Apparent ID fraud.. who to report?

[Mudball]

Got a message from an elderly neighbor who is badly shaken up ..

It would seem that someone named <Joe Blogs> has given people my mobile phone number as a contact. Whether deliberately or in error.
I keep getting calls and messages from people chasing debts. I don't want to click on any links but don't know how to stop them.

Any ideas on who she reports it to? She does not bailiffs knocking on her door, so needs to ensure that she has taken precautions.

Any experiences?

 

[Blue in Munich]

Got a message from an elderly neighbor who is badly shaken up ..

It would seem that someone named <Joe Blogs> has given people my mobile phone number as a contact. Whether deliberately or in error.
I keep getting calls and messages from people chasing debts. I don't want to click on any links but don't know how to stop them.

Any ideas on who she reports it to? She does not bailiffs knocking on her door, so needs to ensure that she has taken precautions.

Any experiences?

If they are threatening the neighbour then report it to the police.

If the neighbour is not expecting any calls from unknown numbers then block calls that are not in their phone.

 

[Robster59]

If she contacts her mobile phone provider, they should be able to assist her with this. They have specialists to assist in this.
If she gets them on the landline, she can get a call blocker phone or, as we do with Sky, we use their call blocker.

 

[Mudball]

If she contacts her mobile phone provider, they should be able to assist her with this. They have specialists to assist in this.
If she gets them on the landline, she can get a call blocker phone or, as we do with Sky, we use their call blocker.

Was speaking to a mate who used to work for a mobile provider. Acc to him, there is very little that a mobile provider can do. Unlike a bank that can block your card and check for transactions, there is very little a mobile provider can do from their end. they cant be held responsible for some random joe bloggs giving your number as theirs.

If she is on the DNC register then she can complaint about it. but scammers go around it by changing their numbers or use overseas providers..

They may provide you with a new number, but then you need to tell all your contacts about the new number.

 

[Rooter]

just block the number dialing. simple. Not sure how this is fraud, more like someone has pulled a fast one and given the wrong number, which by chance is your neighbors..

 

[GuyInLyon]

It would seem that someone named <Joe Blogs> has given people my mobile phone number as a contact. Whether deliberately or in error.
I keep getting calls and messages from people chasing debts. I don't want to click on any links but don't know how to stop them.

Ignore the calls and texts, then block the numbers.

 

[sunshine]

This isn't ID fraud.

I'm constantly receiving scam texts and cold calls. I just ignore and delete. It's a pain and OFCOM need to do something about it as the practice is on the increase.

More info here:
Unwanted calls, messages and scams - Ofcom

 

[Mudball]

just block the number dialing. simple. Not sure how this is fraud, more like someone has pulled a fast one and given the wrong number, which by chance is your neighbors..

Dont know.. she thought it was a ID theft..
From all the messages above, i learnt 2 new things on an iphone

1) you can block any unwanted phone calls >> https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT207099 >> this will redirect any calls from anyone who is not in your contact list to your voicemail.
2) You can block text messges > https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph203ab0be4/ios

Everyday is a school day..

 

[cliveb]

Blocking numbers doesn't work - scammers call from constantly changing numbers.

There ought to be an app available which filters incoming calls:
1. If the caller is in the phone's contact list, it gets through.
2. Otherwise, a message says something along the lines of: "if you are genuinely calling <person's name>, press <randomly generated number> to proceed". Phone doesn't even ring unless the correct response is received.
If such an app does not exist, someone should write it.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Blocking numbers doesn't work - scammers call from constantly changing numbers.

There ought to be an app available which filters incoming calls:
1. If the caller is in the phone's contact list, it gets through.
2. Otherwise, a message says something along the lines of: "if you are genuinely calling <person's name>, press <randomly generated number> to proceed". Phone doesn't even ring unless the correct response is received.
If such an app does not exist, someone should write it.

If you block callers who are not in your phone's memory it does, unless the scammers have found a way of putting their number into your phone before calling.

We have changed our home phones to BT handsets with a blocking feature; if the caller is not in your directory then the call is announced and you can choose to answer it or refuse it. Since enabling it we have not had one scam call at home.

You don't need an app, it is built into most modern mobiles, as per Mudball's post directly above yours.

 

[cliveb]

If you block callers who are not in your phone's memory it does, unless the scammers have found a way of putting their number into your phone before calling.

We have changed our home phones to BT handsets with a blocking feature; if the caller is not in your directory then the call is announced and you can choose to answer it or refuse it. Since enabling it we have not had one scam call at home.

You don't need an app, it is built into most modern mobiles, as per Mudball's post directly above yours.

You've missed the point I was trying to make.

If someone calls me and they are not in my contacts, I don't necessarily want to block them - it could be someone new who genuinely needs to speak to me (eg. someone at the golf club).
But any call from an unknown number may or may not be a scammer, so I have no idea whether to answer or not.
If the phone, or an app, requires that the caller verify they want to be connected, it'll filter out all the mass-dialing scam calls, because those computer dialled calls won't be able to respond to the challenge.

 

[Blue in Munich]

You've missed the point I was trying to make.

If someone calls me and they are not in my contacts, I don't necessarily want to block them - it could be someone new who genuinely needs to speak to me (eg. someone at the golf club).
But any call from an unknown number may or may not be a scammer, so I have no idea whether to answer or not.
If the phone, or an app, requires that the caller verify they want to be connected, it'll filter out all the mass-dialing scam calls, because those computer dialled calls won't be able to respond to the challenge.

The Apple blocker directs any calls that are not in your contact list to your voicemail. If it is someone who is genuinely trying to reach you they can leave you a message & you return the call, and add their number to your contact list. Scammers won't bother.

What happens if your caller, who is not expecting a challenge, doesn't hear the randomly generated number or enters it correctly? The BT handsets simply ask the caller their name & places them on hold, then tells you who is calling. That is all that's needed, not random number generators.

 

[Wabinez]

For spam text messages, forward it to 7726. You‘ll receive a message back asking for the number it came from.

I think that’s the only way of reporting spam text messages

 

[cliveb]

What happens if your caller, who is not expecting a challenge, doesn't hear the randomly generated number or enters it correctly?

Fair point. I wasn't necessarily saying that's exactly how it should work - just that there should be a way for the caller to be challenged before the call is put through, in a way that mass autodiallers won't be able to circumvent.

The BT handsets simply ask the caller their name & places them on hold, then tells you who is calling. That is all that's needed, not random number generators.

That would work. Is there an Android app which does that?

 

[Pants]

Unless I'm expecting a call from a number that isn't in my Contacts, I won't answer any call that doesn't come up with the caller's name. If it's a genuine caller, they will leave a message. Couldn't be any simpler and you don't need an "app".

 

[Mudball]

Fair point. I wasn't necessarily saying that's exactly how it should work - just that there should be a way for the caller to be challenged before the call is put through, in a way that mass autodiallers won't be able to circumvent.

That would work. Is there an Android app which does that?

I think you are talking about an app like Truecaller,.... its been around for a while. It is fairly heavily used in South East Asia where people are ok to share other people's phone no with a third party. when you install it, it takes all the info in ur contact list and uploads it.. it does the same with everyone who has it. It is effectively compiling a massive phone directory in the cloud. So when you get a call from a random #. it looks it up and shows the name of the caller. If other people have reported it as a scam, then it will say so.


(pic from their website) >>>

 

[Sats]

Got a message from an elderly neighbor who is badly shaken up ..

It would seem that someone named <Joe Blogs> has given people my mobile phone number as a contact. Whether deliberately or in error.
I keep getting calls and messages from people chasing debts. I don't want to click on any links but don't know how to stop them.

Any ideas on who she reports it to? She does not bailiffs knocking on her door, so needs to ensure that she has taken precautions.

Any experiences?

If a company is chasing lawful debts then it's not fraud. It's difficult as the information provided is currently very limited.
I'd advise that your neighbour contacts the company chasing and explains the situation, I'd worry if they ask for bank details or payments. If they are a legitimate company than they can update their files and the calls will stop.
Ignoring it is terrible advice, as if a Bailiff obtains a warrant to seize then it becomes really weary to deal with at that time rather than deal with it previously.