Calls from similar number

[Marleyforlan]

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?

[spq2013]

There's no point investigating it. It's impossible. It's like trying to trace an ip addresses hidden behind a vpn. The caller id is being spoofed. Your number is masking the real number. These calls could have come from any number anywhere in the world. Besides uk carriers are not allowed to trace or block calls. It's not the people on the community's fault. There's nothing you can do about it or anyone. Apart from block them or change your number. Just don't answer them. They'll get fed up and stop if you just ignore it. It's not a security breach. These numbers are generated on RNG software. It's all well and good bashing the network but sometimes there's nothing they can do and it's not their fault.

[BivvyandBasher]

As is saying change your number if it doesn’t resolve anything and just adds to inconvenience. As does block the number ? If ax you say its totally random, shall I block everyone?

[Scottomt]

I've had this as well, 2 different numbers on two consecutive days. Both unattainable if I call them back. Very weird

[spq2013]

No don't block everyone. Block the numbers that appear that you don't recognize. Do you understand that there's literally nothing a mobile phone network can do about this? It's like you're getting angry because it's raining and someone needs to stop it from raining but like nobody can. The call is being made from a fake number that is being spoofed over the real number. It could be a number from anywhere in the world. It could be any type of number. So say it's a number from Cuba and they're using software to mask the number with a UK mobile number, what do you suggest a mobile carrier can do? No harm in being annoyed with it, but it is really nobody's fault other than the scammers doing it. If you want it to stop, change your number, which you don't want to so not an option or block any new numbers that appear. Don't engage with them. Don't answer them whenever possible and it's just a waiting game and it will die down. This is the perfect scam really. Police authorities or networks cannot do anything about it really as it's virtually untraceable. However what would really make it the percent scam is if you start divulging sensitive information like banking details or social security numbers. As long as you don't do that, it's really annoying but you just have to wait it out. Sorry but that's how it is. It's like receiving an email from a criminal on the dark web. It's untraceable.

[Norris1]

Ok, thank you for the explanation. That does makes sense.
However, be mindful that some people just see lots of these strange calls and perhaps don’t know anything about spam callers, masking software etc. Some people would just assume that their mobile network would be able to assist.
I think people are probably annoyed that EE could not respond giving the explanation/ clarification that you have.
They just simply copy and paste the link to the ofcom website.

Sent from my iPhone

[2503486]

This just happened to me- haven’t scrolled through the entire thread but mods lack of concern is frankly worrying.

[s_corcoran]

I’ve now had people calling me asking have I called them and their numbers aren’t even stored in my phone! So it’s gone from identical numbers calling me to random numbers calling me. 

This is just ridiculous now. 

[Leanne_T]

Hi @s_corcoran @2503486

Thanks for posting on the community. 

As mentioned in the thread, unwanted marketing calls and number spoofing (where nuisance callers and criminals deliberately alter the caller ID) are problems that affect users of all mobile networks.

You can find out more about number spoofing on the Ofcom website.

You can report the call to EE just text 'call' to 7726 followed by a space, then the number that called you, we use the data collected to help protect all of our customers.

Leanne.

[Ammeg1986]

Ive had the exact same thing happen to me today. Its totally strange.

[Scottomt]

I've now had at least 4 calls from different numbers , all the last 3 digits different from mine and each other. I'm just ignoring the calls