How are scammers getting a hold of my number?

asdfguy

asdfguy

asdfguy

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14 Sep 2014
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134
I never gave out my number to anyone other then the people I know. I also never gave out my number to websites online. But, I keep on getting calls claiming they are form to be from an insurance company and asked random question. I get these calls 2 times a week.

How are they getting hold of my number? I think that the apps I use on Android and iPhone are selling my number to a 3rd party advertisers. Some of the apps from independent developers, ask me permission to access my contacts when I install the apps.

Any thoughts?
 
Random diallers. Its not that hard for an auto-dialler to be set up to dial ranges of numbers.

*Most* of the scammy ones tend to be withheld numbers. Just block them or force them to voicemail. Anyone legit will leave a message.
 
I've been getting maybe one or two of these types of calls per month for the last few months as well. I'm pretty savvy with only providing my number and other details away to reputable companies, but still get bothered by scammers. At this point I think they just probably cycle through all mobile number combinations until one of them rings. Either that or they've gotten hold of my details from some database that's been hacked.
 
LMAO - stop being so paranoid. You do realise market research companies also use withheld numbers too?? It could easily be a company doing market research for a bank or for one of your utilities providers asking for feedback.

Heck,one market research company was doing a consultation survey for the local county council and I saw them listed on the council's website even.

Answer the call and ask what they want - if it is a survey you can always tell them to take your number off their list and you can always contact the relevant sections of the bank,provider,etc that you don't want to take part in any surveys.

It is not like companies can force you to do a survey or anybody on the phone can reach down and steal all your money if you talk to them.

Seriously there is nothing to be worried about.

You should be much more worried about the analytics Google or Facebook do when you use their free services,or any points card in a retailer like Tesco - they can get far more personal information about you.

Plus,TPS only stops sales calls - it does not stop market research calls.
 
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I've got an app called true caller and it blocks withheld numbers or any numbers known to be of these sorts. Phone doesn't ring and I get a notification.
 
I've recently been getting suspicious calls from talk-talk (my broadband supplier), stating that my broadband is broken yadda yadda yadda however, they know my account number, name, address etc.

I contacted talk-talk who confirmed that they are indeed scammers and since then I just tell them to go away and I also block the number.
 
Malevolence said:
That's useless. We got loads of these calls a day despite being signed up to the TPS.
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It does not stop market research stuff ,and even for sales stuff if the companies are not UK based,it does diddly squat. Then you even have legitimate entities like banks,the NHS,Police,etc even using withheld numbers too,especially if they are using call centres which route outgoing numbers differently to incoming ones.

In the end if these kinds of things worry people,get an answerphone and/or a call blocker and make sure all contact is via letter or e-mail.

Make sure all documents you sign with your number on it,have the relevant boxes ticked or unticked - people at times inadvertently end up agreeing for their numbers being passed on to third parties.
 
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Or buy an iphone. Also has call blocking built in.

Everytime i get a call from a number i dont know i let it go to voicemail and if they dont leave one i google the number and then add to the blocked list!
 
NoobCannon said:
Everytime i get a call from a number i dont know i let it go to voicemail and if they dont leave one i google the number and then add to the blocked list!
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I do this and also make sure that whenever I sign anything with my number on it I try and remember to tick/untick the relevant boxes. It is too easy to tacitly agree to have your numbers passed on IMHO.
 
asdfguy said:
I get these calls 2 times a week.
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How is getting 2 unwanted calls a week, even an issue - Even if you answer them and hang up that's probably only 15 seconds, a week, wasted.

I get junk mail through my letterbox, but i don't sit down and read it thoroughly then wonder how they got my address - Straight in the recycling bin.
 
Android phones have call blocking too. Any withheld numbers = blocked. If you need to block your number, odds are you're not worth talking to.
 
^^I'm not annoyed so much by the amount of time it takes me to deal with them, but more so by the feeling of being intruded upon and having the privacy of my phone number violated by those who know well that they're not welcome.
 
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