Constantly being called by scammers/telemarketers/bots even after changing my number!

SlavOz on 02/04/2021 - 21:17

I know there is an issue in Australia with so many foreign telemarketing ploys and scams going around, but how are these people/bots getting my number?

I was receiving up to 3 calls a day on my last number (mobile). Most were Indian telemarketers but the others were scams with robots trying to act like my bank or PayPal.

I figured it was because my number was probably put in circulation through one of the thousands of forms I've filled out over the years (had the same number for over a decade). I decided to change numbers and the same thing is still happening! I'm back to 3 calls a day with countless bots and scams texting me.

The only places I provided my new number were direct family/friends, Google, Netbank, and my electricity provider. How did it end up in circulation so quickly?

Mobile

Comments

  • Rukiata on 02/04/2021 - 21:24

    So its your ''electricity provider'' or netbank probably doing it.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 02/04/2021 - 21:31
    1. QR codes for venues, that aren't state government based, like in Vic.
    2. Entered any comps lately?
  • jv on 02/04/2021 - 21:35
    -4

    I changed my number to hexadecimal and no longer receive these calls.

    • Brian McGee on 03/04/2021 - 10:09
      +2

      I change mine to Roman numerals. If that fails I might try binary.

  • FireRunner on 02/04/2021 - 21:35
    +4

    Recycled number?

  • Quantumcat on 02/04/2021 - 22:01

    Probably the number was in use before you got it. Maybe change your number again. This time don't give it to anyone except family and close friends, for 2 factor authentication you can use an app on your phone. I changed numbers last year around august and haven't had a single spam call yet. I kept my old number for all the 2 factor auth I hadn't changed yet and never answer it.

  • scrimshaw on 02/04/2021 - 22:03
    +3

    Phone numbers are usually recycled. You may think you have a completely fresh phone number, but it's likely to have been in used by someone else before.

    There's a pretty funny story about a guy who got a number which used to belong to a high profile PM.. and may have gotten a phone call from Julia Gillard herself.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-30/political-staffer-pho…

    • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 23:36

      Yes, they indeed are. I got Uber Eats messages and some random SMS's from a restaurant. PFFT. That's a downside to the "recycling" process. Changed numbers not so soon after. What if I were to try create an Uber Account using that recycled number? Would be a hassle! Hence, recycling number seriously needs to be done properly.

  • KingJuf on 02/04/2021 - 22:07

    Out of curiosity what provider are you with? I was getting the same daily calls when I was with Optus, when I switched to boost my spam calls have gone to zero. With the same number I must add, so Telstra/Boost must be doing some filtering I guess.

    • SlavOz on 03/04/2021 - 00:07

      Yes I'm with Optus! Have been for about 5-6 years now, but the constant spamming on this new number and the old one only started maybe about 1.5 years ago. Cant recall it was that common before.

      • KingJuf on 03/04/2021 - 00:57

        Mine was not bad 3yrs ago but the past 6 months it has been constant daily calls. Switching providers maybe a good option if you are not in contract.

  • Morien on 02/04/2021 - 22:14
    +5

    Autodial:
    0400000000
    0400000001
    0400000002
    0400000003
    and so forth.

    They aren't getting your number. They are just dialing numbers.

  • TheBird on 02/04/2021 - 22:18

    how are these people/bots getting my number?

    I sold it to them. If you change your number again, can you be a peach and cc me the number so I can update their records?

  • singingwolf on 02/04/2021 - 22:35

    I get them all the time. When you try call back it says the number is disconnected. The last one was a British voice that said my "rooter" was faulty and my internet would be disconnected in 4 hours.

    • Halc on 03/04/2021 - 08:27
      +6

      sorry to hear about your rooter, hope a doctor can help

    • jv on 03/04/2021 - 10:26
      -1

      my "rooter" was faulty

      He probably meant rooster

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/04/2021 - 22:55
    -1

    You can actually have a bit of fun with this, at least when the caller is an actual human.

    1. Install one of the many aps onto your phone that records every call. Despite what some may erroneously tell you, this is perfectly legal in Australia.

    2. Check out the zany world of 'sound-boards', and have a few of your faves at the ready for whenever you receive an unwanted scammer/telemarketer/etc. call. Just as an example/potential starter, there's a pretty good 'Judge Judy' one out there which I have had a lot of fun with. After following the above steps, you can then try scenario (#3) below …

    3:
    (Scammer): 'Hello, may I ask who I am talking to?'
    (you/Judge Judy): [shouted] 'Yes! I'm 74 years old!'
    (Scammer): 'Ok mam, I am calling you about a tax debt that you have with the ATO, that requires immediate action.'
    (you/Judge Judy): 'Y-e-e-e-s ?'
    (Scammer): 'I need to provide you with the relevant information to rectify this problem.'
    (you/Judge Judy): 'That's baloney!!!'
    (Scammer): 'Excuse me mam?'
    (you/Judge Judy): 'You're a loser, sir!!!'
    (Scammer): 'Erm …'
    (you/Judge Judy): 'Why don't you get a REAL JOB?'

    (etc. … you get the idea)

    There are various other 'fun personas' out there that can be 'assumed' to play with scammers/unwanted callers, and recorded for your subsequent amusement. Some of the 'Mr T' ones can make for some hilarious responses from dips**ts that mistakenly thought they were going to be the one taking you for a ride, but another amusing angle is to use one of the 'proper British' ones and see just how frustrated you can make the scam caller, by pretending that you ALMOST understand what it is they want you to do, but not quite.

    Give it a shot. I made a 'sport' of this about 2 years back, and (unfortunately) I now get very few unsolicited calls :(

    I'm seriously contemplating getting a cheap 'burner phone' on an ultra-cheap 'receive calls only' plan and putting the number right out there everywhere (entering online competitions with it etc.), just to get my sources of entertainment calling me again. It's that fun. Seriously. Try it.

    • Donaldhump on 03/04/2021 - 02:12

      This is when you ask them to hold and go do your business in the toilet then flush.

      When they ask was that the toilet, just say yes, I’m countering your bullshit with my own shit.

    • dscott85 on 03/04/2021 - 13:56
      +1

      Actually depending on your state it’s illegal to record someone without consent.

      In Victoria you have to inform the person you wish to record the conversation with & get either implied or verbal consent.

      • johninmelb on 03/04/2021 - 18:12

        and a scammer is going to report us to the government if we don't warn them?? I doubt it. In any case how would they know we were recording them?

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 04/04/2021 - 11:44

        It is not that cut and dry. I believe that you are allowed to record someone without their consent if you believe they are committing a crime (such as attempting to scan you over the telephone). This is why—for example—when people are subject to 'stalking' via the telephone the victim is actively encouraged by the police to record the calls.

  • bargain huntress on 02/04/2021 - 23:21

    i'm not sure it's worth changing your number endlessly
    they can always just autodial it anyway

    use the spam filter on your phone

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 23:33

    What's you're number? I'm sure I can fix it.

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/04/2021 - 23:33
    +1

    Yes this, certainly never 'change your number' in an attempt to avoid spam/scam callers (in the wise words of Crowded House, 'Don't let them w-i-i-i-n'). Instead, simply turn the tables. Here's a link to one of the soundboards I alluded to above:

    http://www.realmofdarkness.net/sb/judgejudy/

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 23:58
    +1

    The new scam is calling from the security department of visa and mastercard! Like they work together, or something.

  • MisterQ on 03/04/2021 - 08:19
    +1

    easily dealt with

    This is the ATO.
    Me: So what is my tax file number?

    This is Telstra
    Me: What is my account number?

    We have a deal to get in on apple shares?
    What is your AFSL (It's a hefty fine for selling stocks without one)

  • Marcsie on 03/04/2021 - 09:12
    -1

    So simple,
    Just don’t answer the call you don’t know, if something important, they will leave the messages, it never bother me this small issues !

  • c64 on 03/04/2021 - 11:20

    i've bought numerous aldi sims for disposable use and and never really had any problems with spam.

  • 6828 on 03/04/2021 - 11:28

    I just let every call go to message bank now unless I recognise the caller's name. If you answer you will automatically be placed on a call back list.

    At one stage I told a persistent telemarketing company, that called twice a day, that I had a terminal illness (Lied to get them to stop calling) and won't be able to invest in their investment program. A week later they called again and said they had a great deal. I told them "I can't invest because of personal reasons", the person said "Oh because you have a terminal illness and will be dead in 3 months, sorry to hear that, let me tell you what percentage you will get per year on our investment plan".

    Ps, It's a year later and I'm not dead so I'm thankful I didn't jinx myself.
    PPs, Don't ever put your name in the Voice Message they will use that info to target you more. (Just have a generic message - "I can't take your call right now so please leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can"

  • pharkurnell on 03/04/2021 - 12:34

    I notice many of these scam/marketers are using numbers with lots of double numbers (03 9979 91xx) or lately - lots of mobile numbers kinda thing.. or from rural areas I've never been

    Me: Simply dont answer numbers you dont know, if its genuine they'll leave a message…

    • SlavOz on 03/04/2021 - 13:47

      A lot of the bots leave messages as well…most of the time it's just silence.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/04/2021 - 14:01
    +2

    I have a number that I've not given to anybody and get max 1 spam call a month.

    By the way, you don't have to explicitly give out your number to an organisation for it to leak. Every messenger that requires your mobile number or app that reads your contact list (or apps your friends are running that have your mobile number in their contact list) are potentially harvesting the details for a spam database.

    The only sure way to protect against these spammers is to have a unique contact email or number for every different organisation you deal with so you know who is leaking. Phone numbers are expensive but email addresses are nearly free.

    So stop giving organisations your expensive number and give them unique emails instead.

  • sagrules on 04/04/2021 - 19:53

    Put your number on the "Do Not Call Register". Also, if you enter any comps or forms for free stuff most likely your details has been sold off.
    I just block the number on my phone and that helps alot.

    • SlavOz on 05/04/2021 - 15:15

      I'm blocking every number that calls me but they must be using auto-generated numbers so they have an unlimited supply

  • c64 on 05/04/2021 - 18:24

    apparently 55 million scam calls have been blocked since the acma introduced new rules to block scam calls back in december

  • photonbuddy on 06/04/2021 - 23:06

    If only they could block all calls and SMS messages when the number is plucked from someone's butt, instead of the actual number.

    The ability to spoof a number is a pain, and so many legitimate people seem to use it as well.

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