Strange area code

jonnreeks

I have received call from a number with 089...... which is a Mobile virtual network operators according to google.

Anyone been getting similar mobile calls?

🙄

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058330830/strange-area-code

Is that not Tesco's prefix?

Kurn

I think Tesco Mobile uses 089 for customers not porting in from another network. They have been using it for some time 10+ years, Virgin Media and Lyca also use it.

o1s1n

I also received a scam 089 call yesterday. Seems to just be another variation on that phone scam thing where they were using what look like legitimate Irish numbers.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602075#Comment_121602075

My son's number is an 089. His contract is with Tesco.

jonnreeks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602095#Comment_121602095

Is he involved with the 'phone scam thing' so!

😯

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602582#Comment_121602582

No, he uses his 086 one for that. 😁

L1011

The number that is calling you is spoofed, they aren't actually calling you.

083, 085, 086, 087 and 089 are all normal Irish mobile prefixes.

It’s still possible, using VoIP, to set your outgoing caller ID to literally anything. The phone network just presents whatever’s sent through. It doesn’t verify anything.

So basically these scammers use random, totally normal outgoing numbers.

I’ve had calls returned to me by people saying that I called them and I never did.

Also blocking calls / reporting them to spam database or publishing them online just hits some totally innocent third party.

The networks need to do some filtering at source.

Caranica

48 also use 089, it is a genuine prefix as above

Hilly Bill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603417#Comment_121603417

I'm getting a lot of calls recently from people saying that they got a missed call from me. I was thinking that they were scammers but from what you said they are as innocent as I am.

Uncle Pierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121638975#Comment_121638975

I've had the same thing happen me a few times too. Seems to last about two weeks at a time, before the scammers must move on to "spoofing" some other number.

Didn't know how they manage it, so thanks to @[Deleted User] for explanation above about VoIP.

There’s supposedly work going on at network level to prevent calls being dumped into the system as international calls displaying Irish numbers.

However, given that lots of people are still receiving them, I can only conclude it’s not complete.

ComReg has a task force, mostly made up of people from the various telcos, trying to find a coordinated solution to this.