Two telephone scam calls in one morning!

Darcydog · 11th August 2020, 12:31

I am clearly popular.

Took a call from a chap obviously working from a script as he could not cope with questions !!! - but easy to wind him up.....

His “brief” was to tell us that the loft insulation we have could make Covid-19 infection worse.

“Really? - tell me more....”

So he did but got easily flummoxed with simple sensible questions. In the end I could not stop laughing and he got angry enough to put the phone down.

Then - 20 min later, an automated voice rang to say that it was a call from VISA to inform me that £600 had been paid out of my account to a foreign country and that I must “press 1 to be connected to a member of the security team”. I just hung on until they disconnected. Waste as much of their time as possible.

I’ve heard of this one before but did check my balances. No issue at all.

A neighbour last week took a call from a lady who said she was from the “Governments COVID-19 check and trace scheme and that they had come up on the system and so needed to purchase a COVID-19 test kit.

I am sure most of us can easily see right through this nonsense - but some are more vulnerable and could be taken in.

I suggest we check on and warn anyone we know like this to stop these bar stewards in their tracks.

Nick Greg · 11th August 2020, 12:55

I am clearly popular.

Now now don't let 2 unsolicited phone calls inflate your ego...

I too try and keep the beggars on as long as possible to spare someone else being messed around

Reebs · 11th August 2020, 13:01

Thanks for the warning about the Covid test scam, Stocktake has just posted the same experience he had today with that one. Be very cautious folks.

FLYING BANANA · 11th August 2020, 13:40

I have caller identification. If I don’t recognise the number then I don’t pick up. If it is a genuine call then the caller can leave a message. So far the record scam calls is 12, all from the same number in one day.

Borg Warner · 11th August 2020, 14:15

Handy:

https://who-called.co.uk

And

https://scam-numbers.co.uk/Number//

Had, what appeared to be, several UK numbers call us a number of times over a couple of days. These rang off before we could answer (as we didn't recognise the number we wouldn't have taken the call anyway). We are led to believe that they hope the recipient does a call back and the number is a high charge one, they answer but say nothing.

There are some really despicable people out the so take care.

COLVERT · 19th August 2020, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borg Warner

Handy:

https://who-called.co.uk

And

https://scam-numbers.co.uk/Number//

Had, what appeared to be, several UK numbers call us a number of times over a couple of days. These rang off before we could answer (as we didn't recognise the number we wouldn't have taken the call anyway). We are led to believe that they hope the recipient does a call back and the number is a high charge one, they answer but say nothing.

There are some really despicable people out the so take care.

I find these calls very strange Gary. Even if you pick up the phone as fast as possible they still hang up.-

How do they make money out of doing this as they most certainly haven't sold anything.

CLINTE · 11th August 2020, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

I have caller identification. If I don’t recognise the number then I don’t pick up. If it is a genuine call then the caller can leave a message. So far the record scam calls is 12, all from the same number in one day.

I adopt the same process as well and it works well . The caller id is free with BT for me.

steve-45 · 11th August 2020, 14:53

I put an answer phone system on my landline about 2 years ago, and they allways hang up before leaving a message.

I've only go a landline because BT insist I must have one as part of my broadband package. Never use it and have never given out the number - BUT still the junk calls keep coming !

HarryM1BYT · 12th August 2020, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

I have caller identification. If I don’t recognise the number then I don’t pick up. If it is a genuine call then the caller can leave a message. So far the record scam calls is 12, all from the same number in one day.

I have now got caller ID, combined with a call blocker on my landline, built into my phones - BT8500. If those ringing are not in my list, they are blocked and offered the opportunity to say who they are and press #, or they can leave a message after an announcement. The system logs the fact that they have rung and been blocked, so if it looks as if it might have been a genuine call, I can always ring them back - they almost never were.

I got the system in an attempt to deal with the regular 10 of these callers per day, some years ago. The number of the calls declined steadily, to the where now the try ringing only very rarely, maybe one every 3 months.

My guess is you can be put on a white list - those numbers where someone will pick up the phone and a blacklist, you go on the blacklist if it is a waste of time ringing - like my number.

So far, my mobile number has managed to almost completely escape their attention - I can count the calls on one hand, in the 3 decades I have had this number.

COLVERT · 16th August 2020, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

I have caller identification. If I don’t recognise the number then I don’t pick up. If it is a genuine call then the caller can leave a message. So far the record scam calls is 12, all from the same number in one day.

I Have caller identification too. Plus a message system if I'm not at home.

My identification system is my brain.--

I was born with a brain that remembers numbers. I carry the phone numbers, land and mobile, in my head of, all my family and friends.

Also medical references, credit card numbers, dates of birth etc.--Any numbers. There is an annoying part to this though, I can still remembers things like phone numbers from 50 years ago.
I would like to forget them but I can't.---

I simply don't answer any phone number I don't recognise.

11th August 2020, 12:31	#1
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	Two telephone scam calls in one morning! I am clearly popular. Took a call from a chap obviously working from a script as he could not cope with questions !!! - but easy to wind him up..... His “brief” was to tell us that the loft insulation we have could make Covid-19 infection worse. “Really? - tell me more....” So he did but got easily flummoxed with simple sensible questions. In the end I could not stop laughing and he got angry enough to put the phone down. Then - 20 min later, an automated voice rang to say that it was a call from VISA to inform me that £600 had been paid out of my account to a foreign country and that I must “press 1 to be connected to a member of the security team”. I just hung on until they disconnected. Waste as much of their time as possible. I’ve heard of this one before but did check my balances. No issue at all. A neighbour last week took a call from a lady who said she was from the “Governments COVID-19 check and trace scheme and that they had come up on the system and so needed to purchase a COVID-19 test kit. I am sure most of us can easily see right through this nonsense - but some are more vulnerable and could be taken in. I suggest we check on and warn anyone we know like this to stop these bar stewards in their tracks.

11th August 2020, 13:01	#3
Reebs Owners Club Director Rover 75 Conn SE V6 / MG ZT 260 SE V8 / MG ZT 180 SE V6 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 20,942 Thanks: 645 Thanked 6,851 Times in 2,537 Posts	Thanks for the warning about the Covid test scam, Stocktake has just posted the same experience he had today with that one. Be very cautious folks. __________________ Check your trim here . Check your spec here Check your colour here . Check Project Drive here Check your original price here

11th August 2020, 13:40	#4
FLYING BANANA Moderator/Club Shop MG ZT 1.8t+. No.3 of 4 in Sunspot Yellow & Ford Fiesta in Black. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rattler Farm Posts: 22,568 Thanks: 9,270 Thanked 15,645 Times in 6,806 Posts	I have caller identification. If I don’t recognise the number then I don’t pick up. If it is a genuine call then the caller can leave a message. So far the record scam calls is 12, all from the same number in one day. __________________ 233,509. Thats our 3rd meet done. Might go again next weekend. onen hag oll

11th August 2020, 12:55	#2
Nick Greg Posted a thing or two Honda Insight Hybrid Join Date: May 2015 Location: Brighouse Posts: 1,157 Thanks: 691 Thanked 424 Times in 280 Posts	I am clearly popular. Now now don't let 2 unsolicited phone calls inflate your ego... I too try and keep the beggars on as long as possible to spare someone else being messed around

11th August 2020, 14:15	#5
Borg Warner I really should get out more....... None Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2,579 Thanks: 494 Thanked 657 Times in 402 Posts	Handy: https://who-called.co.uk And https://scam-numbers.co.uk/Number// Had, what appeared to be, several UK numbers call us a number of times over a couple of days. These rang off before we could answer (as we didn't recognise the number we wouldn't have taken the call anyway). We are led to believe that they hope the recipient does a call back and the number is a high charge one, they answer but say nothing. There are some really despicable people out the so take care.

11th August 2020, 14:53	#8
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	I put an answer phone system on my landline about 2 years ago, and they allways hang up before leaving a message. I've only go a landline because BT insist I must have one as part of my broadband package. Never use it and have never given out the number - BUT still the junk calls keep coming !