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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be suspicious of this call?

61 replies

TheBananaStand2 · 23/01/2019 11:29

I just missed a call from a number I don’t know. I’m travelling on a train, that just went through a town that I don’t live in, and that, as far as I know, is not home to any people I know or services I use. The missed call was from a number with this town’s area code. I just noticed Bluetooth is on on my phone, which it isn’t, usually. AIBU to think that somehow my number got sent over the network as I passed through this town on the train, and now I’m getting spam calls? I googled the number: no results. They didn’t leave a message, either. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

OP posts:
JudgeRindersMinder · 23/01/2019 11:32

If I miss a call from an unknown number I call it back and ask who they were looking for. I find it causes a lot less angst than conspiracy theories

Mistigri · 23/01/2019 11:34

If it's important they will leave you a message or text you.

Original poster
TheBananaStand2 · 23/01/2019 11:36

Great advice, judge! Thanks for your suggestion.

OP posts:
Firesuit · 23/01/2019 11:58

If I miss a call from an unknown number I call it back and ask who they were looking for

I wouldn't do that, on the grounds that it might be a £50 a minute number operated by a scammer. Or something of that nature.

Firesuit · 23/01/2019 11:59

I get texts that are meant to be mistaken for a missed call notification, to try and persuade me to call the scam number.

RestingBitchFaced · 23/01/2019 12:00

I would just block the number

toomuchfaster · 23/01/2019 12:04

I assume a genuine caller would leave a message so I ignore if I don't know the number and then assume ambulance chaser if no ansafone alert. I would never ring an unknown number back due to scam risk.

Loseitandkeepitlost · 23/01/2019 12:04

Google the phone number.

Waspnest · 23/01/2019 12:06

Definitely don't call back (for reasons given previously). Sometimes I google the number just to see if other people have reported it.

JustfiedandAncient · 23/01/2019 12:07

Just Google the number?

Hanumantelpiece · 23/01/2019 12:08

Turn Bluetooth off, block and delete the number.

CloserIAm2Fine · 23/01/2019 12:08

Just ignore it. If it’s genuine they’ll call back or would have left a message.

Catsandbootsandbootsandcats · 23/01/2019 12:10

I have my Bluetooth on all the time and that's never happened.

If it's important enough they'll leave a message or ring back. Most of the time it's PPI or accident claims. Which is why I rarely bother answering my phone.

TheMaddHugger · 23/01/2019 12:11

JustfiedandAncient 😝OP says right there in her OP that she Did google the number.

" I googled the number: no results.

Piffle11 · 23/01/2019 12:12

Don't call back! This is often how the spam calls generate money. Anyone genuine will leave a message. I get quite a few spam calls: if I don't recognise the number I let it ring, and if they don't leave a message I google it - often it has been reported as a scam number. Then I block it. These numbers often don't ring for long - maybe 4 rings or so - because they want you to ring them back.

SpoonBlender · 23/01/2019 12:13

No, bluetooth does not share your phone number out. They're entirely separate things, bluetooth doesn't know or use telephone numbers.

Piffle11 · 23/01/2019 12:14

In answer to your question, OP - because I just realised I totally ignored your question - no, that's never happened to me. I do get quite a few calls from seemingly local numbers, but I don't answer them if I don't recognise them. Genuine ones always leave a message.

Tighnabruaich · 23/01/2019 12:19

You can Google 'Who Phoned Me' and you put in the number that rang you. That will tell you if it's a marketing company, scam, whatever - and you usually get comments from others who have had calls from the number.

ReanimatedSGB · 23/01/2019 12:20

I never answer calls from unknown numbers, because it's never going to be anything I want to hear. If it's urgent, they can text.

Missingstreetlife · 23/01/2019 12:21

What does it matter? Ignore it, if it repeats and is a nuisance block it.

Jaxhog · 23/01/2019 12:21

If its a genuine caller, they'll leave a message or call back. I get quite a lot of random sales calls as I run my own business (I presume?), and would never call back an unknown number.

Romanov · 23/01/2019 12:22

If I miss a call from an unknown number I call it back and ask who they were looking for

I wouldn't do that, on the grounds that it might be a £50 a minute number operated by a scammer. Or something of that nature.

me too - if its important they will call back

marymarkle · 23/01/2019 12:22

Wrong number? I have called wrong numbers before.

TornFromTheInside · 23/01/2019 12:23

No, your number doesn't get sent over the network, and not over Bluetooth

Jaxhog · 23/01/2019 12:24

As poster @Tighnabruaich said, you can always check on 'who phoned me'. Although I would only do that if they persisted. It's almost always a spam call. Those you can then block.

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