To be a bit freaked out right now - 2am

This doesn’t work for many of us who take work calls that often come through unknown numbers.

I've had this - I told them to let the FBI officers know that they'd need to make sure their passport and visas were up to date and I looked forward to welcoming them to the UK on their arrival.

He hung up.

I sometimes try to keep scammers on the phone on the basis that if they're talking to me they're not talking to vulnerable people who might be more easily sucked in.

@ErniesGhostlyGoldTops I'm sorry that sounds like an absoultely horrible experience. I am very glad the police took it seriously. I'd have been upset and frightened too if I was threatened in that way

You need to also be careful of phone number spoofing, scammers can imitate a phone number and appear to be calling from a number that is different to their own.

They may make it appear they are calling from x company, which happens to be your credit card company and they will advise you to check the phone number either online or the back of your card, people do get caught out with this. Still best not engaging and calling the number on the back of your card and you then know you are speaking to the correct provider.

I agree with everyone who doesn't answer the phone unless they know the number or are expecting a call eg from doctor. Same with answering the door. I know its a MN trope that people who don't answer the phone/door to just any old person are crazy, I think putting yourself at risk is crazier. Its a useful exercise to occasionally put your name or address first line in google (not together) and see what turns up. If there is anything you didn't expect, then its often possible to get it removed. I did this after my husband died. His name used to pop up because of various activities he was involved in (he wasn't famous) and it used to hurt so much to see it unexpectedly.

This

It saves an awful lot of time and upset.

I never answer a no caller id or unknown number. If it's important they'll leave a message. Don't engage with them at all.

I am not sure how true this is but I did read somewhere that if you answer, even if you politely say no, tell them to F off or whatever you are on one list and will get more calls and if you don't answer AT ALL you are on another.
I rarely answer our landline (and it rings maybe once a week if that) but I did answer about 2 weeks ago. I got the person off the phone quickly but since then its ringing twice a day or more.
Its best to just not answer

How scary and horrible for you. I'm so sorry that happened. I'd echo those who say he's unlikely to be in the UK.

What a pathetic loser he is.

I'm sorry this happened but can I give you some advice? Never engage with these calls, never say anything past hello. The more you say, the more they know about you and the more they call you.

My father thinks it's funny to speak to these guys who call, like he's messing them around, they now call constantly. For sure one of these days they will actually scam him.

If you're still on the line you're scammable.

If your phone rings and it’s a number you don’t recognise just don’t answer it. If they are a genuine caller and it’s important they speak to you they will leave a message with their contact details.

I've had the same twice
Got nasty when I told them it was a scam
Told me that they'd break into my house and stab me in my sleep
They obviously didn't, otherwise I wouldn't be replying to your post
No one with half a brain cell would actually warn you of what they planning on doing
It's quite funny hearing 'David' calling from Mumbai getting into a right tizzy on the other end of the phone

Jeez OP, that sounds bloody awful. Glad you rang the police and they took it seriously. Hope you’re ok today.

I had one who said he was going to come to my house and kill me! I knew he was in reality thousands of miles away, but it still shook me up a little bit.

I got rid of the landline a while back.

Hope you are OK OP.

That would really freak me out too op but if you receive scam calls again, you don’t need to engage, you can just hang up. You don’t even need to explain, just hang up the phone as soon as you realise, and block the number. You don’t owe someone who is trying to steal from you any common courtesy.

I never answer unknown callers or numbers I don't recognise, if they are legitimate they'd leave a message and always check numbers independently before calling back

I had one of these calls and he got really nasty, said he was going to come round to my house, I told him the door was open and to come and see what he finds

I could not believe what he was saying on the phone, we got into a right argument. I was a bit shaken up, but these people pray on who they think is vulnerable. This is their 'job' and this is how they make a living regardless of the consequences

Hope you have got over it!

Have you seen the film The Bee Keeper?

I did similar but I’d had him on the phone for an hour winding him up about believing my computer was up the swanny, I was cleaning, told him pc was upstairs and could he wait while I ran and did the things he asked, eventually I said it was making a funny noise and if I could get in nearer the phone would he know what was wrong with it, oh yes he could help. So I said there was only one word for scammers like him, said the word and blew the whistle.
(my house was completely dusted and I’d saved someone else from an hour of his scamming). My Dr friend told me off, said it can really damage the ear drum.

i did answer the phone on loud speaker for a while after that.

but now OP I don’t answer any number I don’t know, if I need to I always say my answer phone message and do the beep, scammers ring off, legitimate callers try to leave a message and I simply explain why I seem so mad.

Its a form of "Spear phishing" @cossette - when they find out enough about you to convince you they are genuine or freak you out.

I had one where they had my address details as well as name, no threats fortunately, but it did freak me out too.

I am sorry you had that experience. I've got rid of my landline as fed up with scammers

I fail to engage with anyone who calls me apparently from a bank or any other company. Generally as soon as I hear it is not someone I know I put the phone down saying nothing. If the person has a hint of sounding genuine I politely tell them we do not deal with people on the telephone at all and they should write. And do not give my address or any details. I have already asked companies who may have a legitimate reason to contact me that I do not accept phone calls or emails due to the risk of hacking or interception and anything important is to be dealt with by post

you don't have to engage with anyone on the telephone or answer the door to anyone Your house your phone your rules

and elderly relatives and neighbours who are at serious risk I have written them a script which just says we do not deal with people on the phone. Please write to me the address you have If you are genuine you will have these details and whilst I appreciate this is more work I know that if you are genuine you understand.

Absolutely not unreasonable to be freaked out but I agree it's probably a scammer. My DP gets a lot of calls from people pretending to be debt collectors - he is a tradesman and his contact details are online - and they can make reasonable assumptions about the type of things he might pay for.

He nearly got caught out by one but as soon as he worked out it was a scam - and called the actual debt agency they claimed to be calling from, they started getting really aggressive. Nothing of this level thankfully.

I had a spate of obvious scam calls and on one of them i was so fed up with the bullshit he was spouting that I picked up my DH's referee whistle that happened to be hanging up next to me and blew it as hard as i could down the phone. Petty yes - made me feel better though.

I never answer my phone anymore. If someone needs me they can leave a voicemail or DM me. My ex disseminated my number and email when we separated over seven years ago. I have it on DND and only certain numbers are allowed through.

I hope you feel better this morning.

How horrible.

I always tell these scammers karma will come for you. And that they are disrespecting the reputation of our motherland (if I hear an Indian accent - I’m half Indian) And then hang up.

They’re often in a mini call centre not in UK and under pressure to hook so many scam victims each shift. Doesn’t excuse threats but chances are they’re thousands of miles away.
Buy an old fashioned teacher’s whistle and if it happens again blow loudly down the phone as soon as they say they’re your bank. Then hang up.