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-   -   Sudden rash of cold calling? (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33713229)

tweetiepooh 25-03-2025 09:20

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Companies are looking at ways to block calls where the callerid and the actual originating termination are different. The difficulties include calls from companies that may send the DDI number to the extension but the termination is their switchboard.


But while illegal in the UK stopping war-diallers abroad is more difficult. That's when the scammers just dial "random numbers" and if they get a ring can record it as a valid number and if answered can route you to one of their operatives.

Carth 24-03-2026 12:12

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Thread resurrected :erm:

had a call today (phone said from Tyneside), dodgy line with even worse dodgy Asian accent. Told him the line was bad, he hung up after about 30 seconds.

Two minutes later another call, this one allegedly from Manchester, same bloke asking if I could hear him better now.
"Yes" I said, "what car do you have?"
"I don't have a car" he replied.
"oh" says I, "I just wondered how you got from Tyneside to Manchester in two minutes"

. . he hung up

Itshim 24-03-2026 13:18

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Love it. Keep getting calls about loft insulation.the computer one. My favourite game is to see how long I can keep it on the line ........ Sad or what.

Dingbat 24-03-2026 13:25

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Getting approx one call a week from a “local insulation representative”. Each time, I ask them where I am in the country for them to know they’re local, and each time they clear the call down.

I’m happy to keep playing this game until they give up.

Itshim 24-03-2026 16:39

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingbat (Post 36212958)
Getting approx one call a week from a “local insulation representative”. Each time, I ask them where I am in the country for them to know they’re local, and each time they clear the call down.

I’m happy to keep playing this game until they give up.

That's the one . Know your area ,ha,ha wants your address, which it's says it knows ,

Carth 24-03-2026 17:06

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Many many opportunities to play the game, and many different ways to play it.

. . and it doesn't cost anything, where else can you find free entertainment? :D

nodrogd 08-04-2026 14:21

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Best course of action is not to engage with them. Beware of pissing them off, as some have been known to use the numbers of those that harass them to spoof thousands of other call recipients (who then think you are the scammers). They use auto-dialling software that calls multiple numbers & logs anyone that gets a human response for handing on to the scammers to follow up. If there is no response or an answerphone responds the calls usually stop after a few days until the next lot of scammers try that same particular block of numbers.

Itshim 08-04-2026 16:02

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 36213578)
Best course of action is not to engage with them. Beware of pissing them off, as some have been known to use the numbers of those that harass them to spoof thousands of other call recipients (who then think you are the scammers). They use auto-dialling software that calls multiple numbers & logs anyone that gets a human response for handing on to the scammers to follow up. If there is no response or an answerphone responds the calls usually stop after a few days until the next lot of scammers try that same particular block of numbers.

The number they call me on is a virgin line , I never call anyone from it, well unless you count calling to virgin complain about them

nodrogd 08-04-2026 20:01

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim (Post 36213581)
The number they call me on is a virgin line , I never call anyone from it, well unless you count calling to virgin complain about them

Does not matter if it is a Virgin line. The scammers will block dial every number on an exchange sequentially over a number of days, so you will never get missed.

If you decide to harass them as some have suggested, they know what number you are using (as they have called you on it). They can easily spoof your number & it will show as the caller ID when they block dial thousands of other potential victims numbers.

ozsat 09-04-2026 04:48

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
We have a backup EE/BT line and that never had a phone connected and was never used for phone.

BT had a call log system online showing it was receiving calls from unknown to me numbers on a regular basis. A lookup showed most were known spam numbers.

We got he phone line diabled in the end.

BTW - the best way to answer a call where the number is not recognised is NOT say "Hello". That often triggers a chain of events with the robots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim (Post 36213581)
The number they call me on is a virgin line , I never call anyone from it, well unless you count calling to virgin complain about them


Itshim 09-04-2026 11:16

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 36213612)
Does not matter if it is a Virgin line. The scammers will block dial every number on an exchange sequentially over a number of days, so you will never get missed.

If you decide to harass them as some have suggested, they know what number you are using (as they have called you on it). They can easily spoof your number & it will show as the caller ID when they block dial thousands of other potential victims numbers.

Please read again I DONT use the virgin phone line - hence that number is never used.. don't care what they do with it. Not my problem,

Carth 10-04-2026 00:21

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
I've just thought of something . . there could be 'up to' 10,000 people in the UK that I don't know, and have no wish to know, that have potentially blocked my phone number . .

gutted I am, really gutted :rofl:

Itshim 10-04-2026 13:36

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36213698)
I've just thought of something . . there could be 'up to' 10,000 people in the UK that I don't know, and have no wish to know, that have potentially blocked my phone number . .

gutted I am, really gutted :rofl:

:gpoint::gpoint:

Hugh 10-04-2026 13:41

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36213698)
I've just thought of something . . there could be 'up to' 10,000 people in the UK that I don't know, and have no wish to know, that have potentially blocked my phone number . .

gutted I am, really gutted :rofl:

tbf, there’s probably about the same number you do know have done the same… :D

Carth 10-04-2026 14:52

Re: Sudden rash of cold calling?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36213726)
tbf, there’s probably about the same number you do know have done the same… :D

nope, I very rarely give my phone number out . . no matter how much they beg ;)

Anyone that I know that has my phone number (all 25 of them) wouldn't bother blocking it.

Those I don't know personally (banks, gas & electric, doctors, etc.) probably wouldn't bother either.


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