How are scammers getting a hold of my number?

[Diddums]

Welcome to 2016. You'd be amazed at how people get personal info (nkt trying to be rude, but sadly these are the times we live in).

 

[Tunney]

Just send me your email and banking passwords and I'll investigate why.

 

[Unicorn]

I started getting them after I dealt with carphone warehouse

This, Bought sim-free phone and they wanted a mobile number still for invoice.. Lol how stupid i was

 

[Maundie]

^^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.

You are kidding right? Your phone number has been violated?!?!

With my work phone I never quoted my number on anything but then had to apply for a company Amex card so added my work phone, boom at least 2 calls a day then regarding the 'accident' I'd had or the PPI I hadn't claimed so it goes to show even when only using it for 'trusted' companies they can sell your details on.

 

[JayMax]

I'm the same as the OP, I'm quite protective of my personal data and don't trust companies not to sell it on.
I put a false telephone number in most online shopping sites etc but I still get occasional telemarketing calls.
I had consider android apps as a possible source, but most likely I think I've missed a well hidden T&C in a more 'reputable' site like a car insurance one for example.
I've installed 'shouldianswer' from the android market, it's crowdsourced reviews and is really good for ID'ing spam calls.

 

[Hxc]

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.

Unless you use your phone for work. Tonnes and tonnes of firms in the city have blocked numbers. I'd miss lots and lots of calls if I blocked them.

 

[Haze]

i do not understand why you answer it, i am like you and have only given my number to friends and my bank have it, so if my phones is ringing and its not a mobile phone number, i do not answer it, if it is important they will leave a message. Then when i get home i look up the number online, then if it is something like yours it gets added to block calls

 

[Blackjack Davy]

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?

Facebook? They'll harvest data wholesale and flog it to whoever wants it. Its always trying to get me to sign in and sign up just to view for which it can get stuffed.

 

[Malevolence]

I don't use Facebook, or any form of social media, I have definitely not given my home phone number out to anyone but family and a few close friends, I'm ex-directory, I'm signed up to TPS and if I buy something and they want a phone number then I use an old mobile that is only there solely for such purposes.

And yet I receive constant calls on the landline from both English and heavily accented Indian callers who who all seem to know my name.