To warn you about this mobile number?

[ChancesWhatChances]

It’s a HMRC scam, received a phone call from this mobile number. There was an automated voice telling me the call was from HMRC about a tax fraud case opened in my name, if I didn’t press 1 to connect the call an arrest warrant would be issued and the police would arrive immediately. I hung up and submitted a suspicious call form to HMRC, but it took a few seconds for my brain to click it was a scam (I’ve never had a phone call scam, only text message ones!).

Would it be against talk guidelines to post the phone number here just in case anyone wants to forewarn anyone they think might fall for it?

[HazelBite]

I have at least 3 scam calls a day to my landline, I think this is due to my landline number being used (and advertised) for DH's business, he is a builder.
I lift the receiver up and don't speak because your voice sets off a lot of the pre-recorded scam messages.
The worst I have had recently was someone phoning me at 8am Saturday morning claiming to be from a company that I have household appliance insurance with (maintenance etc) the caller had a very very poor grasp of the English language and sounded like she was talking from a room where there were many other peple talking on phones, which made me suspicious as I have had dealings with them recently and their operatives are all working from home!
I was told that my cover on my washer dryer had been cancelled and I needed to set it up again, strange as the company had been out to repair it just 2 days earlier!!
I rang off, and later in the day rang the company on the number I normally use, yes it was a scam, but if I had not had recent dealings with said company I might have accepted it as being legit,
How they got my details and knew that I dealt with this company I don't know?

[Yumyumdindins]

I once had a scam caller ring through to the control room of the Police station were I worked. They were trying to tell me that my internet security was compromised. I kept asking them if they realised they had rung through to an actual police station but he kept insisting that he hadn't done anything of the sort and that I really did need to check my internet. I said I'd pass him onto the IT department for the force and hung up

[endlesswicker]

@Mabelface

Don't forget bt openreach telling you that your WiFi is slow so can you just pop in to your computer and input this code.

I had one of these - they interrupted me watching a live stream of Punxatawney Phil eyeing up his shadow on Groundhog Day the other week. I told them my wifi seemed fine to me.

[MrsJBaptiste]

Just don't answer your phone if you don't recognise the number.

If it's a genuine call, they'll leave a message. If it's a scam or someone selling something then you've dodged it.

[butterpuffed]

In addition do NOT press 1 and respond, no matter how much fun you may get. All you are doing is saying it is a live number and you will get more scams as your number will be sold on.

It's often worse..you return the call and it costs you a small fortune.

[whatchathinkaboutthat]

OP I got the exact same call today too! I hung up!

[monstermissy]

This happened to me today.... I just hung up 🤷‍♀️

[Spied]

I had one from a man who told me his name was Harry and I was being investigated for tax evasion.
Later in the day I accidentally pressed 'Harry's' number on my phone and he answered straight away and seemed to be talking japanese

[Thorilicious]

The last one I had was from 'Sky', wanting to secure my Internet, as malicious things were being downloaded under my name.
The lady didn't know what to say when I said I had a massive porn habit, so if it was that, it wasn't malicious, it was me

[Pinkfreesias]

My husband regularly gets a similar recorded voice call, but saying that his NI number has been compromised and, if he doesn't press 1 and give full ID details, a warrant for his arrest will be issued.

We can laugh it off, but I worry very much about older people who might be taken in by this kind of fraud. These scammers are sick, cruel individuals.

[FadedRed]

On the landline I would say 90% of the calls are this nonsense. Seriously considering getting rid, but then we would get more on mobiles I imagine. Mostly leave it to go to ansaphone.
Rarely give my mobile number when ordering stuff over t’interweb, but did last week 🤦‍♀️ when ordering some sportswear from a well known sportswear manufacturer- since then I have been getting lots of text messages from various female named ‘people’ who apparently want lots of hot sex with me’. Nice........

[tenlittlecygnets]

My 13yo ds got this call on his mobile the other day. He was savvy enough to realise it was a scam and hang up.

[rainbowunicorn]

Please do not take the so called advice from previous posters telling people to press 1 and keep them occupied. You could end up with a phone bill for hundreds of pounds. Sometimes the scam is you pressing 1 and are transferred to a premium rate number. All the people thinking they are being clever by keeping them occupied are taking a rsik of this. The first you will know about it is when you get the phone bill in,

[Sockbogies]

I've worked with automated diallers before. If you answer the phone the dialler knows it's a live line and will keep calling (and can use different caller IDs to do this). These diallers can be set to play automated messages or pass the live call through to an agent (hence a few seconds delay before someone starts talking).

Agree with previous posters, ignore numbers you don't recognise.

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

Oh Lord, these scam calls are so bloody tiresome.

When I opened my shop I was obviously a bit headless chicken. We hadn't had any letters about utility bills - electrics - so when I got a call claiming to be from a small business government initiative intent on getting us the best, most economical and environmentally friendly deals I was actually suckered in. They had just enough information to sound genuine and I agreed to a deal with a particular commercial supplier that sounded good, and it was all agreed, done and dusted over the phone.

The next day the same people rang and said they had found an even better deal - as I had already committed to the first I became suspicious and finally had time to do the googling I should have done in the first place.

Turns out it was a brokerage firm, and the reviews of the firm I had signed up to were less than stellar. I tried to back out but official procedures had been followed and I couldn't get out of it - commercial suppliers are not covered by the same 14 day caveat that domestic suppliers are.

I refused to set up a direct debit, pay by card every month exactly what I owe and explain every time why, and have been with them for four years now, without undue issues but it really taught me a lesson that will not be repeated.

Every couple of weeks I get a call allegedly from the supplier I'm with about renewing my contract - when the first lockdown came it was because despite the contract having been renewed "Covid" had delayed the necessary paperwork and I had to sign up all over again yadda yadda. The first time I declined politely, took the number they were calling from and checked with my suppliers directly who confirmed it was nothing to do with them - yet another foreign operated call centre brokerage "scam". Which I now tell them every time they call up, especially when they spout out of date details or fish for information, before hanging up.

So some scams are obvious and some not so - I'm not completely stupid but when you're under pressure and distracted something more sophisticated can fly under your radar. I'm now pretty paranoid.......

[TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]

Don't press 1 or any other number, as you may initiate a premium rate call.which is what some of the scam calls want you to do.

[Justanotherlurker]

Just install the whitepages app onto your phone and it will filter out the obvious robocalls and scams, you still need to be somewhat dilligent on unknown numbers but it would have filtered out the fake HMRC call.

Also be more aware of inputting your mobile number into websites, your phone number/data has a value, even if you never pick up the phone.

[MarshaBradyo]

Yes I’m had this a few times and hung up straight away

[Itsokthanks]

What would be the point in sharing the number. It's a well known scam that unless you're incredibly naive you won't fall for.

[Bluntness100]

If you wind them up too much they can start to repeatedly call you. It was the calling from micro soft windows one I upset. I kept him going for ages and he at some point realised I was taking the piss.and got really weird, started asking me if I was a Christian. He ended up getting really angry and when I hung up, he or one of his colleagues, then repeatedly called me back. Went on for about a week where I couldn’t answer the phone. It was constant.

Now I just shout loudly and repeatedly “I can’t hear you, speak up” they give up and hang up.

[partyatthepalace]

Oh I got one of these today - but it was about my national insurance number about to be cancelled and if I didn’t ring them up and blah I would be arrested... never had it before. Guess I’m on the list now 😕

[FeelthewrathofthesuperRad]

We get similar in Australia too, I’ve had one about my tax file number.

[Eyesofdisarray]

Youtube has some very entertaining videos on these types of scammers.
Worth a watch.😄

[lioncitygirl]

I always answer in different accents and keep on on for as long as I can. Today I was Russian. 😂

[Mittens030869]

I had a call like this. The man on the other end was very aggressive about telling me that I was about to be arrested for tax fraud, as my mobile number had been used in various criminal activities.

I went as far as giving them my NI number, them handed my phone to my DH. The man at the other end backed down very quickly then.

We reported it to the police on 101. The lady we spoke to was lovely and reassured me that criminals wouldn’t be able to use my NI number in any criminal activity.

I also keep getting scam text messages. These have been much easier to identify as scams.

I keep blocking their numbers but then more texts come from other numbers. They could be very convincing to someone vulnerable (like my DB), especially as they offer the free gift of an iPhone 6.