Returning missed calls from random numbers

[beeonmybonnett]

I hate doing this! Someone called me an hour ago. Not using a private caller ID or a unknown number, I can see the actual mobile number in my missed calls list but it isn’t one that’s in my contacts list.

To top it off, they haven’t left a voice Mail either so I’ve absolutely no idea who I’m returning a call to.

I feel really awkward doing it, I’m just like “hello, you called me and I’m just returning your call?”

What does everyone else say?

No voicemail, no callback here. If you want to talk to me and I don't already have your number the least you can do is identify yourself!

Yes I also sometimes Google the number to see if it comes up on the who called me sites.

This number didn’t. I did ring it back and it turned out it was my dentist, not sure why they didn’t leave me a VM though!

Google the number first to at least find out if they're a spam.

It's my advice to never call back an unfamiliar number who didn't leave a voicemail! And to never use a personalized greeting.. here's why:
A lot of scammers will use a computer program to call people, they never make a "cold call" themselves.. if the program calls your number and a human voice is detected, your number is transferred to a database for "live calls" and you will be subject to scam calls forevermore, not only from the original scammers but from whoever they sell the information to! If you use the default greeting and the program calls, it's one computer talking to another (so to speak) and the program doesn't understand what your phone's default greeting is SAYING, it just recognizes that it's not a human voice, so your number will be transferred to a database for "dead calls"... because the phone could be saying that the number is no longer in use.. the call program doesn't differentiate and nobody human is gonna follow up all the hundreds of "dead calls" to learn which is an inactive number or which was using the default greeting... following me so far? And even if you DO use the default greeting, if you call back, your number is put right back in the "live call" database and even if you belatedly put your settings to not answer unfamiliar calls, you're still gonna be a scam-call target for another year or three. JUST NEVER CALL BACK IF THEY DONT LEAVE A MESSAGE!!!!!

Phishing/fraud/spam. Calling back keeps you on their list.

I don't because I don't call back!

I never call back an unknown number , if they want me they will leave a message or call back , it wouldn’t have crossed my mind to call them back

I never call back but someone did ring me one day after I misdialled their number. I knew straight away I'd dialled wrong number and hung up immediately and dialled correctly. Hours later the misdialled number rang me. The caller was quite annoyed at me when I was denying I'd called them. I had genuinely forgotten and didn't realise the call had connected. I'm surprised anyone would ring back 🤷

Just copy the number and paste it into the "who called me uk" website to see if its a scam - you can then log the number there yourself as hot/neutral etc with comments - very handy

I don't return the call. Sometimes I look it up on whocalledme. But if it's a genuine call, they'll leave a voice mail or text or mail instead.

I might make exceptions if I've got a job application in or something.

I would never call back in a situation like this. Why on earth would you? If it was genuine and even slightly important, they’d leave a message.

Put 141 in front of the number if you have to to make the call anonymously but it'll be scam/ sales.

They leave me a message of important, I may google the number but don't worry otherwise I am not calling them back

If l don’t know the number and I’m not expecting a call, I don’t answer, l ignore the ringing. Obviously if l was expecting someone home who had not arrived it would be a different matter.

You call them back ? I'm really surprised anyone does this , unless I'm waiting for a call pfft 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I ignore it.
It's usually the Chinese embassy telling me my visa has expired, or someone telling me there is a warrant out for my arrest due to unpaid taxes.

If someone really needs to contact me they will eave a message or try again.

If I phoned someone and really needed to speak to them I would leave a message, and also call back. I wouldn’t expect anyone to ring me back if I hadn’t left a message asking them to do so, and even then I wouldn’t expect it as so many people don’t listen to their voicemails.
Id never even consider ringing back a missed call with no VM or follow up text.

Like others, I don't call back. If they want me badly enough they'll call back or leave a voicemail.

I get too many of these so my phone is set not to ring if it's an unknown number. Like pp's have said it's most likely scammers/ sales and if important a voicemail will be left. When I'm free I will Google the numbers but rarely it's a legit one and I will have had some other form of communication from them.

I work for a charity, looking after supporters undertaking large scale fundraising projects. They register online and I contact them to offer any help/advice they need.

Nearly everyone answers their phone, despite it being an unknown number. I have learned to introduce myself first, rather than saying 'is that Sue etc?' before I start my spiel. I can hear people visibly relax...

Don't answer and block the number

Just to be clear: id answer a call from a random number. But if it was a missed call, I wouldn't call it back.

I always call back. have a few medical/ OH/ study/ work/ admin bits going on and people don't always keep calling back if i miss a call.

What is the worst that can happen? It's a scam/ cold caller and you say 'no thanks', hang up and block?

"Please note that some providers charge for displaying the caller's phone number.

You should treat all calls from people you do not know with caution because sometimes a telephone number which appears on your screen may not be the real number that the Caller is calling from."

Not a UK site, but I think the advice would still apply?

"Scammers are adept at spoofing phone numbers for caller ID purposes,” he says. So just because a number shares your area code doesn’t mean the caller is from your town. Crooks purposely use familiar area codes to gain your trust.

At the very least, answering the phone or calling back makes you vulnerable to future scams. When you call back not only are you verifying the number is attached to a real person but that you’re willing to make the effort in calling back an unknown number.

Even if you don’t give out personal information to the other line, though, that call could cost you major money. The numbers are sometimes hooked up with 900 numbers such as sex lines that charge by the minute—and it adds up fast.

Be careful even if the person does leave a message, though. So if your bank leaves a voicemail, don’t just call back the number from the missed call. Find the official number online and dial that."

Why You Should Not Call Back an Unknown Number | Trusted Since 1922 (rd.com)