topic Re: Calls from similar number in Security

Calls from similar number

Marleyforlan — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 11:45:29 GMT

Hi.. today I received a call from a very similar number to mine just a couple end digits off.. the guy said he was returning a call I just made to him (which I hadn't) and then I told him I had not called him and he said OK no worries bye.

Thinking this was an anomaly of some sort I went on with my day.. then when I was away from my phone around an hour later another different number very similar to mine I have a missed call from.. no message left.

I am not sure what the scam could be here..is someone else somehow using my number to call people?

Re: Calls from similar number

Jon_K — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 13:06:59 GMT

Hi @Marleyforlan.

Welcome to the community.

It's very unlikely that someone will be able to clone your number.

If this continues to happen, you could consider changing your number.

Jon

Re: Calls from similar number

NickL1 — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 11:34:54 GMT

Identical thing happened to me this week - same worries

Re: Calls from similar number

Marleyforlan — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:13:43 GMT

Mine stopped by themselves after a week and a half or so I just ignored them.. definitely something strange going on though

Re: Calls from similar number

Lizzy_G — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 15:39:02 GMT

Hi Marleyforlan

The very same thing happened to me yesterday!

I had 2 missed calls from a mobile number with only the last couple of digits different than mine. The caller didn’t leave a voicemail either.

At first glance I thought it was my own number but once I realised it was almost identical to mine I was suspicious about how this could happen.

Since I got these calls my phone display has been acting weird ( screen not responding to touch when I’m using google, keyboard moving to vertical position when I’m texting). I’ve never had these problems before!

Can anyone explain the issues I’ve been experiencing with the suspicious number calling me and the problems I’m having since then?

Re: Calls from similar number

James_B — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:00:15 GMT

Hi @Lizzy_G,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

A missed call wouldn't cause any issues with your phone's performance.

Have you tried restarting your phone to see if that improves responsiveness?

James

Re: Calls from similar number

Mrswobby — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 17:15:56 GMT

This also happened to me, a lady rang to say she was returning my call - from 4am! Clearly it wasn’t from me, someone is using my number. Action required, EE!

Re: Calls from similar number

James_B — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 17:19:51 GMT

Hi @Mrswobby,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

Our Customer Care Team will be happy to look into this issue if you get in touch.

Thanks

James

Re: Calls from similar number

Norris1 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:16:26 GMT

Hi there,

I’ve been having the same issue since yesterday!

Number very similar to mine (apart from the last 3 digits) called twice

and same again today - although slightly different number but again very similar to mine but with different digits at the end.

I’m worried about security or number spoofing?

can you advise?
thank you

Re: Calls from similar number

James_B — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:42:09 GMT

Hi @Norris1,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

What were the nature of the calls? Were they marketing calls?

James

Re: Calls from similar number

Norris1 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:52:54 GMT

@James_B
hi James,

the first time, they hung up when I answered.

I didn’t answer the call today

i hope that helps

Re: Calls from similar number

James_B — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 19:00:32 GMT

Hi @Norris1,

I don't think you have anything to worry about from a security perspective, but I appreciate these calls can be concerning.

Have you looked into blocking numbers from unknown callers on your phone? What type of phone do you have?

James

Re: Calls from similar number

Hakdaddy74 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:13:27 GMT

Just had same issue twice from two similar numbers to mine. I'm no Sherlock Holmes but as we are all on an EE website i suggest the mods on here stop mugging us off and tell us honestly if there has been a security breach targeting EE customers. Would seem bizarre that only EE customers have recently been targeted and they are clearly far more people this happening too than would have the foresight to report it via this forum

Wouldn't be first time EE staff have fraudulently used customers details as this happened several years ago. Reported to customer support who denied anything and suggested unchanged a number I've had since 2000. A year or so later media reports of fraudulent behaviour by customer support staff was revealed.

Re: Calls from similar number

James_B — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:15:18 GMT

Hi @Hakdaddy74,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

Unwanted marketing calls and number spoofing are problems that affect users of all mobile networks, but you'll only see reports from EE customers in this EE forum.

James

Re: Calls from similar number

Hakdaddy74 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:19:18 GMT

Hi James,

I was referring to online searches, there is nothing that comes up for other networks at the moment. Bizarre that several people are having the same issue in space of one month with the same network.

Re: Calls from similar number

drewthehud — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:22:21 GMT

I've been experiencing similar issues for around a week now. Missed calls from numbers similar to my own (3-4 per day), and phone calls from people claiming they're returning a call I never made.

Speaking with an EE agent they recommend changing my number, forwarding all the numbers to 7726 & phishing@ee.co.uk.

I was also advised to register with the telephone preference service to help avoid scam calls - https://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html

Re: Calls from similar number

Mrswobby — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:07:02 GMT

Thank you - I have now registered with TPS but it's still worrying from a security point of view and I would have thought there was more that EE could do to rectify the problem.

Re: Calls from similar number

bristolian — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:44:21 GMT

Unfortunately, as has already been suggested, spam & nuisance calls are a problem across all telecoms operators and EE customers are no worse affected than those of any other provider.

If a caller has dialled your number, EE have to connect the call to your phone.

Re: Calls from similar number

Mrpaulrobson — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:47:55 GMT

This has been happening to me all day today!! I’ve had 8 different numbers calling me, all with very similar numbers to mine, one being only one digit off! Apparently it’s some kind of scam to see what phone numbers are active and if people answer they get put on a list for further scams!

Re: Calls from similar number

KJ87 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:16:19 GMT

I’ve had this same issue. Yesterday I received a call from a number almost the same as mine. Then this morning another call from a different number but again almost the same as mine. Just the last few digits were different. I haven’t answered any and I won’t now after reading these comments.

Very strange!!