Nuisance Phone Calls [Archive]

dbateman2k5

29-03-2010, 17:05

Hi

This has been occurring now for a few months now and always about the same thing.

Phone rings, I answer. Indian speaking person asks to speak to <name>, and I say speaking. They then says that they have received information that my pc is running slow and they can help fix it.

I ask how they got my details, they say from Microsoft. I told them that this is untrue as Microsoft doesn't have my details. They then said that the details they have were what I entered when I registered my Windows pc when I first got the pc. I then again say this is untrue as Microsoft's activation procedure doesn't ask for any of my details and only records my IP address and that I have activated Windows.

I then ask that my details are removed from the system and that they stop contacting me with their scam.

Then I get the same again within a few days.

Have spoken to VM and they asked for the phone number of the nuisance call, and I said that 1471 said the number was with-held/not known. VM said they can be of no further help.

I don't wish to change my number as it's an easy number to remember and I have had the number ever since I have had cable and don't want the hassle of having to change my number with friends, family, bank, etc.

By the way, I am ex-directory, registered with TPS, and I am not listed on the edited version of the electoral roll.

Any suggestions on what to do or how to stop these nuisance calls.

joglynne

29-03-2010, 17:13

If anyone can come up with a solution I would also be grateful. I've been getting the same calls for the last couple of weeks and am getting a tad browned off. 1471 shows number with held the same as Dave and all the callers seem to have an Indian accent and be called Tracy or Daniel etc.

Chris

29-03-2010, 17:18

It's a scam, and it probably originates offshore. There probably is more that VM could do if pressed - you could involve the police, for example, if you suspected a crime. VM would have to dance to their tune then.

However all I would do is simply decline the call at the point they claim to have 'received information' and wish to offer a 'fix'. IMO that sounds like a sales or marketing call, and I don't take those even if they're legitimate. If a withheld number calls our line after about 6.30pm we don't normally answer it at all.

joglynne

29-03-2010, 17:38

Definitely a scam, but they have an inbuilt sense of when I have just sat down to eat. Wish I could just ignore a 'withheld number call' but our son frequently phones from Hotels and premises that don't show the phone number so we have no choice but to see who is ringing us.

Being a little bored I had some fun yesterday by asking the guy if he knew my friend who is working in Mumbai and then just kept talking over his attempts to get me back on track about what my friend was doing and how he was coming back to the UK next week for a holiday and was he sure he didn't know him 'cause he works for a well known Charity based over there, and ... well you get the drift.

All I could hear was him spluttering in the background then the cheeky blighter put the phone down on me!

Spectato

29-03-2010, 18:03

I don't know if this is predominantly a Virgin Media issue, but we've been inundated by nuisance calls since they talked us into having a phone line (which we didn't really want in the first place).
Right from day one there's been a variety of nuisance calls, usually from so called 'finance related' companies.
The TPS and complaints to OFFCOM appear to be futile unfortunately, and of course the numbers keep changing and new ones are always cropping up.
Uggghh!! :mad:

Anyway.
One of the most useful sites out there, when you can get a number is: http://whocallsme.com

Generally if you type the full number into Google, you'll at least be able to identify the creeps involved, and see the all other poor blighters in the same boat!
It's almost always UK-based (****) companies employing Indian call centres to carpet bomb us with crooked telesales marketing.
No one seems to care except the poor sods getting the calls.

devilincarnate

29-03-2010, 18:07

Try these sites:

http://www.optoutuk.com/

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/phone/security/persistentcalls.html

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/phone/security/unwantedcalls.html

Hope these help ?

If you have got the number that has called you can check it at :

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/output/default.aspx

joglynne

29-03-2010, 18:07

OK if you get a phone number, not much help if you can't get either the phone number or the name of the company they represent. :(

... and we are registered with the TPS and every other opt out service but they doesn't stop overseas call centres.

Spectato

29-03-2010, 18:12

Yeah, I know it's pretty useless.
But you take comfort where you can.
It's a very frustrating problem.

joglynne

29-03-2010, 18:14

That's why I have decided to wind them up as a form of retaliation. :D

devilincarnate

29-03-2010, 18:14

Have just seen this page:

http://www.optoutuk.com/legal.asp?screen_id=how

dbateman2k5

29-03-2010, 18:18

I know this may sound silly but I'll say it anyway as it's the only thing I can think of as to how my number and details have been given out.

When I sometimes call VM and get through to an offshore person, all my details appear on their screen after I have given them my account or telephone number.

Sound silly, but given that this type of call only occurs in the few days/weeks following having spoken to an offshore person and that the person sounds Indian, makes me feel that offshore are selling or passing out my details.

joglynne

29-03-2010, 18:28

Have just seen this page:

http://www.optoutuk.com/legal.asp?screen_id=how

Yep, I've read that page, our main problem is that we don't want to block all 'number withheld calls' as our son often calls from offices and hotels whilst he is working away from home. I just wish there was an indicator as to whether a call was from the UK or from abroad.

We are hardly plagued by this type of call, in fact until this latest scam it must have been months since we had any. So the TPS have been very effective until now.

Chris

29-03-2010, 19:01

Yep, I've read that page, our main problem is that we don't want to block all 'number withheld calls' as our son often calls from offices and hotels whilst he is working away from home. I just wish there was an indicator as to whether a call was from the UK or from abroad.

We are hardly plagued by this type of call, in fact until this latest scam it must have been months since we had any. So the TPS have been very effective until now.

You could always opt for the tactic my mum used to employ back in the days when all the phones belonged to the GPO and they made you pay through the nose for them. If she was meeting someone in town, for example, she or they would call and make the phone ring once or twice so the other person would know they were on their way. It saved a connection charge and a unit of call cost for the sake of 10 seconds' conversation.

Tell your son you've been having problems and you're going to stop accepting calls from withheld numbers - unless you get a brief tinkle on the phone first, just to let you know that when it rings again, it will be him. ;)

joglynne

29-03-2010, 19:12

That could work Chris. How would I know that it was a with held number though? We don't have caller display in our area yet.

Peter_

29-03-2010, 19:18

That could work Chris. How would I know that it was a with held number though? We don't have caller display in our area yet.
Try this TrueCall - The Nuisance Call Blocker (http://www.amazon.co.uk/TrueCall-The-Nuisance-Call-Blocker/dp/B002GP7HQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269886649&sr=8-1)

joglynne

29-03-2010, 19:37

Yikes £79.95. It would have to get a lot worse before I would consider paying that much Molly.

I'll just carry on winding them up and wasting their time. I know it won't stop them but at least it makes my smile. I think I may set John on them next time. 10 minutes talking to him with his hearing aid turned down and asking them to talk up should be a decent payback. Then I can always try the radio playing down the line trick, the silent treatment trick, and then there's the 'I'm sorry can you start again from the beginning' ... that always gets them annoyed after the second time I ask.

No doubt they will move on to pastures greener given time. :D

Spectato

29-03-2010, 19:42

That device came up in the links that 'devilincarnate' posted also.

First issue:
"Many TrueCall features require your network's Caller ID (available free from BT, but may be chargeable from other providers)."
So you need to be in an available VM area, and have a caller-ID capable phone.
Pay for caller-ID, the unit and "To be operated optimally, there is a need to use the Web Link service, which utilises a national rate phone number and will be chargeable after the first year (Price unknown)."
Also sounds quite technically challenging from reading some of the reviews.
Sorry to be negative about it.

joglynne

29-03-2010, 22:15

Well I'm definitely technically challenged so another minus point against the device.:D

Fingy

30-03-2010, 12:09

My dad is on BT and kept getting similar calls. They seemed to have stopped since he just kept asking them if they could tell him whereabouts in the house the computer was as he'd be really interested in how it got there as he has never bought one and he'd like to see what it looked like. ;) Though he is retired and does seem to enjoy winding these people up on the phone.

dgcarter

30-03-2010, 12:47

Couple of points here:

They can get your number from the directory, which is on public sale. If they have no directory, they are probably using an autodialler (in which case they probably wouldn't have your name). In most cases anonymous caller reject wouldn't work, since my understanding is that this only rejects numbers where the originator has specifically opted to withhold the number. Most of these callers simply don't resent a number to the system. My phone just displays unknown in this case, anonymous where the number is withheld.

Sorry that's three points, maths never was my strong point.

Don

m419

30-03-2010, 13:59

dbateman2k5

31-03-2010, 01:05

I'm sorry there isn't much anyone can do. The only thing you can do is follow these steps:

1. Get a phone that supports Caller Display
2. Add Caller Display to your line
3. Ignore witheld calls and let it go to Answer machine
4. If they don't leave a message then its probably trash

Alternatively.....

1.Order Anonymous Caller Rejection
2.If the calls persist then you will have to get your number changed which is free, if you change it more than once then there is an administration fee of £20.

Make sure your numbers are registered with the TPS and that they are ex-directory.

Of the above, I have Anonymous Caller Rejection and a phone that supports Caller Display. I'm also registered with TPS and am ex-directory.

With Anonymous Caller Rejection active, they still get through, which is annoying.

Also, the Caller Display service is not available in the Solent region (Area 20).

marky

31-03-2010, 06:31

I got rid of the landline, if people really need to call then they have my mobile.
Added bonus is the kids cant phone there mates on there mobiles and give me a silly bill :D

Artille

31-03-2010, 06:51

Your phone service provider actually sells your name and numbers to other companies using overseas call centres. Really they are responsible for the nuisance

marky

31-03-2010, 07:03

Your phone service provider actually sells your name and numbers to other companies using overseas call centres. Really they are responsible for the nuisance

Next you will be saying that the Gov taxes fuel.
Life is a scam and all are in on it ;)

---------- Post added at 07:03 ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 ----------

I'm thinking of getting an auto dialer to get people to send me money, It worked for Homer :)

Peter_

31-03-2010, 07:17

Your phone service provider actually sells your name and numbers to other companies using overseas call centres. Really they are responsible for the nuisance
I would love you to provide proof of that as it is illegal especially if you have ticked any opt out boxes.

joglynne

31-03-2010, 09:00

Your phone service provider actually sells your name and numbers to other companies using overseas call centres. Really they are responsible for the nuisance

Unless you agree that this is merely a supposition on your part I think you should produce the evidence that you have based this statement on as I think we would all be interested to see it.

I am highly doubtful that my number has been sold by VM, why would anyone hand over money for my number when it is listed in the phone book and freely available.

Paranoimia

07-04-2010, 21:34

My mum's had 2 nuisance calls on the last 2 nights. Last night it was a woman, tonight a man - both with Indian accents.

They ask for her by name, then say that they need to confirm if they're speaking on a Sky or BT line. (Aren't they technically one and the same?)

She then asks who's calling and why they need to kow, at which point they rattle off some incoherent company name "from London." When she asks them to repeat the name, they hang up.

I told her to contact the local police station to ask if they were aware of any scams going on like this, which they weren't. They've given her an incident number to report if it happens again, and advised her to contact her operator to see if they can help.

Anyone else had anything like these particular calls?

moaningmags

29-04-2010, 00:30

My mum's had 2 nuisance calls on the last 2 nights. Last night it was a woman, tonight a man - both with Indian accents.

They ask for her by name, then say that they need to confirm if they're speaking on a Sky or BT line. (Aren't they technically one and the same?)

Anyone else had anything like these particular calls?

I had one of these calls last night, asking for my husband and if I could confirm we were on a BT line. I told him that was none of his business, why he was calling and what he wanted and he hung up on me.

My hubby has way too much fun winding them up.

vanman

03-05-2010, 01:44

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/356833/pensioner-targeted-by-fake-virus-phone-scam

CherryHintonBlu

17-05-2010, 15:00

Does Virgin Media offer specific number barring? The otherwise blummin' awful TalkTalk does (http://www.talktalk.co.uk/help/phone/how-do-i-set-up-last-caller-barring.html). That would solve a lot of people's problems, especially those of us plagued with "silent" calls from 02135371000 (the Indian Call Centre whose owner I would happily punch in the face. Repeatedly.)