Phone call scams - how do they get your details?

[mechanicalpencil]

Received a phone call from an ordinary looking mobile number. Said they were from Three and offered me a 45% discount on my bill and asking for my details.
When I asked their name they hung up.

How do they know my details? Has there been a data breach?

They don't know your details. That's why they ask.

They know my name, my telephone number and that I have a contract with Three.

Which details of yours did they have? Your name? Anything else? If it was just phone number then it's usually through somewhere where you entered your details like a competition or something but it's just used to skim data. Then they sell it on.

I wouldn't panic though. I think everyone has received at least one scam call at some point.

Just block the number.

usually they don't. they just call a number (automated dialling system) and assume you are a customer of one of the country's biggest phone providers.

or you forgot to untick something when buying stuff off the internet and your dara was sold on.

or your details were stolen in one of the many, many, many company hacks. like the m&s/co-op one earlier this year.

Three have probably sold your name and the fact you are a customer to various companies (they do that - unless you tick the box not too) and once that's out there it's apparently easy for scammers to get that information.
But they wouldn't have known anything else which is why they asked.
They were pretty crap scammers though if they gave up that easily.

I don’t have a three account. I still get spam calls wanting to talk about my Three account

They don't know you've got a contract with Three. They call everyone, probably using a random digit dialler and rely on the law of averages that 1/100 times they'll believe they have the right details and fall for the scam. I get calls claiming to want to discuss my contract with EE all the time. I don't have an EE contract.

The three thing is probably a guess. The name and number is probably where you entered it somewhere sketchy. Contact three if you're worried.

Companies that you buy things from online sell your personal details. Sometimes it's not even online purchases, but regular stores that do it. Whenever we used to purchase anything big from CurrysPCWorld you could predict that the next week you'd start receiving spam calls.

If you think places actually adhere to gdpr you're naive I'm afraid.

Lots of businesses have a customer database that isn't quite as well-protected from hackers as it should be.

I get the scam Evri text repeatedly (telling me that they couldn't deliver my parcel, asking me to fill in a form and then pay £3.75 for redelivery, but having to put in all my bank details in order to pay). But the crucial thing for me is that I ONLY get the text when I'm expecting a delivery from Evri...

So I reckon there's a leak there somewhere. I don't get all that many deliveries, and often if I'm expecting one I have no idea which company is delivering. As soon as I get the scam text I think 'oh, must be coming from Evri then'. It's ridiculous.

It's very easy to find out someone's name and number.

The rest is just guesswork. If you message enough people and mention an account with X company, it won't be long before you're successful.

Years ago, I remember the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). started. You could register your number, to NOT receive cold calls.
Friend's graduate son needed money and took work phoning people to make double glazing appointments. His supervisor handed him a wodge of pages pulled out of the local phone book! This was about 20+ years ago. The TPS meant nothing. It's nothing new. We all just need our wits about us.

The moment i know they are scammers the game begins.
Yesterday had a call after about 60 seconds i knew it was a scammer he asked for my address i said im homeless and sleep in the park he hung up.
Also other times ive spoken in thai.
My new one is to ask what country you calling me from.
Or i act like a idiot having a melt down because know one loves me.
And sometimes i say hi all calls are recorded hello welcome to xxxx police HQ how can i help.
Each one hangs up.
My list goes on.

If you load the Wotcha app on your mobile - it will pick up and warn you of likely scam calls incoming. Doesn't work all the time - but does help. Having been nearly scammed on that whatsapp son/daughter lost phone scam - I dont answer calls from unknown numbers. If its important they will leave a message.

I used to always give my landline number when I ordered stuff online. Since I started giving my mobile number i have been getting scam calls I get on that as well.

I assume it's from companies selling data, hacking, as for everything else they just try it on. I get messages about parcels I'm not expecting and messages from banks I don't have an account wit(. They cast their net wide.

I wouldn't worry about them knowing anything very much about you in particular, it's just the scourge of our time.

Many of them use very out of date phone books/directories. We took over the landline number when we moved in here - 18 years ago - and still get calls from "Mike at Amazon" or "Sarah from Microsoft" looking for the previous owner.

It might also be a coincidence about Three. I’ve had scam texts and emails about various companies I do not have contracts with and never have. I assume they just go for a scattergun approach.

I reckon it's employees selling data to make a bit of money on the side. Some people would sell their granny for a few bob, so someone's data is easy pickings.

I've had a spate of calls recently asking for me by name and knowing my car registration number. They then want to help me claim against the diesel scandal. I have never owned a diesel car in my life.

It's either the DVLA, my insurer, the insurer of the person that drove into me or the garages that I've used since having this car.

Thanks everyone, I have learned some very useful information.

@smallglassbottle
I didn't know this! Thank you.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat
yes, I have had that scam too before and yes always around the time I am about to have a parcel delivered, sometimes just after it has been delivered.

@bloodredfeaturewall what box is it I need to look out for please?

I’ve noticed this and only with Evri. I only pay attention to any info that comes via the app.