Random phone calls
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- Re: Random phone calls
Random phone calls
20-07-2020 11:45 AM
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I have an odd problem. I am getting brief calls from random numbers. When i answer, I just get dial tone. A few minutes later, often, I get a call from that number, with somebody asking why I called them!
I have had 5 of these this morning, with irritable people on the other end.
I cant get through on the o0800 help line to Plusnet, and I am not even sure if its Plusnet or BT I should call!
Please help !
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 12:07 PM
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@mobeydick Welcome to the forums. By the sound of it, your phone number has been 'spoofed' by one or more of the scam merchants. Unfortunately, because these wastes of oxygen operate either from outside the UK, and/or use VoIP phones, there is nothing anyone can do.
The only option you have is to ignore 'unknown' numbers, unless you're expecting a call.
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 4:55 PM
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OK thanks. That sort of makes sense. I am getting a lot of calls from similar area codes, and they always seem to be from elderly people, of from their relatives.
I eventually managed to contact Plusnet support, and they are sending an engineer out tomorrow morning. Doesn't seem much point, if what you say is true...?
I had about 20 calls today, before I unplugged the phone....
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 5:20 PM
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@mobeydick wrote:
I eventually managed to contact Plusnet support, and they are sending an engineer out tomorrow morning.
Really? 🙄 To what end?
I hope they're not going to charge you when no fault is found.
Zen FTTC 40/10 + Digital Voice FRITZ!Box 7530
BT technician (Retired)
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 5:26 PM
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You beat me to it, @198kHz .
@mobeydick What reason did they give for this? As I explained earlier, your number has been spoofed and there is absolutely nothing an engineer (or anyone else) can do about it.
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 10:08 PM
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Ok, I have been now told the engineer has been cancelled, as they have found an 'internal problem' that will be rectified by midnight on Wednesday, at the latest.
Make of that what you will..
MD
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 10:49 PM
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That does actually make more sense.
From your initial report it did seem it was a bit more complicated than random spammers, and more like some kind of exchange or wiring issue.
Re: Random phone calls
20-07-2020 10:57 PM
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@Mustrum wrote:
That does actually make more sense.
Indeed it does.
If you could report back on what transpires I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested.
Zen FTTC 40/10 + Digital Voice FRITZ!Box 7530
BT technician (Retired)
Re: Random phone calls
21-07-2020 2:23 AM
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@198kHz You are correct.😉
Re: Random phone calls
21-07-2020 8:35 AM
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Will do.
Re: Random phone calls
22-07-2020 11:15 PM
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OK, so Tuesday morning the Openreach engineer - who had been cancelled, I was told - turned up. I explained the situation, and she agreed there was nothing she could do about it, so she went away.
This morning, Wednesday, I get a text message from Plusnet saying the fault has been fixed! Hooray.
I plug the phone in (I had disconnected it due to continual calls) and it immediately starts ringing. I answer, and it is yet another elderly person asking if I had called them. I get more calls every minute or less, until I unplug again.
I reported this to Plusnet, and they are escalating.
It seems evident that the my number is being used by scammers. ALL the calls I get from people asking if I had called are elderly. They seem to be clustered in certain area codes (which made me think I was getting called first, then them, as number was very similar). Plusnet dont seem to recognise the issue though.
How long does it usually take for a number, similarly abused, to become free again?
Re: Random phone calls
27-07-2020 3:20 PM
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Pointless having a landline and broadband if i daren't plug the phone back in the socket
Re: Random phone calls
27-07-2020 3:23 PM
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@Pointedscarab Welcome to the forums. You can have the broadband with out having to have the phone plugged in, you know.
Re: Random phone calls
27-07-2020 3:53 PM
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Fyi, massed calls lasted Monday to Friday, last week. I had one over the weekend. I supposed scammers have the weekend off too.
Monday morning, 9a.m., I had 5 calls in about an hour, so I thought it was starting again, but have had none in the last five hours.
Most of last week, I just had the phone unplugged. When it started again today, I recorded an answer message saying 'this number is being used for scam calls: if you want to speak to me, call my mobile', set the answer machine to answer only (Do not allow to leave message) and to answer after 2 rings (the minimum). I also turned the ring volume right down.
Whether coincidence or not, the calls stopped (so far) soon after.
Re: Random phone calls
27-07-2020 3:59 PM
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Could be a combination of circumstances, @mobeydick , but most likely the scam-artistes have moved on to another poor souls number, they very rarely use the same one for any length of time.
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