Flippin bloomin silent phone calls and non existent numbers...

[ThatIsNotMyUsername]

I am being plagued by these just now.

Phone rings - either no-one is on the line, or you get a recorded message (something urgent I need to do NOW to avoid disaster, so press 1 NOWWWWWW!!!!!!, or send HMRC a milionty pounds to avoid an audit).

If I try to call back on the number (its usually a mobile these days) but I can't be connected for some reason (not possible or is unavailable).

Now. I get the ones that try to panic you into pressing 1 NOWWWWWW, but the silent ones that are not call-able? What's the scam here... what am I missing?

I get these all the time. I block them more comes, so annoying

We don't only have to get them here, but have to calm down our 94 year old neighbour when she gets them. Have literally just sorted her out a couple of minutes ago because she thought her phone was broken after a mobile number called her and there was no one there. Was a number starting 078 which I have googled and no results for.

We rang our house from her phone and then rang her phone from ours, that helped put her mind at rest as she could tell her phone was ok. We just put the phone down and treat them as a bit of a nuisance but are getting sick of them, but these calls are more than just a nuisance to some people like our neighbour.

The silent ones are usually because they use autodiallers and only one connects to the automated message at a time so, if you’re not first to puck up, you get silence instead of being told they’ve detected unusual activity on your NI number (or whatever) and an international arrest warrant has been issued for you 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

You can't call back as they're using spoof numbers, silent can be to do with them using auto diallers, there's no agent to take the call or as PP said to play the recording.

Don't try calling the numbers back.

It is possible that they have been set up as premium rate numbers and you will be charged for the call even if no-one picks up.

You might want to check your phone bill.

A friend got one from 'HMRC' saying that he owed them about £3k... he was only half paying attention and for a second there... then he told them to come and get him.

It drives me nuts.

If you call back and it doesn’t connect it’s because it’s not a real number and is used to get through instead of a withheld number

That said, I can’t believe that anyone at all falls for these, they’re so publicised now. My local Facebook group is full of “SCAM!!!!” with a screenshot of what is very obviously a scam

They only need one though don't they?

Why on earth would you attempt to ring them back? Firstly that alerts them to the fact that they've got a live one, secondly, as per PP, it could be a premium rate line and next thing you've got a bill for £300 worth of calls and thirdly why don't you just Google the number? It will come up as a scam. There's a site called 'Who Called Me'. Try that.

If you do get a call from an unknown number it's best, if you are going to answer it, to do so but say nothing. The silence will not trigger the automated spiel and it will just ring off - and after that you block the number.

Curiosity. My phone comes up as blank anyway. The new lot aren't even listed they are so new. I know, I know (I could never not pick at a scab!)