To ask how scammer knew my first name

[DonnaWinter]

I get a lot of these calls from spoof numbers (usually a UK city but when you call it back it doesn’t connect). They usually claim to be from O2 and it’s nearly always someone with a South Asian accent.

Iv never had an 02 account so always know it’s a scam right away. I answered one on Friday and the guy said “Hello Donna, it’s 02”. I was a bit rattled and said “how do you know my name?”, he said “because we have ALL your details”. I said “what details?” and he immediately hung up.

I always thought these calls were opportunistic to random numbers, it’s worrying that they had my name. For clarity I have zero social media presence, absolutely none, so it’s not from that. Anyone else had this experience?

The Edited register is what you're referring to and it does not contain phone numbers or email addresses.

Easy. WhatsApp is owned by Meta. Meta own Facebook. QED, Facebook know who you are if you are on WhatsApp.

Also, I think all of those messaging services are lumped under the umbrella of social media these days, even though I agree with you in that they used to be 1:1 messaging services.

They buy them

One scammer did know my name and said he was calling from O2. When I asked him to delete my information, he told me he was a very experienced hacker. I hanged up on him and reported the call. It was very unsettling, known my name and for a stranger calling themselves hacker.

For next time it’s best to put down the phone rather than asking them to delete etc.

I've blocked all unknown callers, I can't be bothered with the phone ringing, they can text me or leave a voicemail if it's important. I don't get calls from the NHS as I haven't seen them about anything.

@DonnaWinter they do know your real name. But just don't confirm it on the phone then they can't do anything.

Your name will be on the publicly available electoral register (unless you've opted out of it being public).

They nearly always know my name. I just don’t answer now or if I accidentally answer I hang up straight away.

I hate it. I nearly got scammed last year, felt so stupid that I nearly got caught. Now I enjoy playing them. I assumed the mumsnet breach of my data many years ago didn't help.

This is what I do, my understanding is that any response shows the number is active so best to ignore them check the number via a Google search afterwards. Similarly with WhatsApp, had a couple of random messages from unknown people on there which fortunately I did not respond to.
My data breach was via my water company; they sent a letter telling me about it 6months later, big help (not!)

You don't give a phone number or email address when you register to vote

@DonnaWinter thank goodness an upstanding and believable posted like this has come along with an offer of help. You are so thoughtful @agata4151

🤣🤣