Ofcom issues stern warning over fake caller number ID scam

Sound advice; are you sure this came from Ofcom?

Sure. It was their phone number, anyway...

Vic.

I never was a Barclays customer but when I was an HSBC business customer I used to get calls purporting to be from them wanting identification information. I always asked them to prove who they were. They never offered any proof. If a cold caller can't prove who they are before asking for any information always assume they're faking it.

You think that's bad? I ordered two beds from Bensons for Beds (now on my permanent blacklist). One was missing over 50 individual parts.

I called to complain, they wanted all the details known to man. In the end, they refused to send me a kit of the replacement parts (for free) because my girlfriend paid with a card and works in a hospital job where she can't use a phone during the day. They refused to send our replacement parts - to the DELIVERY address that the beds had already been sent to - because of "Data Protection".

Needless to say, I spoke to MANY people at their customer services department that day. When one then eventually phoned me back, they asked if I was Mr D. My response? Sorry, I can't tell you that - Data Protection, you know. (Fortunately THAT guy had a sense of humour and just said "Ah, yes, I'm definitely talking to the right person then!").

Banks do it all the time. I phone them back on the bank number (if it's 0800 of course) and let them chase who it was that needed to speak to me. But even companies are doing this same kind of junk for the simplest of things.

Unfortunately, they ALL have absolutely zero concept of Data Protection anyway, not to mention they really don't care about your security. Why? Well, that side of it is your liability anyway. If someone nicks the banks database, they care about that. If someone finds out your date of birth or they talk to the wrong person, they couldn't care less.

Ask them a question back

I then ask them a question which they should know from my records

If they don't know I cut them off.

It was quite useful when I had debt collectors chasing me (on a false accusation) - they'd cold call me and ask for personal details to confirm I was who I said I was. I would ask them to prove who they are first and that they have the right to know my info. They didn't have a mechanism to do that, so I then said "OK, I can't talk to you then. Don't call me again unless you can prove who you are."

That put them off for a couple of weeks.

Rinse, repeat with the added threat of legal action for harassment.

They eventually gave up when I said "OK, let me know which court you want to use and I'll see you there" (I was feeling generous at the time!)

Re: Block sources from abroad.

Trouble is, all those junk callers use UK SIP service providers so they are 'technically' calling from the UK.

The solution is to only allow CLI from numbers you own, so if someone wants to use an 0800 CLI number, they must 'own' that number else the actually physical one gets shown.

Re: Do it!

You'd stop mobile roaming from working if you did that.

I don't know how you'd police it either. Ofcom can't make laws for other countries.

Re: Tracing?

Most incoming international calls don't hit BT's network, so I'd imagine that's why BT couldn't do it.

Re: Tracing?

It's to do with call routing: BT charge the previous sender for handling the call (pass it on to another network or connecting it to your phone line). The previous sender charge whoever was before them and so on until you get to the source carrier/provider who bill their customer.

Even though modern switches can pass on the CLI, not all sources have modern switches, and not all providers from outside the UK will pass on CLI data, so you'll see more 'international call' notices than actual foreign CLI data.

Now, what BT an other carriers *could* do is give you the option to block ALL 'international' and/or withheld numbers. They *can* do this - their equipment has that capability, but they *don't* because doing so costs them money (they don't connect the call so they can't charge for handling the call), unless you can provide evidence you are a 'vulnerable' person (court order or get the police to hassle BT for this) or... you know someone working for BT and so know who to talk to about it. If you do push them then they generally reply by saying that blocking all such calls may block a call you *may* want.

Oh, and it's coincidental that BT also produce phones with 'Call guardian' that can 'block' withheld and international calls. Well, not block, but hide - the line is still in use, you just don't hear the phone ring.

Re: RBS simply use Unknown number

Coming soon, the SMS invitation scam

None of the methods are safe.

The only way is for you to call them. Let them SMS/phone you. Then you call them. Let them prove that they have the right information on YOU Not the other way round. Oh wait that won't work.

Then the only solution is to go into a branch. Yeah right. Now where's the nearest branch of my Bank?

What if there isn't one. eg First Direct.

'we are texting you .. we will be calling .. person will know x about your account

Yes, but what if someone other than you answers the phone? It has to be information that is not in the public domain otherwise you're still none the wiser as to who is calling. Do you want that person to know what "x" is?

Re: RBS simply use Unknown number

"Somebody phoned me on Saturday claiming to be from them with an 'Unknown' number."

Both my doctors' health centre and the local council offices use "withheld". They tell me they "cannot" put their known public number as a CLI.

Re: It should be illegal ...

Because making something illegal ensures it never happens.