Think I've been scammed, please help ASAP

[fortyforty]

Just had a phone call from a mobile number, answered it as expecting a call from a family member who's number I don't have stored. Ever since then (30 minutes ago) I've had 180 missed calls from different numbers. I've had texts saying 'you just rang me. Who is this?'

I'm on hold to Vodafone but clearly their customer services are in another country and she doesn't have a clue what I'm saying.

What the hell is going on? I'm having what's app calls and everything. I'm answering none of them. Has my phone number been hacked? Help please.

Sounds like you've been 'spoofed'.

Someone has spam called a series of numbers and somehow made it look as if it was your number that originated the call.

Scary.

It's over 1000 now. I'm not slating Vodafone at all. I know it's not their fault. I just got through to a lovely bloke who was sorting it and then it cut off due to my phone constantly ringing.

I feel I do need to change my number as I've had a fair few nasty messages from the same numbers asking me why I've rung and then just hung up. I'd rather just start a fresh. Really annoying though

What do they actually get out of this though? Is there any profit in it anywhere? I don't really understand it

Original call is made from spammers to targets, they pretend to be you so it looks like a normal UK number that isn't on spam lists. They'll be trying to sell something or con personal details out of people or be one of those PPI schemes or something. You're just getting fallout from people who missed the actual call from the spammers who then call back to see who called them.

Strangely enough Op I had a missed call yesterday from an international number (US) when I had no cause for one. I didn't call it back and given what is happening to you I'm wondering if it was part of the same sort of thing. If it had been a mobile number I would have called or at the very least texted without really thinking, potentially adding to someone's spoofing-related stress! It's so scary that people are able to do things like this.

I hope it's sorted for you soon and think that changing your voicemail would be a good idea even if you don't want to reply to the messages at least it should stem the flow of people ringing multiple times. Good luck!

I've literally just joined so I can post this message. I had the exact same thing happen to me at work a few weeks ago (on a landline!)
A weird phone call, followed by call after call of people asking me why I'd phoned them. Our phone line is with BT so I called them, and they ran some tests, nothing. In the end I unplugged our internet and a few hours later when I turned it back on it was fine. Perhaps try turning off your wifi for a bit?

They will dial 100 people - and only speak tot he first 20 who pick up - leaving 80 unanswered calls

You must have had those calls where it takes ages to ‘hear’ the caller? That’s them connecting to your phone.

So OP is left with the fall out

I had this about 18 months ago. Same situation was waiting for a call so answered the unknown number. I changed my number (for free). It was annoying but probably the only way to stop it. I now get people to text me first or let it go to vm & call them back.

With true caller (I just had a look as I often get nuisance type calls) does it block calls from ‘unknown’ number or withheld? Dc doctor calls on an unknown number so wouldn’t want to block calls like that?

Just block and move on. Scams from many countries abound.

Block hundreds of numbers

I think OP's problem is on a slightly bigger scale than being able to block and move on!

OP, I thin the only solution it to get Voda to change your number

I don’t understand how they can make it look like they are calling from op’s number when they are not.

I don’t understand how they can make it look like they are calling from op’s number when they are not.

The hijack the number.

Not a uk article, but same thing

www.google.co.uk/amp/amp.abc.net.au/article/9719820

Just block and move on

That would be total waste of time, it's not the same person ringing over 600 times!

Have you recorded the voicemail yet OP? I recorded one saying, 'If you received a call from this number my number has been used by scammers to coldcall you - It's called spoofing and you can Google it. Please block this number on your phone and the scammers will stop using it. Thank you.' I texted something similar to the few texts I had.

The calls stopped within a couple of hours of people blocking me. As soon as people start blocking you your number becomes useless to the scammers. I know it feels awful and intrusive but these are proactive steps you can take to make it stop!

Thanks everyone, I ended up with over 6000 calls! I had to go to my parents house to use their landline to call Vodafone. I got through to someone nice and he said it was the worst case he had heard of. My number is now changed. No more calls. However I'm still getting texts. Maybe 3/4 a minute. Hoping these will die down. I'm thinking it's maybe just a backlog that need to come through. Don't know how with the number being changed.

Glad you got it sorted, I imagine the texts will be a backlog as sometimes they do take a while to come through if it’s busy.

I am surprise that many people called a number they didn’t recognise

@EffOrf me too! I never ring back missed calls. I always google the number or put it on fb to try find out. I've all to do with either ppi or car accident claims judging by the replies I've had from very angry people.

😱 6000 that ridiculous. Glad you got sorted OP

@fortyforty Do you have an iphone? Check whether the texts you are getting are actual text messages or imessages. If the latter, you will need to go into settings and update it to your new number

OMG that is horrendous, how stressful, sorry you had to change your number.

I have been getting around 5 calls a day from different numbers for the past month, they all have a +49 country code (Germany). I block the call and I then get a call from a different number, however with the same country and area code. 5 a day is manageable to block, hoping it doesn't get worse.

Sounds awful.

I'm surprised so many people call back if they don't know the number, I'd presume wrong number and ignore!