Plagued by scam calls *DON'T POST PHONE NUMBERS*

PetitPois89

Is anybody else receiving an excessive amount of scam calls from the UK? Yesterday alone I received 7 of these calls. I didn’t answer them and blocked each number but each call was from another variation of the same phone number from “Brentwood, UK”

Is there a way to stop these calls?

Wheety

You didn't sign up to an online course recently did you? Only reason I ask is I've read a lot of bad things about a certain Irish online course company selling information.

Atlantic Dawn

I find it's cyclical, might not get a call for 6 months then could get 5 in a week, nothing much you can do.

Zenify

My wife got lots of calls so she changed her number. She simply sent her new number to all her contacts and problem solved. People get too attached to their number. I think you need to let it go. She got her new number in January and she hasn't gotten a single cold call since.

I remember when I was in school (15 years ago) people were paying us to give them all the names age and contact details of the contacts in our phones..... They are probably still in some Indian contact list somewhere....

PetitPois89

Wheety wrote: »

You didn't sign up to an online course recently did you? Only reason I ask is I've read a lot of bad things about a certain Irish online course company selling information.

No I haven’t. I can’t pinpoint how these people have my number

ongarite

Scammers can get your phone number from databases of websites that have been hacked.

Check your email here to see if your details have been compromised
https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Also Google Chrome has built in password safety checker too.

E38E3E38E3EE33

Same issue, started yesterday, here's some of the variations I've got:

00441277287704
00441277287707
00441277287706
00441277287708

Del2005

Why are people afraid to answer phone calls? Any strange number that pops up I'll answer and tell then I'm not interested and no more calls, automated phone systems will keep calling you till you answer and you can't get charged for receiving calls

PetitPois89

Del2005 wrote: »

Why are people afraid to answer phone calls? Any strange number that pops up I'll answer and tell then I'm not interested and no more calls, automated phone systems will keep calling you till you answer and you can't get charged for receiving calls

I thought you could get charged for answering them?

PetitPois89

E38E3E38E3EE33 wrote: »

Same issue, started yesterday, here's some of the variations I've got:

00441277287704
00441277287707
00441277287706
00441277287708

They’re the numbers calling me too. Another 3 calls this morning and it’s only past 10am

whiterebel

Mine are of the "Irish" number variety. Another rang yesterday, an 085 mobile. Crypto currency. Told very loudly to f**k off, not interested, don't call again. Called me again 30 seconds later, with an 051 area code saying how rude I was........Utter w@nkers. Mine is my business number, so its not as if I can'y answer it.

10-10-20

whiterebel wrote: »

Mine are of the "Irish" number variety. Another rang yesterday, an 085 mobile. Crypto currency. Told very loudly to f**k off, not interested, don't call again. Called me again 30 seconds later, with an 051 area code saying how rude I was........Utter w@nkers. Mine is my business number, so its not as if I can'y answer it.

Yeah - I had some dude with a heavy Russian accent ask me if I had an interest in bitcoin. I responded to say that I had no interest and his response then was:
"Perhaps your lack of interest is due to your lack of knowledge in bitc...". I hung up at that point. Fuggers.

Del2005 wrote:

Why are people afraid to answer phone calls? Any strange number that pops up I'll answer and tell then I'm not interested and no more calls, automated phone systems will keep calling you till you answer and you can't get charged for receiving calls

Because by answering the call, your confirming that there is a human ear on the other end. It's like clicking the bait in emails - it serves to validate the email address for one thing!

ongarite

10-10-20 wrote: »

Because by answering the call, your confirming that there is a human ear on the other end. It's like clicking the bait in emails - it serves to validate the email address for one thing!

Correct, by answering the call, your number will be provided to other scam databases as known good number so your number of calls will increase.

Video with explanation of similar scam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrKW58MS12g

spurious

I usually ask the Indian ones would their mother be proud to know they are trying to fool people out of their money. It generally doesn't go down well.

L1011

PetitPois89 wrote: »

I thought you could get charged for answering them?

Only in America.

PetitPois89

L1011 wrote: »

Only in America.

Good to know, thanks

okidoki987

I used to get scam calls mainly from India on the house phone.
The line went down for a couple of months due to a connection problem.
Got connected back and 1st 2 calls I got were.............scam calls!
I answer it when they let me and just play along with them and let them
waffle away.
When I get bored, I tell them I need to go to the toilet but get them to hang on and just leave the phone in a drawer.
Strange that they have always hung up when I "return" some time later :rolleyes:.

Tabnabs

E38E3E38E3EE33 wrote: »

Same issue, started yesterday, here's some of the variations I've got:

00441277287704
00441277287707
00441277287706
00441277287708

I'm getting these too, some Russian lady offering finance, bitcoin etc. I have a really loud whistle I'm going to try out on her with the next call.

antimatterx

I've got a lot of spam emails and texts recently. Tempted to get a new number and email as it's fierce annoying.

u2me

We were getting a good few of these calls are various stages, seems like it goes in cycles and when they pass through whatever batch your number is in you won’t hear from them again for a while. In fairness, they are always very polite but it is annoying when you getting a good few of them.

We have a block facility on the phone which is fine but they have a new number each time anyway. From what I have read the phone companies can’t do much about or are not bothered to do anything about it.

Wanton

spurious wrote: »

I usually ask the Indian ones would their mother be proud to know they are trying to fool people out of their money. It generally doesn't go down well.

I used to get plagued on our landline...

Then one day as the phone rang i opened a certain adult orientated streaming site and played the audio..... he was amused till I asked him did he enjoy listening to his mother...

wasnt my finest moment, but they never called again!

I actually don’t mind if people actually speak on these calls as I keep a very loud whistle close by just for such scam calls and it’s amazing how you can impact someone negatively thousands of miles away from you, with just with a little whistle.

It’s when the landline phone keeps ringing every day around 10am or so and it knocks off when you answer it- hasn’t happened in about 8 months now but there was a period of about 3 weeks when it was very regular

Wanton

I was off work for a period of months in 2013, I used to enjoy the calls up to a point.

I took great pleasure in wasting their time for as long as possible, I was bored. But its fine when your prepared, know whats happening and have nothing better to be doing.

It was only when they started getting aggressive that I got bored and I resorted to the video nasties.

beertons

The wife's uncle tells me of all these calls he gets about the Internet browser. He talks away, nods the head, takes a few notes. Then they say turn on your computer. He doesn't have a computer. I told you this the last time he goes. Funny guy, pity he's long retired, he'd sell ice to the Eskimo's.

u2me

Actually, I think you can get a robocall blocker app for mobiles but I don't know how effective they are, imagine it is only the paid ones that might actually work...

jimbobaloobob

They are getting smarter and know that a call coming from Uganda or Ivory Coast isn’t likely to be picked up so using uk or Irish numbers is getting more common. They can also piggy back on legit companies numbers. There’s a regular one I get from a Wexford company and the company is aware it happens but can’t do anything about it.

Easiest not to pick them up and then just block the number from calling you again.

Jim_Hodge

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

They are getting smarter and know that a call coming from Uganda or Ivory Coast isn’t likely to be picked up so using uk or Irish numbers is getting more common. They can also piggy back on legit companies numbers. There’s a regular one I get from a Wexford company and the company is aware it happens but can’t do anything about it.

Easiest not to pick them up and then just block the number from calling you again.

They keep changing the number, so blocking is a waste of time. Answer, kill a few minutes as though you're falling for the scam, then tell them what you think of them, ask if their mother is proud of them, tell them where to shove their scam or whatever you like and they won't phone back too often. Or interrupt them after 3 or 4 seconds by telling them to F off. It doesn't take long and costs you nothing,

Ian OB

Right, I got a call from this number earlier today 00447547526839.

Answered it anyway & yer man at the other end says "is this 'my name'?". Yes says I & he hung up.

A little puzzled in fairness. So I googled the number & without spending money all I know is its a UK mobile on the O2 network.

Not a clue what this will turn into. Hopefully nothing

joeysoap

twice a night (2/3/4/5 am ) Djibouti, Sudan,Eritrea.

I ignore them but I admit to almost falling for an email asking for €1.50 for import duties. Email said parcel would be held for a week for payment.And I was expecting a parcel at the time. Email looked like a courier was involved. They weren’t. Scam. Parcel arrived by Post a few days later.

Grab All Association

Half awake I accidentally called one back. It was a scam number in Iraq. I hung up instantly within 2 seconds. A month later my GoMo bill came and there was no record of it. I got lucky. Vodafone and Three would unashamedly charge you for this.

And btw I didn’t press call. I just had my finger on my iPhone and it unlocked and called. Be careful unlocking your phone.

L1011

Ian OB wrote: »

Right, I got a call from this number earlier today 00447547526839.

Answered it anyway & yer man at the other end says "is this 'my name'?". Yes says I & he hung up.

A little puzzled in fairness. So I googled the number & without spending money all I know is its a UK mobile on the O2 network.

Not a clue what this will turn into. Hopefully nothing

Probably nothing, but try avoid saying yes or even making agreement-noises (uh-huh, etc) on these types of calls. The common scam that getting a recording of you saying "yes" for is slamming but that's not a common thing in Ireland.

RoYoBo

All numbers not in my contact list go to the answer machine. None of the scam calls ever leave a message. If the person ringing doesn't leave a message they can't have anything important to convey to me is my take.

I know that won't be the same for everyone but I hate the nuisance of them. At night, only my pre-set priority numbers calling/texting can be heard. The rest are on silent.

corks finest

PetitPois89 wrote: »

Is anybody else receiving an excessive amount of scam calls from the UK? Yesterday alone I received 7 of these calls. I didn’t answer them and blocked each number but each call was from another variation of the same phone number from “Brentwood, UK”

Is there a way to stop these calls?

Never received one that I answered,I've all international barred,as are unknown numbers

yrreg0850

I cancelled Amazon prime yesterday and, within an hour I got a call from an 075 number ( Carlow I think) asking me to press "1" to renew my prime.

This call came to my landline which I have never given to Amazon.


Correction call was from 057 not 075.

Grab All Association

yrreg0850 wrote: »

I cancelled Amazon prime yesterday and, within an hour I got a call from an 075 number ( Carlow I think) asking me to press "1" to renew my prime.

This call came to my landline which I have never given to Amazon.

It’s a scam. We are getting those calls on our landlines

Jim_Hodge

yrreg0850 wrote: »

I cancelled Amazon prime yesterday and, within an hour I got a call from an 075 number ( Carlow I think) asking me to press "1" to renew my prime.

This call came to my landline which I have never given to Amazon.

Just a coincidence. I've got those calls to my landline and never had Prime.

corks finest

Grab All Association wrote: »

It’s a scam. We are getting those calls on our landlines

074 is Donegal so miles away from Carlow , but it could be India or anywhere

corks finest

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

They are getting smarter and know that a call coming from Uganda or Ivory Coast isn’t likely to be picked up so using uk or Irish numbers is getting more common. They can also piggy back on legit companies numbers. There’s a regular one I get from a Wexford company and the company is aware it happens but can’t do anything about it.

Easiest not to pick them up and then just block the number from calling you again.

That's exactly what to do it's annoying but worth it( block)

corks finest

spurious wrote: »

I usually ask the Indian ones would their mother be proud to know they are trying to fool people out of their money. It generally doesn't go down well.

As a painter in different houses regularly I answered a few after constant ringing and immediately on hearomg indisn voices I put thumb and forefinger together and literally blew a mighty ear piercing whistle down the line,(hirt me also,but I felt good )

My long gone ma was getting filthy calls regularly,she forbade us to answer,on went the ear muffs and out came the refs whistle, sorted it after a few weeks

Jim_Hodge

corks finest wrote: »

As a painter in different houses regularly I answered a few after constant ringing and immediately on hearomg indisn voices I put thumb and forefinger together and literally blew a mighty ear piercing whistle down the line,(hirt me also,but I felt good )

My long gone ma was getting filthy calls regularly,she forbade us to answer,on went the ear muffs and out came the refs whistle, sorted it after a few weeks

Whistles down the phone have no impact since digital exchanges came in. The frequency that offended the ears isn't transmitted and Phone systems now usually have automatic gain control applied to the output of the transmitter / microphone

yrreg0850

corks finest wrote: »

074 is Donegal so miles away from Carlow , but it could be India or anywhere

Sorry I got my codes mixed up the call was from an 057 number.

PetitPois89

So I answered one of these calls from 00441274296309 out of curiosity. It was some trading company saying I had made an enquiry that I was looking to increase my income by trading. She had my full name and knew I lived in Dublin, I never confirmed any of these details with her. She had gotten my number from Revolut, so that explains it somewhat.

10-10-20

PetitPois89 wrote: »

She had my full name and knew I lived in Dublin, I never confirmed any of these details with her. She had gotten my number from Revolut, so that explains it somewhat.

Ah ha, Revolut. Most interesting.
When I was signing up to Revolut, there was no way that I agreed to receive calls from third parties, but yet I'm getting them. Bitcoin and investments. Are most posters on this thread also Revolut users?

whiterebel

I use Revolut. I'll be asking them some questions in a minute.

L1011

I get the investment scam calls and I have never used Revolut. They have got their hands on a data leak from somewhere I'd expect - they will never tell you how/when/where you "signed up"/"expressed an interest".

Andy454

I set up a contact ZSpam (putting a z infront of it sends it to the bottom of my contact list) and then add the prefixes of numbers to it and then select block all contact.

So in the case of these 00441277287707

Just add 00441277 to block all of this series.....
I’ve also added country codes such as Ivory Coast etc....

Andy454

But just remember it will block all calls from numbers containing this prefix....

Johnthemanager

PetitPois89 wrote: »

No I haven’t. I can’t pinpoint how these people have my number

They may not have your number as such, it may simply be a random number generator that is ringing you. Did they know your name?

L1011

The poster you're quoting has already said they had their name.

The financial trading scammers have names and partial addresses, from a specific unknown data breach I'd imagine.

PetitPois89

Johnthemanager wrote: »

They may not have your number as such, it may simply be a random number generator that is ringing you. Did they know your name?

Yes they had my name. Calls have reduced a lot in the past fortnight. I still get one call every other day and block the number each time

JohnMcm1

I've been getting calls from "the department of protection" all morning with an automated message telling me i'm in trouble with the gardai lol.