The Mysterious ‘Nobody There’ Calls (PSA)

Nitefly

Nitefly

Nitefly

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I’m not sure that many people answer ‘unrecognised number’ calls these days, but we’ve probably all encountered instances where nobody is on the other line.

I’ve always assumed that these were ‘failed’ auto-message scams or marketing calls and have never really thought much of them.

However, I’ve recently heard / learned that these calls may be recording your voice and training AI to use on banking scams (or anything else that uses voice verification). I mean, I guess that makes sense but… damn :eek: pretty scary.

I’ve probably been living under a rock and this might be common knowledge, but thought it was worth flagging for anyone else that’s similarly ignorant.

Top tips are (obviously):
- don’t answer random calls unless you have to
- wait for them to speak first

Any other random anti-scam info worth sharing…?
 
Nitefly said:
I’m not sure that many people answer ‘unrecognised number’ calls these days, but we’ve probably all encountered instances where nobody is on the other line.

I’ve always assumed that these were ‘failed’ auto-message scams or marketing calls and have never really thought much of them.

However, I’ve recently heard / learned that these calls may be recording your voice and training AI to use on banking scams (or anything else that uses voice verification). I mean, I guess that makes sense but… damn :eek: pretty scary.

I’ve probably been living under a rock and this might be common knowledge, but thought it was worth flagging for anyone else that’s similarly ignorant.

Top tips are (obviously):
- don’t answer random calls unless you have to
- wait for them to speak first

Any other random anti-scam info worth sharing…?
Click to expand...

The nobody says anything scam is waiting for you to say, "hello" and then random other stuff - scammers used this to try and access your online banking ie voice print etc. However, using your recorded voice and AI to generate the scammer using your voice is a new one to me and actually quite scary.

But any anon calls get ignored and i never say anything until the caller does.
 
Can Ai really learn someones voice just from 2 or 3 "hello's ??

I mean what else are you going to say to a silent line ?
 
+1 for not saying anything until the person on the other end speaks if it's a number I don't recognise. If it's legit then they'll introduce themselves and I can the make a decision about if I think it is actually xyz company / organisation and how much info to give over the phone etc. If it's spam / phishing / voice print thieves then no reason to say anything to them, and especially not to give my name.

Have wondered about those silent calls before tbh, sometimes wondered if there was a bot with some lines to say that just never got triggered because I didn't say anything to it first
 
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Mint8 said:
Can Ai really learn someones voice just from 2 or 3 "hello's ??

I mean what else are you going to say to a silent line ?
Click to expand...

“hello Mint8 speaking” <- that’s not an unreasonable way to answer a call. Some people might offer up even more info.

People shouldn’t have to worry about this, but that’s the world we live in.
 
The auto callers that are silent, have always been just to check if the line is still active so they can continue spamming you with calls.

To solve this, on Android use a P2P style calling app that blocks a number instantly based on if lots of people report it as Spam..

I use Truecaller, some occasionally get through but it blocks hundreds since I had my phone number on my website for freelance work.
 
tom_e said:
They either get nothing or the Google call screen voice from me
Click to expand...

This.
Unknown numbers get the Google call screening treatment... Never been left a message yet, apart from an automated voice saying 'hello' then the auto dialer or whatever hangs up.
 
It's important to make new friends so I always welcome shy callers with an introduction of who I am and where I live, how old I am, where I went to school and my current place of work. I'll sometimes add in my favourite colour or pet's name to try and start the conversation. Remember: a stranger is just a friend you've yet to make!
 
[FnG]magnolia said:
It's important to make new friends so I always welcome shy callers with an introduction of who I am and where I live, how old I am, where I went to school and my current place of work. I'll sometimes add in my favourite colour or pet's name to try and start the conversation. Remember: a stranger is just a friend you've yet to make!
Click to expand...
So true.

I tend to introduce myself as Ulf, mention I went to Crickadarn primary school, give them my age and mention i'm a Aries, that my favourite pub is the Slaughtered lamb, that my first pet was an Irish Wolfhound called Baskerville and that I like the colour blue and my lucky number is the same as my birthday the 13th.
 
Damn, I had one of these calls recently from a random mobile number. I just said 'hello' once and no one answered and then they put the phone down, so they've got my voice for their AI.

Am I screwed?
 
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Never answer them bar ones on a Friday evening as its always the shopping delivery wanting to come early. So if you want to scam me call on a Friday evening
 
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