New twist on nuisance calls?

[dickm]

We get so many nuisance calls that we've started allowing all incoming messages to go to the answering machine, so we can screen out unwanted ones. If we don't get to the phone quite soon enough, some wanted callers don't bother with a message, so we usually do 1471 afterwards to check it's not a number we recognise. Last night we got one that hung up as soon as the answer message had finished, but as it was mid-evening, thought we'd better check the number. 1471 gave a number with the right prefix for our local exchange, but the next six digits started with a 5, whereas numbers on our exchange all start with 8, as far as we know. Was a bit suspicious, but rang the number and got a voice from the Indian sub-continent trying to sell something.

Is this a clever way to get round call-screening software, and if so, anyone know how it's done? Presumably BT must be allowing it in some way?

 

[Matt@]

possibly VOIP as it enables you to use a number thats not in your local exchange area.....

 

[clk230]

Never call an unkown number back just incase its a scam where you get charged an extortionate amount for calling.

 

[blackrodd]

Never call an unkown number back just incase its a scam where you get charged an extortionate amount for calling.

Wise words above!
Rodders

 

[Water-Mark]

I always google unknown numbers if they peak my curiosity.

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Presumably BT must be allowing it in some way?

Presumably BT make money out of it.

 

[flh801978]

What numbers can cause an extortionate amount to be charged?
07..... are mobiles so 25p min
09.... are premium rate so could be £1 min

neither particulary extortionate given that you are only going to be on 10 seconds to see who it is

Ian

 

[Bale]

I never worry about calls I don't pick up. If it's important, they'll ring again; if they don't ring again, then it wasn't important.

Pete

 

[Bob1]

They can now phone from anywhere abroad but somehow direct it through a BT exchange giving it a UK number when actually it's not.

 

[CHJ]

They can now phone from anywhere abroad but somehow direct it through a BT exchange giving it a UK number when actually it's not.

Is this not what Skype does?

 

[chippy1970]

What numbers can cause an extortionate amount to be charged?
07..... are mobiles so 25p min
09.... are premium rate so could be £1 min

neither particulary extortionate given that you are only going to be on 10 seconds to see who it is

Ian

You can set up a premium rate line to charge whatever you want. So yes it can be extortionate.

Awhile back there was a warning of a scam where people knock at your door saying they've broken down and can they use your phone. They call a premium line they've set up then say thanks and leave your phone connected as they leave

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Monkey Mark]

You can charge a connection so regardless of how quick you hang up you still get stung. It's been known to have £25 connection fees.

 

[rafezetter]

I always google unknown numbers if they peak my curiosity.

^^ This.

 

[flh801978]

I don't actually believe such numbers exist that can charge a huge sum on connection...it's an urban myth
Let me know of such a number and I'll test it and stand corrected if such a number does exist

Ian

 

[clk230]

I don't actually believe such numbers exist that can charge a huge sum on connection...it's an urban myth
Let me know of such a number and I'll test it and stand corrected if such a number does exist

Ian

I'd rather you believe in phone scams and donate £25 to a worthy cause rather than sum scam artist .
Even at a £1 a minute repeated calls can add up, a lot of vulnerable people get caught out all the time lets hope you never ended in that boat .

 

[Paul200]

I never worry about calls I don't pick up. If it's important, they'll ring again; if they don't ring again, then it wasn't important.

Pete

Me too Pete. Never been a slave to the phone. Don't even answer it if I've reached a good bit in a book!

 

[profchris]

This is from PhonePayPlus, the regulator.

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/for-consumers/what-are-premium-rate-services/premium-rate-numbers

09 numbers

What are they?

These numbers are mainly used for competitions, TV voting, horoscopes, chat lines, adult lines, recorded information and professional advice services.

How much do they cost?

Service Charges can be made in a range of formats with the simplest being a per minute charge between 7p and £3.60 per minute. Other prices may involve a fixed fee charged for the first 60 seconds of call, or part thereof, and a pence per minute duration applies following the first 60 seconds, with the maximum fee being £4.45 per call and £2.57 per minute; or a fixed call fee plus a per minute charge, such as 77 pence per call plus £1.55 per minute (with both charges starting from connection); or be a fixed charge, with a maximum single fee of £6.00 per call.

So not £25 connection, but still substantial sums!

 

[dickm]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Looks like it was most likely a VOIP item.
But even BT seems to be in on the "sucker the punters" idea. We used to use one of the bulk-buying codes to phone the USA for 1p per minute. Wondered why our bill had shot up last quarter and discovered that BT were now charging just over 10p per minute to access the service number. Presumably they announced this somewhere in the small print in one of their regular mailings, but I hadn't spotted it.

 

[Mark A]

I've just received a call from this number: 07771551700.

Accepted the call but nobody answered so I hung up. Google says it's a scam caller.