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Scams and fraud

Insulation callers

(16 Posts)
Grantanow Sat 25-Oct-25 17:46:05

I get frequent phone calls from various people (mostly women) claiming to be my 'local energy advisor'. I seems to be persistent selling rather than a scam. Ive tried adding their numbers to the blocked callers' list but they seem to use lots of different numbers to prevent call blockimg. I dont want these calls - our house is insulated albeit not on the solid walls and we dont want a heat pump (too expensive even with the grant) - but it seems impossible to get rid of them.

Blossoming Sat 25-Oct-25 18:07:55

They are a scam, they are using faked or cloned numbers so blocking doesn’t stop them. Best to just ignore them or put the phone down without speaking.

Astitchintime Sat 25-Oct-25 18:23:32

I quite like getting these type of calls……….i put on my best dipsy dithery voice and let them rabbit on and on interjecting every so often with comment, I always think whilst I’m doing that I am protecting the next person down their list from a nuisance call.
Sometimes, when the penny drops I get a bit of verbal to which I generally say in an ordinary, very firm and unruffled voice “I bet your mother is very proud of you”!!!! And then I hang up!

MissChateline Sat 25-Oct-25 19:18:00

A couple of years ago I had a chap call at my door telling me about a free installation scheme for “the room in the roof” I was sceptical but let him look at my attic bedroom. All he wanted to know was whether I was an OAP in receipt of a state pension.
To cut a long story short. My attic room was brilliantly insulated, two extractor fans in my kitchen and bathroom and ventilation vents in my roof and two other rooms.
They came, did the work, decorated and sent in cleaners in 10 days.
It’s made a huge difference to the warmth of my house and cured any slight damp areas.
Not all are scams and I couldn’t be happier.

MissChateline Sat 25-Oct-25 19:22:37

Insulation not installation!

Georgesgran Sat 25-Oct-25 19:26:57

‘She’ was driving me mad - ‘Gaby (the bot) my local energy advisor. Luckily just landline calls, so I no longer pick up.

theworriedwell Sat 25-Oct-25 20:12:12

Astitchintime

I quite like getting these type of calls……….i put on my best dipsy dithery voice and let them rabbit on and on interjecting every so often with comment, I always think whilst I’m doing that I am protecting the next person down their list from a nuisance call.
Sometimes, when the penny drops I get a bit of verbal to which I generally say in an ordinary, very firm and unruffled voice “I bet your mother is very proud of you”!!!! And then I hang up!

My husband's latest tactic is to cut them off mid speech and say let's stop wasting time, do you want my debit card number or bank account details. They just hang up, I'm not sure what he'll say if one of them takes him up in his offer, I fear it won't be polite.

Esmay Sat 25-Oct-25 22:07:24

I block every call that I don't recognise and on the rare occasion that they get through to me -I talk absolutely nonsense composed of jumbled words and phrases and am so irritating that they give up .
Jabberwocky works well .

twiglet77 Sun 26-Oct-25 00:14:14

I sometimes let them get well into their script before saying they’d better hope their parents and their gods forgive liars. Or I’ll ask “Richard” for his full name, and exactly how he spells it…. or blow my dog whistle long and loud… or leave the phone off its cradle and walk away.

One, pretending to be called Michael or David or John, did ring back as soon as I hung up and spluttered “You bad bad bad womans”!

Maybe, but I’m not a lying scammer.

M0nica Sun 26-Oct-25 10:58:34

I just say 'I live in a Listed House' which I have done now, for 30 years. It brings all such conversations to an abrupt halt.

Charleygirl5 Sun 26-Oct-25 11:10:38

I own my house outright, but never say that to door callers who may want me to upgrade the double glazing. I say I rent the property, and I have no idea which country my landlord is in at present.

I live on my own, but if necessary, mention my non-existent sons.

joannapiano Sun 26-Oct-25 11:39:21

Apparently my local energy advisor is”Jo”. She asks if I am the home owner, when I say We rent ( we don’t),she puts the phone down.

henetha Sun 26-Oct-25 11:51:38

I get these and usually just put the phone down. But I like some of the ideas above and think I'll have a bit of fun next time. I remember enough of my schoolgirl French to manage a few sentences, so that's what I'll do, speak my terrible French at them.

andrea67 Sun 26-Oct-25 16:21:29

My Dad was very naughty , a retired top car salesman he used several tricks to "chat" to scammers. At the end he wouldpolitely thank them for the info and put the phone down. My Mum would sit nearby tutting at him, eventually the penny would drop with the caller that this elderly man was far more skilled than them.

DollyRocker Sun 26-Oct-25 16:50:54

I just let them rabbit on & don't speak, they get the hint eventually & hang up and sometimes swear at me. The other thing I do is use a few choice Albanian swear words & phrases my friend taught me so they can't make head nor tale of what I'm saying. I have a foreign surname so it's feasible.

M0nica Mon 27-Oct-25 09:27:56

Why waste time on them. Your time is more valuable than theirs. Put the phone down or do as DH does. He says 'Whatever it is, I am not interested and puts the phone down.