Forum Topic

Could this be a phone scam?

I had a phone call on my mobile number that came up as an unknown number. When I answered it the caller said "Is that Mr Owen?". Obviously I replied "Yes" and then the caller hanged up. Should I be concerned, or am I just being paranoid?

Ben Owen ● 3990d11 Comments

Ask them for their security code number and password, that always throws them off their script. Or perhaps try and order a takeaway pizza, that really confuses them

Chris Edwards ● 3989d

That's the idea, you got it Viv.  You could pretend to be deaf or ask them to spell everything they say, they get really annoyed.

Debbie Edwards ● 3989d

I managed to spin out an Indian 'Accident Claim' handler for a full 10 minutes (it was a slow day) last year.He got chapter and verse about the crash, my injuries and the fact that these had been fatal.It took him a full two minutes to question this so I said . "Yes, I died". Cheeky sod swore at me :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 3989d

Another good one (works for landline calls too) is to say "could you just hang on a minute?" Then leave them hanging ....

Viv Ellis ● 3989d

Yes, but Ben is Mr Owen, you are not?What a wussy lot you are, phone scammers are fair game, chat them up, flirt with them, ask them out on a red hot date.  Those ones who call up saying they can save you money on your mobile phone, tell them you spend 50p a month as you don't have many friends, then ask if they would like to be your friend, they won't call back.

Debbie Edwards ● 3989d

One would hope that any "genuine" private number like,as Nigel suggests, hospitals and doctors, would leave a message with a contact number?Personally I do not pick up any private/number withheld numbers or that matter any starting 0845.

Philip Coe ● 3989d

I agree with Nigel that this is more likely to be a pre-cursor to additional cold calls than a scam in and of itself.By confirming that your mobile number is valid, the caller is able to sell on the details at a higher price.In my experience, these things go in cycles.  I had a spate of texts and calls to my mobile a couple of years ago, then they (almost) all stopped.I wouldn't find the call you had on your mobile "unnerving", unless it happened on my land line.

Phil Kay ● 3989d

The problem is that most doctors and hospitals now withhold their number.

Nigel Brooks ● 3989d

I don't answer my mobile unless I know who's calling. In fact, I mostly have the ringer switched off as I use it to access the Internet and send the odd text, not to be at everybody's beck and call.

Susan Kelly ● 3990d

BenI would expect the phone slammer calls to start shortly, sadly.This happened to my wife and she was then plagues with 'great deal for a new mobile contract' for a month or so until we simply changed her mobile number. A real PITA.

Nigel Brooks ● 3990d

I would find that unnerving.

Susan Kelly ● 3990d