I always speak in a squeaky voice "Umm .There's no grown ups here "

Which is kinda true

Yes I've had a recent call from 'BT' as well. Mine spoke good English and had lots of convincing detail: my name, address and phone number, plus correct BT business details. They didn't know my account number . If they had known it I would still have told them to write to me.

It seems to be a slicker version of the Microsoft scam. I thought it was new but according to the web it's been about for a while.

What I didn't know until recently is that incoming telephone numbers (like email addresses) are easily faked. Caller-id doesn't verify that the caller is who they claim to be, in fact an apparently 'real' number may be part of the con.

I never provide sensitive details when rung up or emailed out of the blue. It's too risky.

Dave

Never quite got a handle on how some get our phone number as we are ex directory, may be random dialling or off some other data base or other.

I had the bogus BT calls. I rang BT about it, and was told to ask for an 0800 to call them back. If they are genuin they will have one. I tried it the next time and had to explain to the guy calling me what it was ! Then I gave him the benefit of my opinion of him.

Maurice

Yep … it's common practice. However, the Telco computer knows where the call really originates – at least as far as the originating country goes.

Which leads to a potential means of fighting this insidious practice. It should be technically feasible for the subscriber to specify particular *countries* that they do not wish to receive calls from (it actually might be simpler to specify the countries that they *do* wish to receive calls from).

I'm in Canada and well over 80% of my incoming calls are spam/scam – virtually all originating outside the country, mostly in the East (judging by the "English" …. actual calling numbers are spoofed). It's been a growing problem over the last 10 or so years. If I could limit my incoming calls to those from Canada & US (obviously); UK; OZ; NZ and a couple of other European countries, it would take care of the whole problem. Those are countries with sensible laws and reasonable enforcement.

Some companies would howl that I'd be blocking their tech-support (so called) lines. So let them repatriate the Canadian jobs that they exported.

I take the opposite approach, if I'm just sitting enjoying the garden I try to keep them on as long as possible by giving incorrect but feasible replies, my record so far is 25 minutes. The people I really feel sorry for are those from the Indian sub-continet who are doing a real job, as my first response when I pick up the phone to someone with an Indian accent is to assume they are out to rob me, which isn't really fair.

As Bandersnatch says, the phone companies could do a lot more. I'm quite prepared to exclude all overseas calls except for a few I know to be genuine, relatives etc, but that would hit their profits, so no chance. When required to give phone number and e-mail, just make it up, or use SW1 2AA, which is Downing Street, and for phone number use local council, as they never answer the phone anyway

Whenever I get calls from "Microsoft Technical Support" I play them for as long as possible until they start to get a little impatient. I then tell them I'm running a Linux distro. . . . . . phones goes quiet.

got fed up of when with ex.

had one that asked for her so said she is in bath and paused for second before saying it's best place to cut up a body.

they hung up and never rang back.

Edited By naughtyboy on 01/12/2016 07:46:02

I have my password ready for them. I would spell it phonetically. Golf Echo Tango Lima Oscar Sierra Tango. Not got that far recently as I am not wanting to waste my time. So I ask upfront if they want my bank details or even say 'here are my bank details'. They seem to hang up very quickly, althogh I don't know why – as that is what they really wanted in the first place!

Allowing the ansafone to trip in usually sorts out the scammers.

I has one a few days ago, Indian sounding and supposedly from BT. they said they noticed a problem with my internet., gave me all the usual crap, and asked me to fire up me PC never did, and they asked what was on the screen ect then asked me to go to http://www.anydesk.com or something like that. Never did but kept them on the phone for a while when they found they were getting nowhere fast, they hung up. Pity really, cos I was just coming to the boil.

I had one the other day that may have been the BT one. Longish speal but I couldn't understand a word of it, Not the usual accent so no idea where the call was made from. I just said stop wasting my time and go away. Unusually haven't had any more calls from them.

The reference services do work but only with legitimate companies. Many of these calls don't originate in the uk. A few might but from the ones we have had when I have bothered picking up the phone they were only house insulation people – all houses have to be insulate by a blah blah date. Those have stopped. Another was one of those companies that look at house prices and their rateable value and offer to sort it out if they think something is out of order. I did spend some time talking to her. Caller ID tends to take care of most of the others. So phone just rings and no one answers.

One thing I have done that has definitely reduced the number we get is to deliberately enter the wrong number when companies ask for it. Especially postal come shipping companies. When needed I correct it later. Only car and house insurance and screwfix so far. There isn't any doubt that our numbers are being passed around. There is also the silent call lot – phoning numbers on the off chance that they exist and also to find out when people are actually in. A lot if not all of those now do not originate in the UK.

One day some company might put sensible options in call blockers. I looked around at them recently – to save looking at the caller id before picking up.

John

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