these calls lately...bit of a bastard when you're trying to run a business and guessing if they're genuine customers or not

leck

Hector Bellend wrote: »

Any foreign numbers or unrecognisable numbers are to be ignored.

simples

I have two family members that have unlisted landline numbers (no idea why) so they come up as Private. Kind of forces me to answer all Private calls. I find it annoying.

Wondering if there is some way to force legitimate callers from private numbers to enter their phone number before call gets through.