Argh! I just cocked up with a spam/scam call. My mobile rang, a number I didn't recognise. I answered. An obviously automated female voice said "I want to talk to you about work. Please add me on What's App." Then rang off. CONT - ThreadSky

martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com • 8 days ago

Argh! I just cocked up with a spam/scam call. My mobile rang, a number I didn't recognise. I answered. An obviously automated female voice said

"I want to talk to you about work. Please add me on What's App." Then rang off.
CONT

Comments

probeblynot.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yep. Had that very same call yesterday. No follow-up yet, but thanks for the warning.

timbothewiz.bsky.social•8 days ago

Do you advocate not answering numbers we don’t recognise? If you don’t answer couldn’t they just let it go to voicemail and draw the same conclusion?

spqrz0.bsky.social•8 days ago

Don't have voicemail either. Honestly, who needs voicemail, apart from the mobile phone companies that like the extra money they make on termination rates? If someone wants to talk to ME they don't want to talk to my voicemail. If they want to leave a message they can text. I always turn it off.

mistyff999.bsky.social•8 days ago

Can you share the number that called you, so we can all block it?

rozaetgaza.bsky.social•3 days ago

Please, please, my children are hungry and there is no food. We live in Gaza. The horror of bombing is everywhere. We die every day. On top of that, the crossings are closed. Please donate so I can feed my children. I don’t want to lose them.🙏🙏🙏🙏😢💔🇵🇸

jklees.co.uk•8 days ago

I also usually wait for the person on the other end to respond. Otherwise they can use your voice for AI training (kinda different in your case since you're a public figure) and then put my phone down.

dj05453.bsky.social•8 days ago

mistake 1: answering, internet search the number and block or report as required.

castlecath.bsky.social•8 days ago

I had the same a couple of days ago

lee-san-al-gaib.bsky.social•8 days ago

Had a few in succession months ago where folk called me saying I called them earlier. One guy was really annoyed. They seemed genuine. Told them it was a scam probably.

zarleckazpa.bsky.social•8 days ago

Sounds like a CONT.

Oh, nevermind.

ianm70.bsky.social•8 days ago

pass them on to Daisy https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/meet-daisy-the-ai-generated-granny-helping-to-trap-scammers

sweepea49.bsky.social•8 days ago

Many phones have an option to block unknown and withheld numbers automatically. But many NHS providers, Doctors surgeries etc withhold their numbers unnecessarily, so you miss their legitimate calls. This practise has to stop. It's easy enough to use an out- only number, as scammers already know.

marysmith2.bsky.social•8 days ago

I don’t answer my phone to an unknown number unless I am expecting a GP call. I have missed unexpected GP calls, so it would be great if GPs could sort this if they are to continue communication by telephone. Currently it’s too one sided

jaytrundlealong.bsky.social•8 days ago

Our GP leaves a voicemail or sends a text so not a worry

jozxyqk76.bsky.social•8 days ago

NHS providers withold their number as a privacy failsafe in case the phone number is shared.

More relevant when most people only had landlines, granted.

sweepea49.bsky.social•8 days ago

It's not necessary. They can use a dummy dial out only number, which the recipient can recognise. Noone else does this, even GCHQ.

spqrz0.bsky.social•8 days ago

Some social housing landlords also withhold their number on outgoing calls which is bad if you're on the waiting list.

zalner.bsky.social•8 days ago

It's not always unnecessary. They want you to call their central line, not an individual's desk phone. Screening that number is a way of preventing you from calling a line when they're with another patient or out of office and instead calling someone who is available to help you.

rooflight1.bsky.social•8 days ago

My GP leaves a voice or text message.
They should do that as a matter of principle.

markey1960.bsky.social•8 days ago

You and me both

scruffmonkey.bsky.social•8 days ago

I got that too, just blocked the number. If it's a human on the line then I ask what underwear they are wearing.

kennymaclean.bsky.social•8 days ago

I had the same call. Must be a new plan. Obviously, I've not added them.

finnis.bsky.social•8 days ago

Have you seen this crap on YouTube ads? Google are absolute trash.

dj05453.bsky.social•8 days ago

get adblock/ublock, there really is no need to ever see adverts online.

finnis.bsky.social•8 days ago

Thanks. I use the company ipad to watch on the go. Don't have ads on my PC but don't really watch YT on the PC.

ayekeelu.bsky.social•8 days ago

my wife's mobile (number not on any lists anywhere) has started getting these calls and texts. Only common thread is that the numbers all start with the same prefix as her mobile number. So it's an obvious cold caller rotating dialler

wanderscotwild.bsky.social•8 days ago

I had the same call the other day. Bugger

jon89.bsky.social•8 days ago

I had the same one last week but left it for voicemail.

martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com•8 days ago

As I answered, they'll now have logged that my number is real. So I (& anyone else who's done the same) now need be vigilant for a wave of spam messages and calls coming my way.

alanrew.bsky.social•8 days ago

On Android you can at least block that one number. The trouble is that the number is probably spoofed so they'll use another one next time.

msamc.bsky.social•8 days ago

Same here a few days ago. And in an unrelated event (or was it), my Nectar card was drained by persons unknown.

khunsame.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have had that call a few times. I hang up and block each and every time

janbellina.bsky.social•8 days ago

I am insultingly rude to scammers if I happen to answer a live call. I get very few.

ladybirduk.bsky.social•8 days ago

I normally don't answer random numbers (on the assumption if it's actually important they will leave a message) but doing building work and having to answer in case it's the gas man or whoever. Luckily today it was. But once we are done normal service is resumed!

drelaine.bsky.social•8 days ago

I had that too. Blocked the number.

gambitman.bsky.social•8 days ago

they spoof numbers now. next similar call will come from a different number...

drelaine.bsky.social•8 days ago

The latest one came from Portugal!

gambitman.bsky.social•8 days ago

jings...

marghchad.bsky.social•8 days ago

Sorry to hear that. It's so easy to do.

thegreatgabonzo.bsky.social•8 days ago

They do the same message but say they are from Reed and the like so job seekers beware as well

philstretend.bsky.social•8 days ago

Surely the fact it rang rather than gave a 'This phone is off/unavailable' message tells them it's a valid number anyway?

leigull.bsky.social•8 days ago

Surely the fact the phone rings confirms it is real, regardless whether it's answered or not?

phlebas.bsky.social•8 days ago

I always use Google's call screening on my Pixel if I don't recognise the number. Seems to work because I rarely get scam calls or texts and if it is a genuine call I can quickly see so and answer.

donnasalkeld.bsky.social•8 days ago

Me too

peashen.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have nuisance protection on my mobile from EE it let's me know what is a likely nuisance call and I can ignore them.

jaseter.bsky.social•8 days ago

I would be more worried about SIM swap scam now if I was you.

theblindtrust.org•7 days ago

They know the number is legit if it connected & wasn't answered. It won't greatly impact the volume of calls you get by answering - it'll stay in their data set. Slow progress is being made against spoofing landlines, but spoofing mobile numbers is trickier to prevent for the teleco's, sadly.

toptiger.bsky.social•8 days ago

Bring it on.. As the longer the scammers are talking to me, they are not talking to someone who is vulnerable!!

gambitman.bsky.social•8 days ago

not the "solar panel eligibility" one?

deckard-red.bsky.social•8 days ago

This is the benefit of being a millennial and refusing to answer numbers that aren’t in my contacts or calls that I’m expecting. If I don’t answer and it’s urgent they’ll either leave a voicemail, send a text, email me or call me back (though that final option I’ll only answer on a third ring)

prettyhatmachine.bsky.social•8 days ago

Honestly I just treat them as a free therapist.

Quite cathartic unloading all of my rage on some scamming scum from Mumbai or Manila.

henry-the-hippo.bsky.social•8 days ago

The one we keep getting on the landline is from 'Bank security', so far I have been restrained and not told em where to go :-) so far !

plodinnotts.bsky.social•8 days ago

i had that exact one

jribbens.unequivocal.eu•8 days ago

Me too... a few hours after I had arranged for someone whose number I didn't know to contact me on WhatsApp. My phone said it was "Suspected spam" but to be fair last time it said that, it was actually Dell Technical Support or something else that was definitely not spam.

jago2012.bsky.social•8 days ago

I've got a recorded message that says 'I don't answer unknown or withheld numbers. If your call is important, please leave a message and I will ring you. If it isn't important, please don't call again'.
I realise this is MUCH harder if you're famous and fielding hundreds of calls.

timeveleigh.bsky.social•8 days ago

👋

immaggiandfairy.bsky.social•8 days ago

Thanks for sharing. It can happen to anyone.

chrisrobinson58.bsky.social•8 days ago

But if you don't answer numbers you don't recognise you'll miss out on the knighthood and the Nobel Prize.

hampshirebus.bsky.social•8 days ago

Or that Amazon iphone order that has to be cancelled so you need to give your credit card number.

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