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To think it’s weird I’ve had 3 missed calls from very similar numbers?

25 replies

Whocalledmetoday · 08/01/2021 15:54

Around 10:30 am someone called but I didn’t answer it. I get cold calls often so just assumed it was that. I always google the numbers and it will tell me if it’s a cold caller. This did however look like a genuine number. Nothing came up when I searched online. I went back to bed and woke up with a further 2 missed calls.

I’m thinking if it was important they would’ve sent a voicemail. I added the last number as a contact to see if they had wattsapp. They did and there was a picture of two children so I new it was a genuine person. I phoned the number and a lady answered. She said hello, I said hello, she said hello again and then put the phone down. I texted the number to say I’ve received missed calls from them. They replied saying sorry I’ve not called you not me. I checked the numbers again and realised that the numbers were the same but the last 3 digits are different so they weren’t all from the same person. I called the two other numbers. One went to voicemail and the other a man picked up. I said I had a missed call and he said sorry wrong number! I quickly ended the call. But I can see clearly on my phone that they have called me so how come they are all denying it??

OP posts:
lljkk · 08/01/2021 15:54

scammers...?! You've tried to search online for them, right?

TurquoiseDragon · 08/01/2021 16:07

@lljkk

scammers...?! You've tried to search online for them, right?
She did, it's in the first paragraph.

OP, perhaps they were trying to get hold of someone else, and for some reason they all have the wrong number.

I also think it's possible they are still scammers, as sometimes I think scammers buy up blocks of numbers so they can carry on scamming when some numbers get blocked.

YouAbsoluteLittleBugger · 08/01/2021 16:10

It’s probably a company trying to contact you. When I worked in a call centre we’d have to call back customers that hadn’t got back to us/ hadn’t confirmed an appointment/ to remind about appointments etc. I could do it and tick that I’d done it but if there was no reply it would still be left as an active lead and someone else would pick it up. Call centres often use a regional landline but each call handler will have their own direct dial number so it would show up as slightly different numbers. We weren’t allowed to leave voicemails as you’re more likely to get a confirmed order when you actually speak to someone.

Whocalledmetoday · 08/01/2021 16:27

I know with previous cold callers the numbers are very similar. But I don’t think a scammer would answer text messages and have wattsapp photo of children. But it could be possible. In the past. when I’ve tried to call the cold callers back no one answers. It will go straight to voicemail. So I was surprised when the two ordinary people answered the phone.

OP posts:
ItWasntMyFault · 08/01/2021 16:34

I keep getting calls from numbers in Glasgow (I'm nowhere near there). They are all the accident claim ones.
I used to block the numbers and they would just use a different but similar one.
They were never ending.
Now any number in Glasgow I just say that I have never heard of me and they have the wrong number. They are definitely calling a lot less and I am hoping they have stopped.
They buy up big groups of similar numbers so I suspect it's something like that.

marydtf · 08/01/2021 17:52

Could be track and trace?

ScrapThatThen · 08/01/2021 18:30

Scammers somehow appear as others numbers

Tink1990 · 08/01/2021 18:42

My friend had this with 3 mobile numbers before Christmas. Very weird, he reported to his network provider, but as far as I know the mystery was never solved!

Elouera · 08/01/2021 18:48

I too was wondering if it might be track and trace? This is what I found:

an email, text or phone call from NHS Test and Trace – text messages will come from NHStracing and calls will come from 0300 0135 000

They have to use the call dialler within the track/trace system, but I wonder if they might have used their own phone? Seems odd though, because if you have a voicemail set up, they are supposed to leave a scripted VM explaining that they are track and trace.

Likely scammers, but odd you cant find the number reported already.

LovingLen · 08/01/2021 19:00

I think they are spoof numbers stolen from the people you rang back, they may get several people replying to their calls

LovingLen · 08/01/2021 19:01

Wouldn't track and trace send a text and also come up on a Google search

Whocalledmetoday · 08/01/2021 19:13

It’s definitely not track and trace. The number was 07944752*.

I think as others have suggested it’s probably scammers that have disguised themselves with other people’s normal mobile numbers.

I don’t understand these scammers anyway. When they call there’s no one behind the phone just silence. I think they’re checking to see if your number is a working number. So I stopped answering them and blocking them immediately when I’ve found them on google. It just seems very odd today to have 3 calls. Also, it didn’t say what area they are calling from. With other cold callers it always says the area and I know for sure it’s a cold caller. I’ll get random areas like Wigan, Liverpool, Wakefield, Preston etc.

OP posts:
LondonBus38 · 08/01/2021 20:05

I was about to say definitely scammers but then saw the number, which looks like a UK mobile number.

I was thinking scammers as I have had about 150 calls in the last five weeks from overseas numbers, mostly eastern Europe. Ring, then immediately hang up. It's to get you to call back on a premium rate number.

Could be UK equivalent?

TiddleTaddleTat · 08/01/2021 20:07

I've called EE about this today because I had 6 or 7 calls in a row yesterday all from landlines across the U.K., then 2 calls from mobile numbers today. When I've googled the numbers they are unknown and tried to call back and it says out of use.
EE advised reporting to the TPS , said they would be scammers and not to answer as then they'll know the number is in use and will sell the number on.
Maybe our numbers are on the same scammer database Sad

MustardMitt · 08/01/2021 20:10

Why on earth do you care so much? Who can be bothered calling back numbers and sleuthing online?!

Just wait until they call back and maybe leave a message.

DeathMetalMum · 08/01/2021 20:17

I've had two phone calls today from two very similar number. They have the same first 8 numbers the same as my own number which was strange.

I tried ringing back as they were mobiles and could have been work related, but I got 'the number you have dialed has not been recognised'.

hellolittlebaby · 08/01/2021 20:41

Robo diallers masking their numbers?

LovingLen · 08/01/2021 20:44

If someone rings you and they want you they will leave a voicemail or text you so best to ignore and forget

Whocalledmetoday · 08/01/2021 20:49

@MustardMitt
Why do you even care enough to comment? Grin

The reason why I care is because I was worried it was an important call. I get cold callers probably every other day. I just ignore them. I saw I had three missed calls today and thought they were all the same person! I didn’t realise at first the end three digits were different. So that’s why I called them back and a lady picked up and she replied to my text message. But when I looked back I realise they were all different. The numbers looked genuine which is unlike what I normally get. So I thought I’d call the other two numbers. I did think to myself if it was important they would’ve left a voicemail. And they acted like they never called me so that’s why I was confused.

OP posts:
Cherrypies · 08/01/2021 20:49

About 6 months ago, I kept getting texts and calls from people saying, I am just returning your call, texts saying who are you, got a call from your number, up to approx 50 calls, and more texts, I hadn't called or text a single one!
I got in touch with my provider and they couldn't work out what was going on either, in the end they said my number must have been cloned somehow, the only thing that stopped it, was the provider changing my number.

Thatsnotmynamename · 08/01/2021 20:51

@DeathMetalMum
I opened this thread as I've had exactly the same as you. Two missed calls off mobile numbers the same as mine but with the last two or three digits the different. Thought it was very strange. That was Thursday- nothing today.

Whocalledmetoday · 08/01/2021 20:59

Yes I’ve noticed cold callers tend to use similar numbers. If I forget to block they will call the next day aswell. Even with blocking they will call again with similar number but change the digit on the end.

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 08/01/2021 20:59

I keep my phone on the do mot disturb mode with just calls from numbers I know actually ringing. If I didn't do that I would be called several times a day at least by people trying to sell something or scam me. I wouldnt give unknown numbers any thought at all because if it was important they would use voicemail or text to contact you when you never answer

RidiculousRagdoll · 08/01/2021 21:04

I have also had 2 numbers call me over the past couple of days. They look like uk mobile numbers. Both times they were from the same company saying they wanted to talk to me for 30 seconds. I hung up both times and asked them to stop calling me..weird.

MicroBagel · 27/01/2022 01:58

Have you considered downloading the app truecaller? This isn't an ad. I didn't know "neighbor spoofing" was a thing. The spammers are improving and that app has completely shut them down. I'd at least give it a try. (I made an account to reply)

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