Plagued by scam calls *DON'T POST PHONE NUMBERS*

SureYWouldntYa

jos28 wrote: »

I received at least 6 of those yesterday. All beginning with the same first 6 digits as my number. I answered the first one which was some sort of recording so I hung up and didn't answer the rest of them

Same I've got 5 calls last few days using the first 6 digits of my number

I'm expecting a computer delivery soon so hopefully the driver doesnt have the same first 6 digits as me or ill miss it

amber2

Received 2 of these starting with the same first 3 digits of my phone number, answered one,
When I realised it was a recording I hung up so have no idea of what the recording was actually about.

scotchy

Been getting 2 or 3 of these a week now for a few weeks, before that it would have been 1 or 2 every couple of months.

I usually check here https://www.phonenumbers.ie/

One this morning rang twice then hung up, no message.

Had one last week from one with the first 6 digits of my own number.

Another call last week, when I answered, guy says he was replying to a missed call from me, I hadn't made any calls that morning.

.

My husband got three calls this morning, passed one over to me, but when I pressed 1 to have the call answered, nothing happened.
Maybe later, I will get another go.

Duzzie

3 calls from them in the last hour, from 3 different 087 numbers. May have to wait to be connected to hurl some abuse at them to try stop them calling me.

ballyargus

have had four today from numbers that look similar to my own, all but the last 3 digits are the same. Irritating cnuts

Duzzie

ballyargus wrote: »

have had four today from numbers that look similar to my own, all but the last 3 digits are the same. Irritating cnuts

The numbers that called me were all 087 but bore no resemblance to my number or each other other than beginning 087 8.....

callaway92

Had some too today.

Are they mirroring real numbers? I actually rang the first one back (thinking it was a legit call) and the human that answered said he 100% didn't make any phone calls today

Duzzie

callaway92 wrote: »

Had some too today.

Are they mirroring real numbers? I actually rang the first one back (thinking it was a legit call) and the human that answered said he 100% didn't make any phone calls today

It was suggested in an earlier post that they were cloning real numbers, hence why it was suggested not posting the numbers in this thread. I'd imagine that the people who own the real numbers are getting as annoyed as those recieving the calls

Heffoman

I've received 4 today since 11 o clock.

All mirroring my own number bar the last 3 digits.

scotchy

Just wondering, are these calls across all networks?

I'm on GoMo.

Oscar Bravo

Same here. Ringing like mad today. Number similar to my own

callaway92

Duzzie wrote: »

It was suggested in an earlier post that they were cloning real numbers, hence why it was suggested not posting the numbers in this thread. I'd imagine that the people who own the real numbers are getting as annoyed as those recieving the calls

Grim.

I wonder what end-game is here with the scam calls?

Surely it’ll be down to the receiving network to put a block on them somehow.

Deub

Received one today and 2 last Friday.

I wonder what happens if you answer but never press 1 and just wait.

Starting to get them last few days, appear to be from 087 mobile numbers. Answered one, automated machine generated voice came on straight away saying revenue were investigating me. Hung up.

Heffoman

Deleted User wrote: »

Starting to get them last few days, appear to be from 087 mobile numbers. Answered one, automated machine generated voice came on straight away saying revenue were investigating me. Hung up.

I'm wondering how many of us have registered with the HSE and it isnt a fallout from them being hacked?

scotchy

Another one just now, this is getting rediculus.

Padre_Pio

Got 2 myself today. Both 085 numbers.

callaway92 wrote: »

Had some too today.

Are they mirroring real numbers? I actually rang the first one back (thinking it was a legit call) and the human that answered said he 100% didn't make any phone calls today

I called one back and got the answering machine from someone saying their number was stolen and to block this number.

Paul Tergat

Heffoman wrote: »

I'm wondering how many of us have registered with the HSE and it isnt a fallout from them being hacked?

This. I registered on Friday and plagued with calls today.

fritzelly

Paul Tergat wrote: »

This. I registered on Friday and plagued with calls today.

They haven't been hacked in the past few days

The fact the numbers show like your own number screams robo caller

These scams are widespread in the USA, UK and Australia already. It's not a "hack", they just adapted their script and began targeting Ireland.

L1011

It has nothing to do with HSE registration. The numbers are auto-generated.

Stop trying to think along the lines of 'what could have caused this' and you won't come up with invalid answers. Unless a scammer has actual personal details, its a generated number.

L1011

L1011 wrote: »

It has nothing to do with HSE registration. The numbers are auto-generated.

Stop trying to think along the lines of 'what could have caused this' and you won't come up with invalid answers. Unless a scammer has actual personal details, its a generated number.

The time I answered their call and engaged with them it was obvious that the scammer on the other end didn't even know which scam to run with and had to keep asking me what the message said!

I watched a scambaiting video on YouTube where the scammer transferred the call to a colleague who picked it up with a completely different scam (it was a social security scam but the second scammer launched into a refund scam).

Deub

Deub wrote: »

Received one today and 2 last Friday.

I wonder what happens if you answer but never press 1 and just wait.

They soon end the call. I had one last week about my internet. He asked me if I was using the internet at the moment. I asked why he wanted to know. He replied that he’d asked me a question and that I have to answer. I said that no, I didn’t. He said that it was good manners that when someone was asked a question that they answered. I said “Da, mein Herr, Vee hav vays of making you talk” then the rude so and so hung up on me!

rob316

9 so far today all 087 followed by the next 2 digits of my phone number.

EB_2013

I had a few of them last coming from an 083 number very similar to my own. The first one was regarding the Gardai and illegal activities but then on the rest I didn't say anything and the line drops after a few seconds. I tried to call back but the number was then blocked. I thought I was going to be robbed of my credit but nothing came off my total.

I wonder what they are up to? I wouldn't mind if someone answered so I could at least waste their time.

FionnK86

Good afternoon,

I'm based in Dublin and received several calls Friday 18/6/21 from unknown 085 numbers, ordered below:

1. 0934 from 085154383X,they rang for 1-minute, I recalled and there was a 7 note musical tone and static, but no answer.
2. 1113 from 085188464X, I answered and it was bogus call from scam, pretending to be from Department of Social Welfare, I've contacted Blanchardstown Garda station, who said no further action was required.
3. 1311 from 085196611X.
4. 1344 from 085118266X.
5. 1430 from 085192459X.

Blanchardstown Garda station said these numbers are related to a scam, and once I did not provide any details I should be ok but not to answer anymore as they're coming from foreign jurisdiction and likely 'piggybacking' from legitimate numbers. I posted the above numbers to https://www.phonenumbers.ie/ on Friday, but they've since been removed, most likely by the actual owners of the numbers, I've removed a digit from aforementioned numbers so I'm not publishing them online, as they're likely piggybacked.

See following article for further details: https://www.thejournal.ie/scam-warning-social-protection-phone-5403248-Apr2021/

I received four today.

Atlantic Dawn

Seems to hit me in waves, had nearly 2 weeks solid of calls nearly every single day, havn't had anything for the last week.

Bicyclette

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Seems to hit me in waves, had nearly 2 weeks solid of calls nearly every single day, havn't had anything for the last week.

Similar here. I had a few over a fortnight. The last one, was apparently I had €6,000 in investments in London and they needed to be released.

They asked for my email address so I started F for Freddie, U for Unicorn etc By the time I got to Kenneth she told me to get a life and hung up

c montgomery

A number of people called me today saying they are returning missed calls but I never called anyone !

They all seemed genuine, one only lived a few minutes away.

WTF

fritzelly

Regulator needs to do his job and get the phone companies (how many have actual trunks into the country?) to implement systems to prevent this

bohsfan

I have had 4 scam calls so far today. All from seemingly Irish numbers. Some left the same message about my PPS number being canceled and my assets frozen due to illegal activity associated with my PPS. I didn't call any back and blocked them.

087 991 74**
087 996 23**
087 928 96**
087 993 75**

I'm sure these numbers belong to real people and they are being piggy-backed. (That's why I left out some digits) Why can't something be done about this by the operators?

flanzer

I've had 4 today from 087-8161xxx

In a twist of irony/coincidence, my own number is 087-8161xxx

All automated voice messaging saying my PPS has been compromised

Sawduck

Had 2 today both numbers begin with 085 387 with the last four digits being different. I answered one and it was a recorded message saying my card was compromised it seemed dodgy so i hung up after a few seconds, i'm probably just going to ignore phone numbers i don't recognise from now on

MarkR

flanzer wrote: »

I've had 4 today from 087-8161xxx

In a twist of irony/coincidence, my own number is 087-8161xxx

All automated voice messaging saying my PPS has been compromised

My wife had four the same day, and only the last few digits were different from her own. Common theme I think.

tdf7187

Similar to other posters, had four today also and one left automated message on my voicemail claiming my PPS had been hacked. All Irish numbers so look like they might have been genuine (I didn't answer them even still).

Padre_Pio

tdf7187 wrote: »

Similar to other posters, had four today also and one left automated message on my voicemail claiming my PPS had been hacked. All Irish numbers so look like they might have been genuine (I didn't answer them even still).

Third missed call of the day from a new 087 number.
I called back and the lady who picked up had no idea who I was.

Saganist

I've had 6 of these calls today. Answered the first one and an automated message saying it was Social Welfare calling.

I hung up, but then received 5 more which I ignored.

All from a similar number to my own 087 937 ****

Duzzie

I wonder if you give them grief and call them out as scammers whether they are more likely to clone your number and start calling from that. Not sure how it works and whether they could do that?

Ive had 4 now. 087 89x xxxx, 087 83x xxxx, 087 84x xxxx and 087 83x xxxx. My number is 087 82x xxxx, not not really too close to the numbers.

md323

I've had 2 today, and two last friday, all very similar to my own number except the last three digits, 087- 2797***.

I rang back the first one this morning, fella who answered said he didn't ring anyone from his phone.
Very annoying as I am waiting to hear about a new job I applied for

bmc58

Got three today. Answered none.But one left a voicemail saying my PPS No had been used for criminal purposes and my Bank Acc Credit Union acc and some other financial products that I don't have would be frozen.Left a no to call and stronglt stated that I need to respond quickly as the suspension of my credit was "Time Sensitive".number was 014806496

bmc58

Duzzie wrote: »

I wonder if you give them grief and call them out as scammers whether they are more likely to clone your number and start calling from that. Not sure how it works and whether they could do that?

Ive had 4 now. 087 89x xxxx, 087 83x xxxx, 087 84x xxxx and 087 83x xxxx. My number is 087 82x xxxx, not not really too close to the numbers.

That's possible.These bast&rds are very cute and tech savvy more than most people.

ClosedAccountFuzzy

The ones I'm getting are the same.

Same area code and first 3 digits as my phone.

They're very likely now mimicking real people's phone numbers too, so I wouldn't suggest publishing the numbers as they're likely just as much a victim as you are.

I'd assume what they're doing is trying to make the call seem familiar. If this were in the US, where they don't have mobile numbers (they're all just regular landline numbers even for mobiles) then it would look familiarly local and I assume that's what they're relying on.

patnor1011

I had nothing but a peace since I actually answered one of these calls and made a fun out of them.
I think they do not want to waste their precious scamming time on people who they not get anything from so I would say that it may be the way how to stop them from bothering you.
Same thing happened with my daughter - they called her so many times she got angry and had a word with them. They do not last more than a couple of seconds anyway, as soon as they realize you are making fun out of them or that you are not likely a target who would supply them with account details or run to buy gift cards they hung up.

Only one got somewhat obsessed or angry with me she used to call me quite often most likely out of spite as she could not make me "invest" in their get rich quick scheme. Here I would just answer a call and put phone on a table near tv or radio speaker. She stopped too after just few times of this.

I would guess that if you do have time then try to hold them on the line for as long as you can. That way you will waste their time and stop them from scamming some poor sod who may not realize it is a scam. And there is a bit of entertainment included if you do not have anything else to do when they call.

kingstevii

c montgomery wrote: »

A number of people called me today saying they are returning missed calls but I never called anyone !

They all seemed genuine, one only lived a few minutes away.

WTF

They've cloned your number and are using it to robocall other people. I rang a fella back today who swore he had'nt rang me!
I've had nine calls today

patnor1011

patnor1011 wrote: »

I had nothing but a peace since I actually answered one of these calls and made a fun out of them.
I think they do not want to waste their precious scamming time on people who they not get anything from so I would say that it may be the way how to stop them from bothering you.

I concur. I answered the first call I got from them, and it was the only call I got.

Cunning Stunt

This is mad, I just happened across this thread but I have the very same thing going on for about a week now. Multiple calls per day, Irish mobile no's, UK numbers, even 2 from Rwanda... Am living in Denmark so have not registered with HSE or anything, as one poster suspected, so I dont think its that. But yeah definitelly a huge wave of calls hitting me at the mo, on my Irish sim.
Am tempted to answer but are you sure they cant get any info from your phone if you answer, or they cant plant some software etc? Maybe a stupid qs to you tech savvy peeps but anyway...

L1011

They need you to give them info, just answering does nothing (except possibly cause them to call back)

Jim_Hodge

Cunning Stunt wrote: »

This is mad, I just happened across this thread but I have the very same thing going on for about a week now. Multiple calls per day, Irish mobile no's, UK numbers, even 2 from Rwanda... Am living in Denmark so have not registered with HSE or anything, as one poster suspected, so I dont think its that. But yeah definitelly a huge wave of calls hitting me at the mo, on my Irish sim.
Am tempted to answer but are you sure they cant get any info from your phone if you answer? Maybe a stupid qs for you tech savvy peeps but anyway...

They're just blitzing random phone numbers. By answering and stringing them along you're giving no information to them.