To be a bit freaked out right now - 2am

@cossette I just tell those phone scammers to fuck off!! I have even been threated with rape!!! 😃

It’s highly unlikely these people are even based in this country. Pleased the police offered help and you’re getting a doorbell camera though, they are really useful to have.

I won’t answer withheld numbers, ever. I also tend not to answer numbers I don’t recognise, I just google them then decide whether I need to call back. Never do, they always come up as scam.

Why do people engage? Why do they have full bloody conversations with these people? This wouldn’t happen to me because I wouldn’t have answered a strange number to begin with, but if I had and realised straight away it wasn’t legit, I would have ended the call without speaking.

That’s horrible, OP. Hopefully you are calmer by the time you get to work and good idea to get the Ring doorbell.
Someone tried ringing me from the bank’s fraud department last week - there was a prerecorded message when I answered, but the bank wasn’t one I have an account with.

I just say I don't speak to scammers and hang up.
Don't engage.
Since using this method I have noticed a decline in calls, apparently they mark their list as "Don't bother"

Sending hugs OP, these calls are horrid and unnerve you but they are more likely to be from some person is a call centre 1000s miles away.

They really aren’t coming for you.

I’ve had some horrible responses even a threat of rape when saying that I know they are scammers, the viciousness is unbelievable. I have call blockers on the landline for all but known numbers and now don’t pick up unknown numbers on my mobile unless it’s one from an std code I’m expecting or very local, and even then I get caught out sometimes.

Police didn’t take it seriously they were simply dealing with the ops fear. Or that the threat may have been from someone else. Like an ex and she was covering up. Everyone knows these scammers ain’t coming to your house. Not least as they aren’t even on this content.

Oh op, in future when you get these calls just say I can’t hear you what, I can’t hear you, or hang up and block. You don’t need to converse with them like this. Generally they are in asia. Of course no one’s coming to your house with a gun.

How awful for you. I also don’t answer calls from no ID or even numbers I don’t recognise. I feel if it’s important they will leave a voicemail or text.

Argh no wonder you’re worried. How horrible 😞

There are no depths these lowlife won’t sink to.

I’m glad the police took it seriously but it will have been a scammer.

If he: was foreign and/or the call took a while to connect then 99.999% it is a scammer. And before I am accused of being a racist, it is well known that these people operate mostly out of India and Pakistan.

That's awful! How you are feeling is not unreasonable. Good to hear the police have taken it seriously. How you feel even a bit better today! People who do that are scum, they don't realise the toll it takes on a family. Everyone should feel safe in their own home.

What a horrible call not surprised you are freaked out. Good that you called the police and hopefully he’s just a weirdo.

My sister had a similar call from someone saying she had hit their car (she hadn’t) and they had her registration and address. When she asked them to confirm what registration they had they became super aggressive and threatening, luckily I was with her and we both challenged the behaviour and ended the call.

I think there are a few scammers who get freaked out and aggressive if the call doesn’t go their way.

I’ve had two phone calls from numbers said to be HSBC scams in the past week, OP. I never answer unknown numbers. I Google the number first then call back if it’s genuine. However, I’ve found genuine callers tend to leave a voicemail.

It will be a scammer angry at being challenged and so being aggressive. I once answered a scam call many years ago and got a mouthful of abuse from a really nasty guy. Nothing like what you had, but still scary. This scammer will be moving through the lists of thousands of other numbers and will totally have forgotten you x

I work in fraud and scammers are just vile human beings and are just horrid people hiding behind a screen.

We also get scammers calling us pretending to be the customer and when we don't believe them, the venom they spit out is just unreal and generally proves that we were right in our decision.

I hope you are okay OP, its likely an empty threat but you did the right thing calling the Police, who are hopefully looking out for you and making sure you are safe.

We always advise to disconnect the call without engaging in any conversation if you receive such a call and always call the number on the back of the card.

Don't engage with them at all, like other people have said, if it's legitimate they'll leave a message. Once you answer the phone to an unknown number, they know your line is 'active' and will try different techniques with different numbers.

It is becoming harder though as spoofing numbers is becoming more common so don't give away any personal information that could potentially identify you.

It’s understandable you are freaked out but I’m sure this was just an empty threat. Glad the police took you seriously. Keep doors locked.

Sometimes scammers can say weird shit. I remember being "threatened" with the FBI if I didn't send them what they wanted. 🤣 As if I'm scared of the FBI. 🤣

Obvious scammer. Lesson learned, I hope, is do not engage, at all. No need for any silly tit for tat conversation. They are experts at keeping you on the phone. I wouldn't give this another thought.

You engaged in far too much discussion with someone you believe to be a scammer. Don't give them ANY information - just hang up straight away. Even better, never answer calls from unknown numbers. If it's legitimate they'll leave a message and you can ring them back.

Glad the police took it seriously.

Next time don't get into a dialogue with scammers, just put the phone down.

I must say after getting rid of the landline the number of these calls received is zero.

That’s scary. Hope you’re ok now

I’m surprised you didn’t hang up on them

That’s horrible OP and I am glad the police took it seriously.

But I doubt the scammers are even in this country to come round at 2am- and why warn you if they planned to do it.

Did it sound like an adult ? Could it have been someone your son or daughter knows ? As in a teenager that would know where you live ? I hope you are all ok but I doubt it was credible as who ringscyo tell you they are going to rob you ? I know that doesn't help the worry right now OP, also maybe look at changing phone number ?