Strange phone call....

lildevil · 11th December 2006, 15:38

Hi

I just wondered if anybody has experienced the same thing.

About 2.40pm today I had a phone call from a american person claiming to be from BT asking if I have broadband and if so who my provider is and as it was a spare of the moment thing I told them. But I then thought about it and thought there is no way BT can't know if I have broadband so first dialed 1471 and not to my surprise the number was withheld so I decided to ring up BT and they confirmed that it wasn't them and that they would know that I had broadband however they aren't allowed to know my provider. So I then asked if they could trace the phone call and their answer was no because of Data Protection. So my question is was this phone call just a one of phone call? Should I have told them what they wanted to know? And has anybody else experienced this? The scary part is they knew my surname. Is it just me over reacting or should I be worried?

Regards
Tom

Keith · 11th December 2006, 15:56

So they didn't try and sell you anything?
I wouldn't worry about it unless you gave out account details

FYI
BT used to and probably still have a US office, at one stage during the elections of the current labour government they had set up a head office in the States so that if UK Gov decided to nationalise key UK industries that we once all owned they like several other firms were going to up sticks and remove the operational management from the UK completely

windrush · 11th December 2006, 16:12

There are so many scams going round these days that one has to be on their guard 24/7 but I cant see if they would gain any think by this phone call

lildevil · 11th December 2006, 16:33

Hi

No I didn't give out any account details, it was just strange the nature of the phone call. Didn't even try selling me anything just lied about the fact that he was from BT and asked if I have broadband and who my provider is and if I was happy with my provider. They knew my surname as well. But theres no need to worry no? I have never had marketing calls or anything like this before just totally out of the blue, I have BT privacy as well.

Regards
Tom

Rich · 11th December 2006, 16:50

We get these all the time in the office, they say it very quickly so you intentionally mis-hear, but it's usually:

"hi, i'm calling on behalf of bt" or "hi, i'm calling on behalf of microsoft"

Most of the time, maybe they are, bt often outsource survey rubbish, we normally now just say "sorry, we only deal with the organ grinders" and promptly put the phone down.

Not got the patience for things like this

lildevil · 11th December 2006, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichK

We get these all the time in the office, they say it very quickly so you intentionally mis-hear, but it's usually:

"hi, i'm calling on behalf of bt"

That's exactly how this one was, so nothing to worry about? Just BT's way of getting round regulations and asking who my provider is?

Regards
Tom

11th December 2006, 15:38	#1
lildevil Avid contributor Lexus IS200 (Previously - Rover 75 Saloon) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maidstone Posts: 225 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Strange phone call.... Hi I just wondered if anybody has experienced the same thing. About 2.40pm today I had a phone call from a american person claiming to be from BT asking if I have broadband and if so who my provider is and as it was a spare of the moment thing I told them. But I then thought about it and thought there is no way BT can't know if I have broadband so first dialed 1471 and not to my surprise the number was withheld so I decided to ring up BT and they confirmed that it wasn't them and that they would know that I had broadband however they aren't allowed to know my provider. So I then asked if they could trace the phone call and their answer was no because of Data Protection. So my question is was this phone call just a one of phone call? Should I have told them what they wanted to know? And has anybody else experienced this? The scary part is they knew my surname. Is it just me over reacting or should I be worried? Regards Tom

11th December 2006, 16:12	#3
windrush This is my second home December 2004 Rover 75 2ltr CDTi Connoisseur SE HL Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aldershot Posts: 74,464 Thanks: 2,431 Thanked 3,015 Times in 2,347 Posts	There are so many scams going round these days that one has to be on their guard 24/7 but I cant see if they would gain any think by this phone call __________________ ][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My Pearl Black Beauty Best regards Lilian and Derek Club Member No. 96 / Forum User No. 111 REGISTRATION to the club as a member FREE, FULL MEMBERSHIP is £10 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

11th December 2006, 16:50	#5
Rich Posted a thing or two http://Roadca.ms - Letting you see what they see! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yup Posts: 1,786 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 1 Post	We get these all the time in the office, they say it very quickly so you intentionally mis-hear, but it's usually: "hi, i'm calling on behalf of bt" or "hi, i'm calling on behalf of microsoft" Most of the time, maybe they are, bt often outsource survey rubbish, we normally now just say "sorry, we only deal with the organ grinders" and promptly put the phone down. Not got the patience for things like this __________________ https://VehicleGPS.UK http://www.MotorwayCameras.co.uk

11th December 2006, 15:56	#2
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	So they didn't try and sell you anything? I wouldn't worry about it unless you gave out account details FYI BT used to and probably still have a US office, at one stage during the elections of the current labour government they had set up a head office in the States so that if UK Gov decided to nationalise key UK industries that we once all owned they like several other firms were going to up sticks and remove the operational management from the UK completely

11th December 2006, 16:33	#4
lildevil Avid contributor Lexus IS200 (Previously - Rover 75 Saloon) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maidstone Posts: 225 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi No I didn't give out any account details, it was just strange the nature of the phone call. Didn't even try selling me anything just lied about the fact that he was from BT and asked if I have broadband and who my provider is and if I was happy with my provider. They knew my surname as well. But theres no need to worry no? I have never had marketing calls or anything like this before just totally out of the blue, I have BT privacy as well. Regards Tom