Another scam to watch out for

[Steve Bullman]

There are many people who's number come up as withheld or unknown, I answer all calls, if its a call centre or some other sales person, I simply say no thanks and hang up.

 

My parents have their number withheld which is really annoying. If it weren't for that I wouldn't answer any withheld numbers

[Acg128]

I've had this one, claiming to be from the police. They ring me every three days or so claiming that I owe payment. When I told them that the police were aware they said that they were the police...

 

LOL

[Shane]

I once received one of these calls while we were having our lunch break.

I had a bit of spare time so I strung him along, asking lots of easy questions like

'Will this improve my business?' and 'How would I pay for it?'

 

Then when it got down to the acceptance bit I just told him I wasn't inetersted.

When he asked me why I wasn't interested after our pleasant long discussion I just said that I wanted to waste his time in the same way that he wastes everybody elses.

 

The guys could all see what was happening and laughed out loud, meanwhile Mr scam

used a very unpleasant word and put the phone down.

 

Yes, it wasted 5 minutes of my life, but it wound him up a treat and during that time he wasn't hassling anyone else. Only recommended if you are lucky enoughnot to be busy when they call.

[skyhuck]

My parents have their number withheld which is really annoying. If it weren't for that I wouldn't answer any withheld numbers

 

Few years ago we changed our landline and broadband to Carphone wear house (I think it was them) my number then became "withheld" or "Unknown" can't remember which, because of this I switched back within the cooling off period.

 

I get quite a few customers with withheld numbers, so I'll keep answering them.

[Mountain man]

I always answer the phone withheld or not.

It's the optimist in me.

If it's a sales call, it's a no thanks and hang up.

[Nick Connell]

I got caught out by them. Paid for an add in the police community club magazine. Then a few months later rung me to collect the money for the add i had taken out saying a name very similar to police community club Basically trying to confuse me in to paying for another add.

 

I've had many phone calls since trying it on usually a polite man thanking me for supporting some sort of emergency service calling to collect payment and says your proof is already printed!

 

Wise to it now!

[gensetsteve]

Often when I answer a with held no the line goes dead. If they can hang up on me without saying a word I can do the same half way through their spiel.

[dig-dug-dan]

I cannot understand why anyone withholds their number unless they have something to hide? I understand some switchboards, but most are clever enough now to still display the number. Personally, I would ban withholding numbers!

[Peasgood]

The only calls I get from a withheld number is the police.

[Betula]

I've had a couple call me up, so far has been advertising work for school contracts and for sick kids. I called the local trading standards and they said the scammers claim to have evidence of you saying yes and claim they will sue you if you dont pay. All scare tactics.

The genuine advertisers don't need to be cold calling as they usually get enough interest from the local area