We've all handed over our numbers for competitions or even just for deliveries, and then suddenly seen the number of cold calls rise, and a few years ago I decided to get a phone that did number recognition. I haven't used it to programme in the phone numbers that I use the most though, but I shall - because someone out there has been watching who I call most.
I always make a note of any numbers that call often, and ignore the call entirely, after having listened to see if there is a message. Eventually they stop, usually after about three weeks, selling on our number to a fresh batch of Indians, Africans, Germans or Americans - I always look up any numbers that have been left, although most do not leave a number. They just come up as International. Or Number Withheld.
However, last week my son phoned from Uni, saying that he thinks we have been 'hacked'. Because he was Skyped by a company with a phone number only one digit different from ours, so answered, thinking it was me - and he only uses his Skype number for us, he chose it when he took out the package.
That explained a lot. Since Easter, we have had many calls a day. I have answered them - because they were all so similar to numbers we have for friends, family and work. Someone out there has also bought a Skype package that allows them to make as many calls as they like for free, and that someone has been using numbers that are a close approximation to numbers that we know, in an attempt to get us to answer the phone.
The Telepreference service cannot help, they have no power against computer-generated numbers. All I can do is fill in one of their complaints forms. I have just now received yet another call from a number that is close to a friend's mobile number. Two numbers have been swapped around. I am starting to feel besieged! What with all the salesmen trying to persuade me that I need new bargeboards and a clean roof and isn't my porch looking a bit tired and how about a new drive?