Gransnet forums

Chat

Nuisance/scam phone calls

(8 Posts)
Barrow Tue 15-Jan-13 11:37:29

I have found a new website where you can look up a number and find out whether it is a scam - whocallsme.com. If you have the number of the caller you just type it in and can see whether others have received a call from that number.

Movedalot Tue 15-Jan-13 12:33:09

Thanks Barrow that is useful.

harrigran Tue 15-Jan-13 14:26:57

Been using this website for a long time Barrow it is useful. I have blocked so many numbers on the landline that they are now ringing my mobile. I have only ever given my mobile number to a handful of people and yet scammers are ringing it every day, I have started using some veru unladylike language grin

FlicketyB Tue 15-Jan-13 14:41:34

The problem is all the nuisance calls we get are either 'number withheld' or 'international'. We are on the telephone preference service list so all well organised reputable companies do not call us. That just leaves the scammers.

I did have a bit of a giggle last week. An ambulance chasing site rang me about injuries in a car accident in the last three years. I said firmly, and correctly that I had not had any accident, motor or otherwise, in the last three years. The caller seemed be perplexed and I rang off.

It occurred to me afterwards that DD, who shares my first name, did have a serious road accident 18 months ago. However, while I am called by my first name in full DD has always been known by a diminutive of it and she only ever writes her full name on the most official of official forms. I presume the company, or whoever provides the lists, had the information provided from the police/hospital/insurance forms and as our surname is not that common had no difficulty in tracking that name down - except that it was me not my daughter.

I am not going to enlighten them, firstly because DD's compensation is being dealt with quietly and responsibly by a local firm of solicitors and secondly because DD works in the tv industry and in her job sees so many of these adverts that in the aftermath of the accident she became/is absolutely paranoid about being contacted by these firms and only agreed to make her reasonable claim because a close friend, a solicitor, told her she had a well based claim and I promised to find a firm of solicitors that would deal with her case quietly and without writing up her injuries for maximum compensation.

feetlebaum Tue 15-Jan-13 15:17:10

I never answer 'number withheld' calls... I treat them as I would treat any anonymous letter. The answering machine is always on...

Elegran Tue 15-Jan-13 15:22:35

I wouldn't anwer them, but I get calls from several people who always withhold their number - the GP when he does telephone appointments is one. If you leave your number and a short message with the surgery, you get a phone call back from the GP on his mobile. He does not want his number known or people would be phoning him when it is inconvenient.

HUNTERF Tue 15-Jan-13 15:36:42

I am now finding the unwanted calls on my mobile more of a nuisance.
I think these callers have a web cam on me as they always seem to call when I am driving.
If the phone rings I always pull in at a safe place and ring back.
On one journey I had 3 calls / texts and I stopped for all 3.
All of them were about PPI.
Some people say you should not have your phone on when driving but I do have family members who sometimes need to contact me urgently.

Frank

jeni Tue 15-Jan-13 15:55:46

I have to answer number withheld because the tribunal h.q. Do it and they ring me to ask me if I can do another session or to cancel.