Odd Telephone Calls

[bobbie22]

I have received several phone calls which show up as my local dialling number. I think it’s something to do with computers. How do companies that are not local get your dialling code in front of their number when they are clearly not local ?

[bobbie22]

I did not reply or buy anything

[bookbinder]

It's probably a scam. Many scammers are in India or thereabouts, and they can disguise their real dialling codes with fake UK codes.

[bobbie22]

Sorry I put this in the wrong place but thanks for the reply. I have had quite a few of these, but blocking does not stop them.

[bookbinder]

It's not surprising that blocking these numbers has no effect. The scammers use fake UK numbers, so, if you try to block them, you are blocking a number that does not exist.

[bookbinder]

[bobbinwales]

There using a technology that lots of UK companies legitimitely use too. There are plans to stop it happening from unapproved people but its by something like 2025 and am sure scammers will find a way round that too

[Buenchico]

'Caller ID spoofing' is very easy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caller_ID_spoofing

All that a caller has to do, for example, is to configure a computer so that
(a) it presents a fake STD code to the system ; and
(b) it then dials every possible number in turn that can start with the same STD code.

Anyone who answers such a call will then see that it's (apparently) coming from a number local to their home area.

[barry1010]

When I set up my Skype phone number I could choose any dialing code.

[dance2trance]

When you sign accept terms and conditions on sites it often means you agree to that site selling you personal and private information to third parties for their use and your future exploitation. It is a simple matter for a main frame computer to analyse your viewing and spending patterns and targeting you either by e-mail or telephone. I just ask my computer to identify the nuisance number and follow the leads given to stop it. Sadly as long as you sign up to cookies and terms etc you will be saddled with it until you die but it will continue even after that.