How to avoid scam calls?

HBC08

Recently I've started getting calls from unknown numbers in the UK,before that they were coming from Botswana and sub Saharan Africa and were obviously scams.
I answered one of the UK ones and now I'm being plagued,about 5 calls a day all from different UK numbers.
Is there anything I can do about this? I'm with Vodafone.

Hurrache

Don't answer and block the number.

HBC08

Hurrache wrote: »

Don't answer and block the number.

The problem is it comes from a different number every time,never the same num twice.

CoBo55

HBC08 wrote: »

The problem is it comes from a different number every time,never the same num twice.

Refs whistle, gets 'em every time:(:(
Quare bloody annoying.

Green Mile

You must have placed your mobile on a website that wasn’t secure.
If you answer any of these calls at all, the system they use will flag your number as a valid number and the calls will keep coming.
I believe you can block phone calls from a country, depends on your device.

Hurrache

HBC08 wrote: »

The problem is it comes from a different number every time,never the same num twice.

I think Android phones will learn what are scam calls though and start to offer up blocking them. Ignoring them though it the easiest.

irishbuzz

HBC08 wrote: »

The problem is it comes from a different number every time, never the same num twice.

If only the last few digits tend to change then use an app like Calls Blacklist (Android) it will allow you to block numbers based on a pattern.

HBC08

Thanks for the advice and responses .
No solution though,the numbers are not similar but are all UK numbers.
It's not an option to block all UK numbers.
I'm guessing there's no point trying to contact vodafone over it?

CoBo55

Are you getting them on a landline or mobile? As someone said earlier if you have an android phone it should prompt you to block the number.

HBC08

CoBo55 wrote: »

Are you getting them on a landline or mobile? As someone said earlier if you have an android phone it should prompt you to block the number.

Android,
Blocking the num wont stop the calls,they come from a different number every time.

Doctors room ghost

Don’t answer the phone unless you know who is calling.
If it’s anyone important they can leave a message and you can ring them back.otherwise they can fcuk right off

sofiane9mm

Use the app called True Caller.

Dempo1

HBC08 wrote: »

Recently I've started getting calls from unknown numbers in the UK,before that they were coming from Botswana and sub Saharan Africa and were obviously scams.
I answered one of the UK ones and now I'm being plagued,about 5 calls a day all from different UK numbers.
Is there anything I can do about this? I'm with Vodafone.

Sadly no, Networks generally are seeing an enormous increase in these random numbers calling their customers. Some very clever number configurations to make them look like local or Irish mobile numbers.

Networks do eventually block these numbers based on complaint volumes but in essence they'll never be able to stop this issue completely as there's literally an unlimited amount of bogus numbers scammers csn generate.

The trick is never to call them back, this is how peop are caught, might sound easy but it's really the only option.

When I see one, I copy the number and do a Google search, pretty quickly results will show its a scam number. I then block it. It doesn't stop it calling my phone but as its blocked, I don't see it, unless I check my blocked numbers, messages feature.

A pain yes but better than getting caught out.

Do not however block unknown, private numbers in your calls/message settings , unfortunately if you do this, it can affect verification codes etc from legitimate organisations, banks etc

alan4cult

I emailed Comreg about this but they don't seem to be too engaged in getting involved.

I'm sure the operators have a basic system of call filtering / scam identification based on patterns or maybe they don't.

Del2005

alan4cult wrote: »

I emailed Comreg about this but they don't seem to be too engaged in getting involved.

I'm sure the operators have a basic system of call filtering / scam identification based on patterns or maybe they don't.

What can comreg or the operator do about calls from outside the country that regularly change the number?

Even if they do block it the companies will just find another way. My spam folder gets very few emails these days, so the tech companies have got better at blocking so they move to ringing random numbers now. Stop the ringing they'll start on a new system.

BTW what's the difference in answering the phone and letting it go to voicemail? Both verify that the number is active for the scammers