Scam calls

fun loving criminal · 06-09-2021 9:08am #1

I'm still getting these scam calls. What do I do about it?

I got so pissed off this morning that I decided to piss them off. They asked me for my name and I told them that they are ringing me so they should know my name already and I asked them what was my name.

They then said that they need to open my file and I told them that my file was already open for them to be ringing me and I asked them to tell me what my name is again.

They continued on being ignorant and continued asking me for my name. I told them that I know my name but do you know my name?

Got fed up and put them on hold. But is there anything I can do about these calls?

EmmetSpiceland · 06-09-2021 9:11am

Don’t answer any calls from “unknown”, or private, numbers. If it’s important they’ll leave a message.

littlecopilot · 06-09-2021 9:21am

I'm sick to death of these calls. Was using an app call Truecaller also, but it's not affective as they keep changing numbers. The numbers also are very similar to my phone, for example if my number is 086 1234299 then the number calling is 086 1234309 etc.

I've just blocked numbers/sms that are not in my contacts list. Like EmmetSpiceland said above, if I miss a call now and it's important they can leave a message. I haven't received one of these annoying spam calls in a few days now.

fun loving criminal · 06-09-2021 11:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852255#Comment_117852255

The phone numbers are similar to my number as well. How does this scam work at all?

Atlantic Dawn · 06-09-2021 11:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852719#Comment_117852719

They look for some simpleton to login to a remote desktop website where they will get them go input their bank details and scammer drains their account. Succes rate is probably .001% which is enough to make it profitable.

Cordell · 06-09-2021 11:44am

The Department of Social Protection Department (yes) calls have stopped, now it's DHL texts and Amazon prime refund calls.

Atlantic Dawn · 06-09-2021 11:47am

The Army Ranger Wing should be sent out to find them and level their offices to the ground.

fun loving criminal · 06-09-2021 11:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852917#Comment_117852917

I'm still getting calls from the department of social protection.

Strumms · 06-09-2021 11:56am

Same here, they’re increasing over the last couple of weeks.. with my Dad in hospital, all be it thankfully doing good now.. it’s crap when you see firstly numbers you are not familiar with coming up and then having to deal with some gherkin brained wánkbag sounding like a cross between Popeye and Imran Kahn...

Rock Steady Edy · 06-09-2021 12:05pm

I usually get several calls a week from various domestic and International numbers purporting to be from Amazon Prime and that something about a debit for 79.99 is about to be stopped. I had just started Amazon Prime the first time through Eir, so they reeled me in until I started asking questions and they eventually cut me off. Now we no longer have Amazon Prime they still call nearly every weekday.

I did start making a list of all the numbers they were calling from, but had no idea if this was any use and no idea who to report it to anyway.

Just had an international number (0049) purporting to be from Eir this morning. I asked why they were calling from an International number then, and they cut the call. 0049 turns out to be Germany, but the accent was an Indian sounding female.

greenspurs · 06-09-2021 12:09pm

15 blocked numbers telling me i have parcels ready for delivery ....

CNUTS.....

fun loving criminal · 06-09-2021 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853034#Comment_117853034

That's the thing. For someone that orders alot online, how would you know what's genuine or not?

Lujan · 06-09-2021 12:14pm

I stupidly answered a call from a number similar to my own, I even remember thinking "that's a coincidence".

I was fully aware of this scam at the time too, I was only just awake so wasn't really with it. My calls are from the "department of tax department"

4 weeks now and I still get calls, it's down to one call ever couple of days, so it's tolerable. First day I had something like 17 calls.

chewed · 06-09-2021 12:17pm

As mentioned above, DO NOT ANSWER CALLS FROM NUMBERS YOU DON'T RECOGNISE! Simple.

A few weeks ago I was getting about 3 calls a day. The weird thing was that each number was the first four digits of my own number. e.g. 086 XXXX XXX

Squiggle · 06-09-2021 12:21pm

I've had to block all incoming calls bar from contacts because I'm bombarded with scam calls the last two weeks. Not ideal but I can't see any other option as the scammers use a different number each time so blocking their numbers is of no use.

topmanamillion · 06-09-2021 12:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853072#Comment_117853072

Got one of these this morning. Its a well known scam technique and there`s even a name for it - "neighbour spoofing".

The idea is your more likely to entertain a number that seems familiar.

Cordell · 06-09-2021 1:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853042#Comment_117853042

For texts it's a link but the website certificate or the website name itself will cue you. Usually the web browser opens with a big red warning and you need to take extra steps to open it.

Cold calls can be quickly filtered by the accent o the caller :)

Ger Roe · 06-09-2021 10:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853017#Comment_117853017

Don't waste your time taking numbers down for action to be taken. I once made an official complaint to ComReg that involved giving them numbers received over a period of time. It was a total waste of my time as they decided that since the calls were originating from outside the state, there was nothing they could do.

Just don't answer ....

daheff · 06-09-2021 10:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117856004#Comment_117856004

They can though.

They can make the networks not accept spoofing of numbers. Same with text messages

They don't want to enforce that as it's costly to implement and the networks don't want to do it. It will happen eventually.

06-09-2021 10:33pm

I never get spam phonecalls. Ever. I must be doing something right.

Potential-Monke · 06-09-2021 11:47pm

Yeah, I subscribe to the idea of not answering calls from numbers that aren't in my contacts. I have VM, if it's important they can leave a message or text me. I've most providers told my preferred method of contact is email so they don't be ringing me either.

Re: how to tell if you order a lot and are getting a lot of delivery messages, simple. Go straight to the website that is doing the delivery and track it there. Don't ever follow a link from an unexpected (or conveniently timed) SMS/email. Hell, I barely follow links from emails I get, and use the same process of going directly to the site and logging in and getting messages that way. Just safer.

#SayNoToLinks

Flinty997 · 07-09-2021 12:01am

I used an app called Hiya. It allows you to block calls based on a pattern. Like your own number.

You have to give it some access which some won't want to do. But I used for a few weeks and the calls stopped then I uninstalled it.

quinnd6 · 07-09-2021 12:33am

It's so annoying. I get the stupid machine dept of social welfare calls. I noticed if you say nothing you just get complete silence and if you say hello they start up their poxy machine. I know because its happening all the time.

What kind of dopes could fall for that crap? I always then just hang up. There's nothing practical anyone can really do to avoid this. If you hear anyone who sounds like a dopy idiot asking you questions with a foreign accent just hang up. I say foreign accent because it usually is a foreign accent. Also If you hear what is obviously a machine just hang up. I didn't do anything stupid or download any apps and I get the same crap all the time. It's unavoidable.

Also I wouldn't recommend downloading any more apps and giving your details to any more apps, just use the ones that are obviously safe and you know and trust.

They use Irish mobile phone numbers now so you don't know until you answer the phone unfortunately.It's mostly scam calls I get these days.

Just hang up and don't give the scum any of your time or energy. Say nothing and make their lives as boring as possible. Also you can report the number as spam. I'd do that. On Android you can just click on the number, go to history click the drop-down with the 3 dots and press report spam.

rom · 07-09-2021 12:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852255#Comment_117852255

I use an app on iPhone call PhoneSheild . Say my number is 087 1234567 so I can block numbers 087 123**** with it. Now I have one person in my address book in this range but he always uses whatzapp. All of these calls then never ring on my phone. So I am blocking 10000 possible numbers as all the numbers have the first 3 numbers post the 087 the same as mine. So there is a chance 1 in 1000 that it will block a number that is from the same prefix that is trying to call me. I can cope with that as I don't get many calls outside of my address book from mobile numbers.

kirk. · 07-09-2021 1:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853072#Comment_117853072

This is just the like the posters advising don't answer the doorbell if you're not expecting someone

Some of us are in business and have unexpected visitors. Its not practical advice for everyone

07-09-2021 1:15am

All you can really do is either completely ignore the calls, or hang up immediately when you recognise they're a scammer. Don't even engage with them for one second.

The phone calls are coming from numbers that are entirely fake. They just type in any number they like. They are not from Irish phone networks and you're wasting your time blocking them as they're just random.

You could even be blocking calls from or reporting legitimate phone number as sources of spam, when they're just being spoofed.

Atlantic Dawn · 07-09-2021 1:25am

Problem with completely ignoring is some of the numbers they use are very like legit Irish landline numbers, ignoring them you might as well dump your phone. If everyone who received a call each day decided to fook them around for 10 minuts wasting their time it would make their day completely non-productive and they may decide to shut Ireland off. At the end of the day why would these scammers flag a number that answers from one that doesn't, the person answering them can be a stringer along or a fool giving them money, the fool giving them money will only be scammed the once.

smeal · 07-09-2021 12:29pm

Plagued with them recently. Usually 2-3 per day on weekdays. All similar numbers to my own. Thanks for app suggestions above.

Recently my BOI card had a hack attempt. I received a text in a chain of BOI texts to say 0.70c had been attempted off my card from some travel company and to follow the link. I ignored it because it was similar to previous scam texts that were received in BOI chains. A number attempted to call me a few times in the days following and left voicemails. When I checked the voicemails they were automated answering machines (with no reference at all to BOI btw). A few days later my card was declined when making an online order. Contacted the bank and low and behold it had all been genuine attempts to contact me and my card had been blocked in the meantime… I gave out about the automated voicemails particularly as so many scam calls going about. I suppose the point of my story is that some of these automated calls are genuine and its impossible to know at this stage.

namloc1980 · 07-09-2021 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117856476#Comment_117856476

Get a doorbell camera. Problem solved. I've saved myself loads of grief with chuggers and other callers since getting one. Quick look at the camera app on the phone and I can just ignore anyone who isn't someone I'm expecting/family/friends.

The Nal · 07-09-2021 12:49pm

Getting a text and a call every day, DHL etc.

Took a call from "Vodafone" last week about my broadband (Im with Virgin) so kept him on the phone for ages just to waste his time while he tried to talk me through installing a teamviewer type thing on my PC so he could scam me.

Archeron · 07-09-2021 1:05pm

If I had a delivery actually arrive for every DHL text I've got this week I'd have to build a warehouse to store it all 😂

Fighting Tao · 07-09-2021 1:40pm

Might be time to fix the search function, or have a ‘Scam Calls’ thread as a sticky. These threads are posted every few days.

JupiterKid · 07-09-2021 2:44pm

it's starting to get really ridiculous. I've had about 9 scam calls to my phone today already. Grrrr!!! 🤬

wilkie2006 · 07-09-2021 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117856004#Comment_117856004

The Irish mobile number that shows on your screen isn't really the person that's calling: the scammers are using programs that display dummy numbers.

If you call them back/ report/ block them, you're taking action against the real owner of that number, not a scammer.

cj maxx · 07-09-2021 4:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852719#Comment_117852719

I also notice it comes up as +353 XXX. Whereas a genuine number is just XXX

beachhead · 07-09-2021 4:43pm

+353 xxx is a genuine code.It is Republic of Ireland international code.I receive genuine calls from the code.

07-09-2021 5:01pm

I like to answer them, talk really low, ask them to speak up, talk even lower and ask can they hear me, THEN SCREAM DOWN THE RECEIVER

The profanities start at that point with me cackling back at them like a hyena

Ahh, its the little things

Rock Steady Edy · 07-09-2021 5:21pm

Similarly, I don't mind answering them if I have time, if they don't hand up at the start. Fortunately they only call the landline, not my mobile. Another Indian sounding person (this time male) called this morning purporting to be from Eircom, so I asked him where he was calling from. "Ireland" was the reply. "Where in Ireland?" I asked, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to play along with him anymore this morning, but told him I was going to end the call. I guessed no-one who really worked for the company would call it Eircom.

Cordell · 07-09-2021 5:26pm

This is why I disconnected the landline, the scam calls were coming into the odd hours, probably the scam call centre had the timezone wrong :) Or maybe it's a higher chance if you wake up the person...

07-09-2021 6:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117858666#Comment_117858666

Please take this one seriously. I have had a flurry of extremely abusive calls to my work mobile because someone has had automated fake calls that were using my number as their caller ID.

They were too thick to listen to or comprehend any rational explanation as to why the caller ID was fake and just kept ranting at me.

Hopefully the authorities aren't stupid enough to actually follow up a complaint like that, but reporting people to call blocking services or publishing their number online is only causing serious hassle for a 3rd party with nothing to do with the call at all and who have been the victims of identity theft basically.

These calls need to be dealt with by the use of authenticated Caller ID. Where a caller ID is dubious, the network should be able to replace it with just "UNKNOWN" or "UNVERIFIABLE" that would reduce the volumes.

There shouldn't be any possibility of displaying a number you don't own. For example, a call coming in from some random VoIP platform shouldn't be able to present an Irish mobile number. They've no legitimate business doing so, so the caller ID shouldn't be passed through.

There are use cases like office systems and so on, but responsible VoIP providers don't let you just set any outbound caller ID, only numbers you have rights to use.

It needs to be cleaned up, as it's causing mayhem and must be trawling in serious amount of money too.

boombang · 07-09-2021 6:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117858666#Comment_117858666

Not knowing the tech here, presumably the networks should have the capacity to differentiate between a genuine Irish mobile network call vs a scam VOIP or are they just being too lazy to implement effective controls?

07-09-2021 6:41pm

They possibly don’t at present, but the capability needs to be developed.

Caller ID is generally pretty simple. There’s metadata sent along side phone calls, one field of which contains the originating phone number and a flag that tells you whether or not to display it.

In the past, only telephone exchanges, belonging to big phone companies, could connect to those networks and directly send data, but nowadays we’ve a vast array of small VoIP providers interconnected and in some jurisdictions, they’re totally unregulated and can just send anything. Without any regulation, you can send anything you like in the caller ID field and the system at the far end will just display it.

The problem is the protocol never envisaged a world where there were untrustworthy sources of Caller ID. It’s a system that dates from the 1980s and 90s, the technology is modern but the protocol and design concept isn’t.

cj maxx · 07-09-2021 8:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117859245#Comment_117859245

I know that ! I mean when another irish number rings my irish number it comes up 087/5/6 etc XXX. NOT 353 XXX

08-09-2021 1:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117860237#Comment_117860237

It depends on your network. I think 3 Ireland always displays incoming calls in full +353 format, while Vodafone and Eir don't.

fritzelly · 08-09-2021 3:06am

The Irish must be suckers coz I'm constantly getting calls to a non published LL, 2 or 3 a day (the number is for a new business not gone live yet) - answer machine kicks in and they don't realise so I sometimes end up with about 30 secs of Indians talking

Flinty997 · 08-09-2021 8:23am

This is how it works..

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-so-many-spam-robocalls-how-to-stop-them-2021-3?r=US&IR=T

murpho999 · 08-09-2021 9:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117853042#Comment_117853042

Well if you need to interact with it then check the URL or go through the website you ordered from.

I find the genuine ones don't need you to login and use the parcel id to track your item.

I think it's very easy to tell the fake ones from the genuine ones.

Glaceon · 08-09-2021 9:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117856445#Comment_117856445

I agreed with everything you posted until the last paragraph. The numbers are completely spoofed so reporting or blocking them will affect some innocent person who really owns the number.