Unwanted Phone Call

[scoobydooby]

Don't think this is in the right place but......

I've just had a phone call from a guy offering a free mobile phone. He gave me the full name of my father and said that my father had given him my name and number (he had my full name). I told him I wasn't interested and mentioned that my father was going to get a telling off from me. He then gave me my sister's full name and telephone number and said that he'd also been told she may be interested! I explained that she wouldn't be too happy to receive his call either but I then rang my sister who confirmed he'd rung her.

I then rang my Father who says he's never had such a phone call and wouldn't be so silly as to give out our names and numbers anyway! So now I'm worried.

How did this guy (I never took any notice of the name of the company) know that my sister and I were our father's daughters when we live in different towns and have different surnames? Has anyone else had anything like this happen to them. The more I think about it, it seems as though he wasn't offering a mobile at all, he simply wanted confirmation that we were part of the same family!

[laurence2]

and i suspose when you dialled 1471 it was a withheld number.

[scoobydooby]

Yes, as it always is. I usually shrug these calls off as a 'pain in the arse' but this one's a bit too close for comfort.

[kazminx]

very dodgy....i worked for a mobile phone company and this is definately breaching data protection act for a start...never ever confirm or give out details. you did the right thing anyway.

[trevoraston]

If i were you i would phone the police and make a complaint and also phone your telephone company as well. It sound real dodgy.

[loopyc]

i used to trace people for a living a we would use all sorts of tricks to locate people with bad debt, this sounds very much like a tracing agent, if they phone again do not give any information away regarding you or your family.

[~posy-jo~]

i agree with TREVORASTON. phone the police and the phone company xXx

[scoobydooby]

Oh no loopyc, that's what I was worried about. Both my sister and I are very sensible when it comes to money and have never got into debt. However I know that we didn't inherit our attitude to finances from our father - he's always been terrible with debt. Having said that, we couldn't be chased for a debt belonging to our father could we?

[Hellion]

I believe - but I'm not certain - that if you ring BT operator immediately after the call they can trace it.

[loopyc]

no you cant be chased for your fathers debt did he ask any questions regarding your dad for example his address?

[PinkFizz]

Hi Scooby - no you cant be responsible for your fathers debt but I would ring the police and tell them the whole conversation.

[scoobydooby]

No, he didn't ask me anything other than "your father Joe Bloggs has given me your name, he is your father isn't he?" I wish I'd said "no, never heard of him" but hindsight's a wonderful thing! I've just rung BT by the way and they were as much use as a chocolate teapot!

[loopyc]

if they are tracing agents they may call again just beware of random phone calls. it may not be this so please dont worry just be on your guard. it could just be telesales, i have posted an earlier thread as i have been having so many problems with international telesales and bt were no help at all.

[scoobydooby]

Thanks guys, who needs BT with you lot anyway? I off to the cop shop tomorrow!