Wangiri scam

robfosters · 24 Jun 2020 at 14:24

This is getting very prevalent over here recently. Three of us here have had about 4 calls a week trying it.

They basically cut off after one ring and hope you call back. If you do, they try to keep you on the line as long as possible, and you get charged a whopping at a whopping great premium rate.

All of our calls have come from Tunisia. I know folks on here wouldn’t be silly enough to return the call, but you may have elderly lives or the like who may be sucked in by it, just in case you wish to make them aware.

stuman · 24 Jun 2020 at 14:59

Had a couple of calls the other day that hung up after only a couple of rings. Location from Tunisia.

have recently blocked any excess spend on my contract. But still won’t risk ringing back. Premium rate numbers should not be allowed.

RevBillyG · 24 Jun 2020 at 15:17

Why would you call back a number you dont know?

peterwalkley · 24 Jun 2020 at 15:55

RevBillyG said:
Why would you call back a number you dont know?

The older generation whom these scamming scumbags are usually targeting are far too polite or just not thinking straight and that it might be an important call so fall for it.

This scam has done the rounds before. In general the only way to stop it is get the service providers to block the numbers and definitely never pass on the call fees.

ttaskmaster · 24 Jun 2020 at 15:59

RevBillyG said:
Why would you call back a number you dont know?

Job offers, customer services departments, various other internal numbers...
If it's a UK number, I'll generally see who it was and what they wanted, although I tend to use the work phones for that as we have safeguards and our numbers are withheld.

Scam · 24 Jun 2020 at 17:56

If it was that important they'd leave a message and/or follow up via other means. End of story.

ShiWarrior · 24 Jun 2020 at 18:15

Scam said:
If it was that important they'd leave a message and/or follow up via other means. End of story.

exactly , this is why i dont answer my mobile or landline

they never leave a message

since i had an accident in 5 years ago, phone never stops (the first year was the worst)

BUDFORCE · 24 Jun 2020 at 20:16

I thought GDPR was supposed to stop all this......

Tony Edwards · 24 Jun 2020 at 20:26

ShiWarrior said:
exactly , this is why i dont answer my mobile or landline

they never leave a message

since i had an accident in 5 years ago, phone never stops (the first year was the worst)

I love talking to scammers. It actually makes my day sometimes. Getting a scammer so annoyed that they swear and slam their phone down is very satisfying.

BUDFORCE said:
I thought GDPR was supposed to stop all this......

Its a scam. Scammers dont follow rules/laws.

SexyGreyFox · 24 Jun 2020 at 20:32

I had one today from Tonga, it rang once.

Malevolence · 24 Jun 2020 at 20:35

I got a voicemail left from a computerised voice claiming to be HMRC today. Was very obviously fake. Especially at the end where they issue a threat.

PapaLazaru · 24 Jun 2020 at 23:38

Malevolence said:
I got a voicemail left from a computerised voice claiming to be HMRC today. Was very obviously fake. Especially at the end where they issue a threat.

Call them back like I do, play the operator for as long as you dare then tell then to **** off. Goes against their bonus.

The accident ones are the best (though nothing to do with wangiri). Say yes, you have been in an accident, not your fault. They data gather then sell it to a semi legit solicitor who has paid them around £50 for the lead. When the solicitor call deny all knowledge of having been in an accident.

Marky · 24 Jun 2020 at 23:42

Why on Earth would you bother calling back yourself? This screams of FOMO

I quite often just let unknown numbers ring out - I figure if it’s important, they’ll leave a message.