Phone scam or hoax? whats to be gained?
Discussion
Theres been many occasions this year when ive noticed that ive had a missed call to my mobile from another mobile number,when i ring the number to find out who called me i either just get a recorded message saying that ive dialled an incorrect number or if a person answers they deny phoning me in the first place.
Ive also had several people call me to ask why i called them earlier when i have definetley not made a call to them.
Is it some sort of scam,or a hoax or what?
What does anyone stand to gain from it?
Ive also had several people call me to ask why i called them earlier when i have definetley not made a call to them.
Is it some sort of scam,or a hoax or what?
What does anyone stand to gain from it?
I've had loads of these missed calls. Never call back as I assume I'll be connected to a scammer or a premium rate line. If someone who has a legitimate reason to contact me calls they'll leave a voicemail or follow up with a text.
As an aside, I had a text the other day saying "Hello! Hope I'm not interrupting. Do you have a minute to talk today?" Ignored that too. Why wouldn't someone identify themself if they had a good reason to talk to me?
As an aside, I had a text the other day saying "Hello! Hope I'm not interrupting. Do you have a minute to talk today?" Ignored that too. Why wouldn't someone identify themself if they had a good reason to talk to me?
They are spoofed numbers, if you answer its a recorded message that says something like "NHS calling to confirm your doctor details" and then asks you to press 1 for chinese and 2 for English, I pressed 2 last time and when the bloke answered told him to F O.
another one is "HM Gov ringing to confirm your tax details"
another one is "HM Gov ringing to confirm your tax details"
the-norseman said:
They are spoofed numbers, if you answer its a recorded message that says something like "NHS calling to confirm your doctor details" and then asks you to press 1 for chinese and 2 for English, I pressed 2 last time and when the bloke answered told him to F O.
another one is "HM Gov ringing to confirm your tax details"
I have answered these calls a few times and gotten the chinese message without even pressing any number,ive also had calls with a recorded message enquiring about my "immigration status",and calls with a recorded message saying "we have tried contacting you several times but have had no respose from you",but they never say who "we" areanother one is "HM Gov ringing to confirm your tax details"
F-----g cretins.
I had been getting a lot of these as well. So looked in to it.
As others have mentioned, they are simply spoofing numbers. The numbers they are actually ringing from are international numbers, so to make themselves look convincing, they basically have some sort of system that takes genuine UK numbers, off some sort of list they have got and then when they ring you, these are displayed. If people are calling you back it means they are using your number, however, don't worry, they haven't hijacked your phone etc.
If you do answer them and press 2 for Chinese there is a random Chinese person waiting on the phone to talk to you.
Very odd. No idea what the scam is.
Kind of annoying when you are running a business.
As others have mentioned, they are simply spoofing numbers. The numbers they are actually ringing from are international numbers, so to make themselves look convincing, they basically have some sort of system that takes genuine UK numbers, off some sort of list they have got and then when they ring you, these are displayed. If people are calling you back it means they are using your number, however, don't worry, they haven't hijacked your phone etc.
If you do answer them and press 2 for Chinese there is a random Chinese person waiting on the phone to talk to you.
Very odd. No idea what the scam is.
Kind of annoying when you are running a business.
Anyone else still getting these calls?
Mine went quiet for the best part of half a year, but now getting a few a week.
I've also had my mother tell me that she gets 3 or 4 calls a day from the Chinese Immigration service and a few people at work have mentioned it. Seems rife.
Reddit says "It’s nothing to do with the brand of your phone. The phone calls says they are from the Chinese embassy and there is a package ready for them (could be a new passport or something similar). If you press the button to call, they ask you for details to verify identity. It is designed to scam Chinese living in the UK, they probably ramp up the scam now to catch the new Chinese students just moving here. "
Mine went quiet for the best part of half a year, but now getting a few a week.
I've also had my mother tell me that she gets 3 or 4 calls a day from the Chinese Immigration service and a few people at work have mentioned it. Seems rife.
Reddit says "It’s nothing to do with the brand of your phone. The phone calls says they are from the Chinese embassy and there is a package ready for them (could be a new passport or something similar). If you press the button to call, they ask you for details to verify identity. It is designed to scam Chinese living in the UK, they probably ramp up the scam now to catch the new Chinese students just moving here. "
I think the media companies have done something to block scam calls from India, I used to have one a day, haven't had one for weeks but spam emails from India have gone insane, all telling me that my McAfee payment has failed.
I still have the one a week call from 'my local energy adviser' telling me that my roof insulation needs replacing.
I still have the one a week call from 'my local energy adviser' telling me that my roof insulation needs replacing.
K87 said:
I still have the one a week call from 'my local energy adviser' telling me that my roof insulation needs replacing.
Yes that one still seems to happen to us.Had a "new" one yesterday with someone phoning at 6.45pm saying" had I seen the distressing news on the BBC and he wanted to help me in avoiding selling my house" ?!
LARK F1 GTR said:
Sign up to TPS (which is free) and they will stop.
I did and they didn’t. What has stopped ironically seeing as most seem to emanate from the US is the so called boiler room scams on selling shares in invested tax relief schemes such as VCT and EIS.
They have some of the information such as your name and mention / guess at the VC manager but that’s about it for their knowledge.
K87 said:
I think the media companies have done something to block scam calls from India, I used to have one a day, haven't had one for weeks but spam emails from India have gone insane, all telling me that my McAfee payment has failed.
I still have the one a week call from 'my local energy adviser' telling me that my roof insulation needs replacing.
I had jane on the phone for 20mins about that,, told her my old house was ok, but never bothered ewith where i am now as i didnt think it mattered I still have the one a week call from 'my local energy adviser' telling me that my roof insulation needs replacing.
She banged on how i should check etc, told her i had no need tgo go upstairs she was rather annoyed when i told her i live on the 10th floor of a block of flats
I use the same for conservatory callers
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