Scam phone calls

[robster62]

I have just started receiving phone calls, from various numbers, with a recorded message saying something about illegal Internet activity and I will be disconnected in 24-48 hours. Does anyone know how to stop these calls? We are getting 4 or 5 calls a day.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Which ISP are you with?

 

[Gerryjo]

I've had to block at least 5 in the last two weeks 4 of which were mobile numbers that hung up when answered and the last was the insurance scam claiming that I had been involved in an accident.....gets om my gonads....

 

[robster62]

Which ISP are you with?

Virgin media

 

[Linalmeemow]

We go through periods of getting them. A week with a few then nothing for ages. I just ignore them.

 

[terrym]

I'm afraid its a fact of modern life that you mostly have to put up with. You can install call blockers, get your ISP to block the numbers, block the numbers on your mobile or join TPS, but the calls will still come through since the scammers have the ability to change the number from which they ring as we all should know.
So you just have to deal with any call you choose to answer with a fairly relaxed approach and sort out the scammers and the unsolicited calls from the rest, and don't get too frustrated, since there will inevitably be more to come.

 

[kelper]

You can use call screening. Any number that is not in your phone book has to announce their name before the call is connected. You get a brief message which is a recording of the caller's voice. Most spammers' give up.

 

[ChilledGecko]

I use a bit of kit called TrueCall. It's available as an add on unit and also is built into some of the BT phone offerings.
It allows you to have reasonably graduated control over who actually gets to ring the phone and disturb you.
It is a cost for the kit plus an ongoing subscription. Only you know if it is worth the cost.

Mine is set to allow all on my address list, reject any withheld, and everyone else gets an automated message to state your business before ringing the phone.
That seems to weed out most of them, persistent ones that jump the hoops are then put on a barred list at the press of a button.

 

[An Ankoù]

Before the lockdown, we used to get half a dozen a day trying to flog us insulation, and after that, a phone line provider trying to get us to upgrade (up to 3 a day). Put a voicemail message to the effect of "Due the high volume of scam calls, we don't answer unrecognised numbers. If you leave a voicemail message, we'll get right back to you."
Problem solved overnight.

 

[GhostShip]

I adopt a very simple approach. Rarely use the landline these days, but the address book within the phone has all of our family and friends numbers in.

If the incoming call is not from a number in the address book, it won't be answered.

If it's legit and someone is trying to reach you, they'll leave a message.

 

[kelper]

I adopt a very simple approach. Rarely use the landline these days, but the address book within the phone has all of our family and friends numbers in.

If the incoming call is not from a number in the address book, it won't be answered.

If it's legit and someone is trying to reach you, they'll leave a message.

If I call someone and it goes to voicemail, I hang up immediately.

 

[MickDundee]

We got a few during lockdown - 4 or 5 a day for about a week. Once I started ignoring the phone they stopped.

 

[GhostShip]

If I call someone and it goes to voicemail, I hang up immediately.

You'd leave a message if it was important, though.

 

[kelper]

You'd leave a message if it was important, though.

No. If it was important I would want to know that they had received my message. I would try later. I can see members of my family on Google Maps and know when their phones are online.

 

[BeerCat]

I smashed up my phone in a rage as i kept getting them.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Virgin media

Does your provider offer any kind of call blocking, i am with Talk Talk and they recently set up call blocking where the person ringing is asked their name then your phone rings and you are asked if your recognise the name given you then have options to take the call end the call or block the caller permanently.

 

[robster62]

Have got caller I'd might just ignore unknown callers if it's important they can always leave a message.

 

[RichardM]

I use a bit of kit called TrueCall. It's available as an add on unit and also is built into some of the BT phone offerings.
It allows you to have reasonably graduated control over who actually gets to ring the phone and disturb you.
It is a cost for the kit plus an ongoing subscription. Only you know if it is worth the cost.

Mine is set to allow all on my address list, reject any withheld, and everyone else gets an automated message to state your business before ringing the phone.
That seems to weed out most of them, persistent ones that jump the hoops are then put on a barred list at the press of a button.

I use Truecall as well. It's worth every penny

 

[Clint]

I smashed up my phone in a rage as i kept getting them.

Did it work?

 

[the_quick]

I noticed if I buy anything through comparison websites, those calls increase. Now I just type my landline number and set a voicemail message , as by default we don't pick up land line calls. All our friends and family call our mobiles or use emails