Random calls - Wrong number

[northernladuk]

Over the last few weeks I've had a handful of people ring me and they say it's a wrong number. One rang me just now to say he's had a missed call from this number about a payment issue. The people are all English and sound to be of varying ages so appear genuine people rather than offshore scammers. It's only the last guy that mentioned a payment issue. All calls show a mobile number but not tried ringing any of them back. I would guess they are normal people at the end of a scam rather than someone trying to scam me.

I'm assuming then some scammer is spoofing my number so it looks like the I've made the call. I thought about ringing the last guy back but bearing in mind there is an attempted scam going on from my number he'd be daft to answer it again.

Anyone else had this?

[NotAllThere]

Happened to me a few times last year. Someone has been spoofing your number. Why anyone returns a missed call from someone who they don't know, I really can't figure out.

[northernladuk]

Happened to me a few times last year. Someone has been spoofing your number. Why anyone returns a missed call from someone who they don't know, I really can't figure out.

Well I'm currently on the gig hunt so feel obliged to respond as it could be an agent with a juicy gig... but yes generally if they want me they'll call again.

Sad thing is when I say varying ages, and I know it's difficult to tell, they were all on the older end. When they get a call saying they've had a payment failure they are more likely to call back. I'm endlessly trying to educate my parents about it and they are in their late 80's.

[NotAllThere]

My parents are deeply suspicious.. they ask me every time they get some phone calls. But insist I prove my identity first. I'm running out of embarrassing childhood incidents...

[northernladuk]

I'm running out of embarrassing childhood incidents...

I'm sure you've got more than enough adulthood ones to fall back on.

[courtg9000]

Number Spoofing
I have been having the same problem

[xoggoth]

On phone spoofing, be aware that scammers can remain connected to your phone when you dial a number. Had a seemingly convincing call, supposedly from a policeman at a local police station, that they had arrested someone who claimed to live at my address. He said I could call 101 to check his details. Had I done so straight away I could still have been talking to the scammers.

[agentzero]

On phone spoofing, be aware that scammers can remain connected to your phone when you dial a number. Had a seemingly convincing call, supposedly from a policeman at a local police station, that they had arrested someone who claimed to live at my address. He said I could call 101 to check his details. Had I done so straight away I could still have been talking to the scammers.

On a mobile phone network in the UK this isn't possible. On a UK landline, only the emergency services and BT operator in engineering mode have the ability to perform this. If you hang up on a UK landline there is a 2 second delay before the call is cut off. Just wait longer before picking up the handset to dial 101.

[xoggoth]

Dunno. Not what it says here.

Beware of phone scam where criminals stay on the line after you hang up - Highlands East

[gables]

Dunno. Not what it says here.

Beware of phone scam where criminals stay on the line after you hang up - Highlands East

Hmm..... doesn't say if the original call is on a mobile or landline, also that's Canada so not sure if applicable here as I don't know if all phone systems are the same. I thought the ability to "stay on" someone's line was a quirk of landline phones rather than mobiles, no?