The rise of UK Banking Scammers

[darael]

I use a Panasonic cordless handset for my house phone, which has Automated Call Block. Unknown numbers have to press 1 to get through before the phone even starts ringing at the base or handset.

I can't remember the last time I had a spam call on the house phone now, so that's money well spent in my opinion.

 

[Mr Blonde]

Love em. I used to belt out a loud expletive to them but now I've turned to singing them a 70's disco classic. As soon as I hear the dodgy line or a three second gap they get my version of one of the following...

Disco Inferno (The Tramps)
Kung Fu Fighting (Carl Douglas)
Blame it on the Boogie (The Jackson 5)
And the beat goes on (The Whispers)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

*I've had to ditch Knock on Wood by Amii Steward as it was doing my throat in. I've replaced it with Hot Stuff by Donna Summer..a classic every Indian call centre will enjoy, I'm sure you'd agree.

 

[tonys]

Love em. I used to belt out a loud expletive to them but now I've turned to singing them a 70's disco classic. As soon as I hear the dodgy line or a three second gap they get my version of one of the following...

Disco Inferno (The Tramps)
Kung Fu Fighting (Carl Douglas)
Blame it on the Boogie (The Jackson 5)
And the beat goes on (The Whispers)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

*I've had to ditch Knock on Wood by Amii Steward as it was doing my throat in. I've replaced it with Hot Stuff by Donna Summer..a classic every Indian call centre will enjoy, I'm sure you'd agree.

I just make them wait or make out I'm deaf.

 

[the shadow]

Had a caller yesterday and today .... off scammer i told em

 

[visibleman]

Had my first actual bank "fraud team" scammer a few days back from a withheld/'private' number with a, oddly, northern bloke on the other end - as soon as i asked for a number to call them back on they hung up and i haven't heard from them since.
Told the bank, who said it wasn't them, but without an actual number there isn't a huge amount they can do. Still wondering where they got my details (full name, mobile number that i rarely use and bank name) from though

 

[shifty_uk]

I get the 02 calls every other week. I just go along with it, asking for deals for friends and family etc and then hit out with the ‘wait, I’m not even on 02 buddy’

It is shocking that these are UK based phone numbers, often local accents. It’s the non-techies I feel for as its easy to get caught off guard.

Is there not a division of the police you can report these numbers to? Triangulate the signal or whatever the movies call it.

 

[tonys]

I get the 02 calls every other week. I just go along with it, asking for deals for friends and family etc and then hit out with the ‘wait, I’m not even on 02 buddy’

It is shocking that these are UK based phone numbers, often local accents. It’s the non-techies I feel for as its easy to get caught off guard.

Is there not a division of the police you can report these numbers to? Triangulate the signal or whatever the movies call it.

Not enough police to go round

 

[Troezar]

Simple policy, if someone comes to you they are a scammer until proved otherwise. If they are a scammer a few phrases in an obscure language, maybe Welsh , soon gets rid of them

 

[jaybee]

Simple policy, if someone comes to you they are a scammer until proved otherwise. If they are a scammer a few phrases in an obscure language, maybe Welsh , soon gets rid of them

 

[marinersfan]

If I don't recognise the number calling, I ignore it. If it's important they can leave a voicemail and I'll call them back.
I've had a couple from London recently. I live nowhere near London, don't know anyone in London, and as far as I know have no dealings with London. So I ignored them, no voicemail left, and a cursory internet search of the number made me glad I did ignore it.

 

[ED209]

If I don't recognise the number calling, I ignore it. If it's important they can leave a voicemail and I'll call them back.
I've had a couple from London recently. I live nowhere near London, don't know anyone in London, and as far as I know have no dealings with London. So I ignored them, no voicemail left, and a cursory internet search of the number made me glad I did ignore it.

Remember to block the numbers as well.

 

[NickK]

Remember to block the numbers as well.

Just create a mobile contact called "SPAM" or "SCAM" then block the number. Ignore the unknown number, search the number on the internet and add any scam/spam number to the contact.. I've got a good 60 or so..

Mobile apps are possibly the best way to pickup issues, then phone a number on the bank's web page (check the certificate).

 

[Richie]

Just create a mobile contact called "SPAM" or "SCAM" then block the number. Ignore the unknown number, search the number on the internet and add any scam/spam number to the contact.. I've got a good 60 or so..

Mobile apps are possibly the best way to pickup issues, then phone a number on the bank's web page (check the certificate).

Google's phone app on Android phones allow you to block numbers and report as spam right from the history screen so no real faffing around. Does the same for text/chat messages in Google Messages

 

[Troezar]

They don't make them like that any more

 

[Semple]

I use a Panasonic cordless handset for my house phone, which has Automated Call Block. Unknown numbers have to press 1 to get through before the phone even starts ringing at the base or handset.

I can't remember the last time I had a spam call on the house phone now, so that's money well spent in my opinion.

That's probably because only a handful of people have a landline these days, so it's a pretty small target for scammers to bother with. Much more chance of success ringing mobile numbers.