Forum Topic

Beware of Scammers calling your mobile phone

Today at 5.32pm, my mobile phone started ringing. On answering, the voice at the other end who sounded Indian with an accent said 'hello, this is Victoria Solicitors. We have records to say that you were involved in a car accident and are making a claim'. I immediately put the phone down. But she rang again and I told her if she rings again, I will call the police and I put the phone down again. She rang again and said ' Go ahead, call the police'. I put the phone down again. That number she was calling from appears to be based in Manchester which was 01614083061.The thing is I don't drive so someone to phone me and say all that was quite shocking.I wonder what you would do in this instance? Is this a police matter or should I just forget about it.

Asha Smith ● 4373d23 Comments

I google unrecognised phone numbers regularly. 9 times out of 10 it's a known scam or nuisance number, at which point I block it so they can't get through to me again.

Susan Kelly ● 4370d

AshaYou may not be aware that you can 'Google' phone numbers.I just did that for the number you gave in your original post and the results show a litany of scam calls from this number.Take a look for yourself.

Nigel Brooks ● 4370d

I have learnt something important from this. Now before I dial any number which I don't recognise, I start checking it on google to see if the person actually exists.There was someone on the forum who posted a new thread asking them to ring a mobile number. I thought let me check to see if they exist and it belonged to some mailbox radio station. So I think you have to be careful from some of the people on this forum as well.

Asha Smith ● 4370d

Oh if only you could record this and share!! :-)

Bud Richards ● 4370d

Waiting for the next call Bud!! :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 4370d

I have a simple rule of thumb with my mobile phone that works well for me - if it comes up as a witheld or unknown number, I do not answer the call. My theory is, if it's important, they'll leave a voicemail and I can get back to them within a couple of minutes. If the caller's number is displayed, I hang the call up and immediately copy and past it into my Google App and 99/100 it is a PPI / loan / pension unlocking service. There is also this approach which I would like Nigel Brooks to try as I think this may tickle his wicked sense of humour:Tom Mabe: Hello?Telemarketer: Yes, Can I speak with Tom Mabe?Tom: Who’s calling? Tele: This is Mike . You have been selected to receive a preferential loan rate. With this you’re going to-Tom: Let me ask you something. Did you know Tom Mabe? Were you a friend of his? Tele: No, I’m not. I’m just calling to offer-Tom: Hold that thought, hold on a second (Hey guys, get really good pictures of the body, and dust everything down for prints.) Mike, you there?Mike: Yeah.Tom: Yeah, let me bring you up to speed. You’ve actually called a murder scene. Mr Mabe is no longer with us. I’m Detective Clarke. I’m conducting a murder investigation. I want to ask you a series of questions. First of all – what was the nature of the business you had with Tom Mabe?Mike: I…I had no business with him. I’m sorry to have bothered-Tom: No, hang on. I’m going to ask you to stay on the phone, this call has already been traced and we may need you to come in for further questioning. Mike: You don’t understand. I’m just calling – Tom: No, YOU don’t understand, unless you want to be charged with obstruction of justice, it is imperative that you keep your ass on the phone, Mike.Mike: How about you just talk with my manager ? Tom: No, we will get to your sumanager ervisor in a second. First, give me your where-abouts.Mike: I am at work.Tom: You’re at work?Mike: Yes.Tom: You being a smart ass?Mike: No sir.Tom: Let me put it to you this way, Mike. Say I wanted to mail your ass a letter. What would I have to write on the outside of the envelope to ensure that the mailman would deliver it right to your ass? Geographically speaking Mike, where is work?Mike: 32 Avenue Estate, SouthamptonTom: Now hold on that’s –Mike: Yes sir. Tom: Hold on one second alright. (Get the Southampton Police , Murder Division on the phone, give them this information. Tell them that he is being sought in connection with a fatal shooting and aggravated robbery.) How do you know Mr. Mabe again?Mike: Wait. You are calling the Southampton Police ?  I don’t even know the guy. Tom: No, don’t let that scare you, it is just a formality. Have you ever been to his place of residence? Mike: No!Tom: And tell me again, where were you last night between the hours of 8 and 10?Mike: I’m not feeling real comfortable by any of this.Tom: Have you even ever spoke with Mr. Mabe, Mike?Mike: No, I haven’t. I don’t even know the guy. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.Tom: Ok, great. Just calm down, hold on. Look, just back up. I’ve just got one more question for you, Mike. As you well know, I’m sure, Mr. Mabe was a flaming homosexual. And there is no easy way of asking this, I don’t want to embarrass you or nothing, but were you his gay lover?Mike: What? No! What the hell kind of question is that?Tom: Look, look. If gay is your way, that is OK. I still know there are a lot of you gay people in that closet. Not saying I haven’t thought about it myself, you know? Hop over to Brighton or something, buy a couple of drinks, cute little Mexican midget.Mike: This is ridiculous.Tom: Hello?

Bud Richards ● 4370d

So do you take care to avoid passing the unknown caller on to another person when you include a wrong digit in a reply?

Chris Bell ● 4371d

As far as I know "No win no fee" is perfectly legal; it could be a very small minority that pester.

Chris Bell ● 4371d

I just had a thought. All those solicitor firms you see on the hight street which say ' no win. no fee' or those advertising to get back thousands from  PPI or road traffic accidents must be working in collusion with mobile phone companies. Why isn't the authority responsible for monitoring solicitors on to them. They constantly send out spasm email, text messages and phone calls randomly presumably from some list.

Asha Smith ● 4371d

Chris,It's not me who sells numbers to these firms so no, I don't 'dump the potential problem' on to someone else.I don't wish to receive unwanted calls that's all.

Keith Iddon ● 4371d

We occasionally receive these phone calls, for a person with an Indian accent, insisting we've had a car accident, for which we should claim compensation. That's very strange 'cos we've both ditched our cars for some years and now use the tube, busses or taxis! It annoying and amusing too. Where do these people get their facts and our names and numbers?  We've tried using the service that filters these spam calls - quite useless really.

Gerry Tan ● 4371d

Tee Hee just had one call me.Thick Indian sub-continent accent (called himself Alan :-) )trying to sell me a deal to recover PPI.I do hope they recorded the call for as soon as he finished his introduction I said (rather loudly) "Have you got my medication? (louder) Have you got my medication? (even louder) Have you got my medication?" Funny, he wasn't there when I finished :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 4372d

That's a bit harsh.Still, I avoid that problem myself by using all ones: 1111 1111 1111On occasion one meets a web site that attempts to process the number in order to validate it as a "real" number but in practice these are easy to spoof without ending up giving out a real valid number as well.

Tony Colliver ● 4372d

I do the same but use a non-existant dialling code.I also only ever use a 'spam' account that I set up to receive marketing e-mails. I check it every six months or so :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 4372d

So you dump your potential problem on to someone else.

Chris Bell ● 4372d

I quite often put a wrong digit in my phone no. when asked for it,particularly on line,when asking for an insurance quote etc or there should be no reason for the company to call me as I do not know whether they sell the numbers on to other companies.

Keith Iddon ● 4372d

Cold callers are fair game for loads of fun.What would I do?  More like what do I do!First of all, ask them where they got your details from.  If they say something like it was from a broker, ask them who.  Another great bit of fun is to let them bang on for a bit and you just say no thanks, not interested.  You can say you're very interested in the product, but are busy at the moment so could you call them back at home later, ask them for their home number, they won't give it.  Another great trick is to say they sound really nice and ask them out on a date, works for either gender, but they tend not to call again.  I used to get calls asking how much I spent on my mobile each month, told them it was 50p as I don't have many friends, then asked if they would like to be my friend, they never called again!Failing that just don't answer it, if no-one has your number it won't be for you will it?

Bernadette Clover ● 4372d

Very likely just going through in some kind of numerical order. Perhaps you could hold the call, then phone your service provider from another phone. If you manage to get through and explain in time they may be able to do something, but don't hold your breath.

Chris Bell ● 4373d

I recently brought another mobile phone. One of the new smart phones purely to learn how to use it and become familiar with it. I have never taken it out of the house or given the number to anyone as this phone is only for me to practice on and use the internet. So I felt very surprised when I started getting text messages saying do you want a loan. PPI claims and road accident claims. As i have never given my number to anyone, I am sure it is T-Mobile who is selling the list of numbers to fraudsters. If this is the case, shouldn't T-Mobile be made to account for their actions. If it is indeed rogue insider employees, shouldn't they be jailed.

Asha Smith ● 4373d

Most of these are originating from mobile phone providers like Vodafone who have moved all their call centre operations to India.The staff are bribed to collate numbers and often details of the users.Unfortunately, in India this is so commonplace that it is almost impossible to contain.I don't begrudge the work for people in India and places far away but I have closed a bank account for the same reasons.The fraudsters are always one step ahead and it's always insiders who they get on board first.But add to that places way overseas and who is going to eradicate it? Almost impossible.

Michael Brandt ● 4373d

I just phoned the TPS and they said there was nothing they could do and I should get in touch with my phone provider to block the number or contact Action Fraud. I then contacted Action Fraud and gave them the number and he said it was most probably scammers from India who use a Manchester number and if you try and call that number up, it doesnt exist. As they are from abroad, there is nothing they can do. So basically these people can ring anyone on their mobile or land line and no one can trace them or do anything about it. How can this be with all this technology yet nothing can be done to stop them. He said to just put the phone down on them without engaging in any conversation.

Asha Smith ● 4373d

The TPS are ineffectual imo.When they call next,say you are very interested but could they please wait as someone is at the front door.Put the phone in a drawer and forget about them for 10 mins.

Keith Iddon ● 4373d

Forget it or better yet, make a note of the telephone number and report it to the Telephone Preference Service who can fine such companies up to £50,000 per call.http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

Nigel Brooks ● 4373d