topic Re: Scams in Everything else

Scams

Walter — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 09:36:23 GMT

I find lots of help articles on scam calls but no link to report 'a call'. I have lost nothing but time and inconvenience, I have blocked the number using 1571. Somewhere some body will be listing scan numbers. Where can I report a scam number? Are Plus Net interested?

Re: Scams

jab1 — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 09:42:54 GMT

@Walter It is not possible, AFAIK, to report these home phone scam calls to Plusnet (or any other home phone provider), but I have found the easiest way to greatly reduce them is not to answer any unknown number unless you are expecting a call from one.

If a caller really wants to speak to you, they will (or should) leave a message.

Re: Scams

Baldrick1 — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 09:56:16 GMT

@Walter

The problem wih scam callers is that they frequently use false caller ID numbers, which are constantly changed.

To stop these calls completely forget the 1571 system and buy a phone that incorporated a BT blocker, for example https://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-Advanced-Cordless-Nuisance-Answering-Black/dp/B0787KRDFT/ref=sr_1_18?crid=22M1W37L21LPF&keywords=bt%2B4600&qid=1656755575&sprefix=bt4600%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-18&th=1. These work in a different way and block all automated callers as used by scammers. I have had one for years and not one scam caller has got through in all that time.

Re: Scams

198kHz — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 13:37:41 GMT

@jab1 wrote:

...easiest way to greatly reduce them is not to answer any unknown number unless you are expecting a call from one.

Certainly works for me - never felt the need for a blocking phone or system.

Re: Scams

greygit — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 23:44:22 GMT

"If a caller really wants to speak to you, they will (or should) leave a message."

That's slightly based on a presumption that there's an answer machine.

At times I have realised that cold-callers can be allocated a block of numbers, and you can block the whole lot in one go.

Other methods

Answer, but don't speak and leave the line open until the call is terminated. Sometimes misconfigured automated calling systems can leave the line open for a very long time. Like over an hour.

If there's a scammy real-world person at the other end then play them for the fools they are.

Ofcom will and do accept reports of scammy phone calls (or calls presenting a non-standard CLI or operators not adhering to accepted/defined standards/laws).

Ganeral rule: financial downturn = upturn in scams/cold-calls. And there are other factors that influence prevalences of scams.

I have (in the past) been known to pick up a cold-call, listen to the scammy (lie) line, terminate the call and then call the presented CLI number back. Only to listen to a rather different scammy line. And that would be on a number issued as part of a block of numbers. Hence some of my other observations.

Perhaps landlines are going to be extremely untrustable in the future.

Re: Scams

jab1 — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 06:09:44 GMT

(1) Most (emphasise 'most') people will have an answering facility - if not built into the phone, 1571 usually works.

(2) If you know what that 'block' is, and your phone is capable of blocking a range of numbers - not all are.

(3) Answering confirms your number is live and liable to be answered - not answering, in my experience means the scam artists, who work together, eventually realise they are wasting their time and eventually remove your number from the database.

(4) I've better things to do with my time.

(5) OFCOM may accept the reports, but will do SFA about them.

Re: Scams

RobPN — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 08:29:26 GMT

(6) Mostly if you call the presented number back you'll find it doesn't even ring.

Re: Scams

Walter — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 11:14:00 GMT

Thanks Jab1 I,ve blocked most calls but I don't have caller identification deadly.

Re: Scams

Walter — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 11:18:39 GMT

Thanks Baldrick1 I'll certainly look into that. After I installed 1571 I did have peace for a long time until I got a call from Telephone Preferences Agency who asked how I was getting on. I said very well you are my first unknown caller he checked my number probably my postcode then asked for my date of birth!! Well scammed!

Re: Scams

jab1 — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 11:19:56 GMT

@Walter That is a little unfortunate - why not?

@Walter wrote:
Thanks Jab1 I,ve blocked most calls but I don't have caller identification deadly.

Re: Scams

Walter — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 14:00:58 GMT

I'll order the BT phone mentioned above and make certain CLI of included. Thanks for your comments

Re: Scams

greygit — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 22:48:14 GMT

Technical point on (3). If the call connects (even if it isn't answered) then the number is 'live'. Gaming the scammers is more likely to have the number removed.

(2) Allocations of phone numbers can sometimes be located.

(4) I may have saved you some of your time.

(5) Sometimes they do. A small win is still a win.

(6) VoIP is not going to improve matters. It will likely make things worse. But, hey - I've only had it demonstrated to me (in a corporate environment) of a connection from Nigeria being presented with a UK number. And "Microsoft server support" generally do the same from India. I'd really like to know what BT's capabilities are (just from a purely technical viewpoint).

(1) CLI and a handset that logs unanswered calls. 1571 only presents the last unanswered number.

Re: Scams

RobPN — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 23:17:16 GMT

@greygit wrote:

(6) VoIP is not going to improve matters. It will likely make things worse. But, hey - I've only had it demonstrated to me (in a corporate environment) of a connection from Nigeria being presented with a UK number. And "Microsoft server support" generally do the same from India. I'd really like to know what BT's capabilities are (just from a purely technical viewpoint).

Coming soon to a VoIP service near you ... ?

"One other way of tackling this issue would be a new telephone identification protocol, which can help operators to authenticate that all calls and text messages come from a real number. The Engineering Task Force (IETF) has been attempting to do this via their suit of STIR/SHAKEN protocols (i.e. STIR = Secure Telephony Identity Revisited / SHAKEN = Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs), but so far it’s been mostly focused upon the USA and Canada."

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2021/10/ofcom-tell-uk-phone-operators-to-block-foreign-voip-scam-calls.html

Re: Scams

greygit — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:21:30 GMT

If it helps frame it from my perspective - that original demo for me was a bit over over 15 years ago. Good to know that identified problems have been picked up and worked on. Or perhaps it was better to ignore them and concentrate on cost reduction.

Re: Scams

greygit — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:25:27 GMT

"(6) Mostly if you call the presented number back you'll find it doesn't even ring."

If it is a UK number then that is definitely OFCOM territory. Presented numbers *have* to be callable.

Re: Scams

greygit — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:27:42 GMT

"If it is a UK number then that is definitely OFCOM territory. Presented numbers *have* to be callable."

With a bit of digital legwork I can drag up the relevant legislation/references.

Re: Scams

jab1 — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 05:34:17 GMT

When I used to bother trying to call these 'helpful' people back, 4 out of 5 would respond with 'the number you have called is not recognised, please check and try again'.

Re: Scams

Champnet — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 07:34:42 GMT

Nothing to stop the owners of those numbers redirecting incoming calls to a phone that never gets answered.....

Re: Scams

RobPN — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 07:56:30 GMT

@greygit wrote:

"If it is a UK number then that is definitely OFCOM territory. Presented numbers *have* to be callable."

With a bit of digital legwork I can drag up the relevant legislation/references.

(My bold)

Try telling that to your Nigerian 'friend'.