Sexual calls - can I do anything?

[WingingIt101]

I have a very distinctive mobile number - it’s only 4 different digits repeated throughout if that makes sense. I have had this number for around 12 years, moving it with my phone whenever I’ve changed network. I’ve never had a problem with it til about 4 months ago

I was at work and it rang with a “no caller id”. I answered it as I’ve never had any problems and I’m aware sometimes the doctor / hospital called on a blocked number and I was 8months pregnant at the time. Upon answering there was heavy breathing and a Scottish male voice just said “do you want to hear me masturbate?” I hung up immediately and almost dropped my phone.
I’m usually so confident and self assured but it really shook me up. I happened to be working in Wales but live in England. I called the non emergency police number and as I was in Wales got put through to the local force. I told them what happened and they made a report but effectively said there was nothing they could do and to try asking my mobile network for support.
I called 02 who advised there was nothing they could do either as I didn’t have a specific number I could block. In short “get over it”.

That was early March. Nothing since so I put it down to some perv dialling random numbers and mine being distinctive I was unlucky.
Until yesterday. I received another call. Again from a blocked number and again a scottish male voice (I don’t know any Scottish men and if I had to bet I’d say this was a different man but I couldn’t be certain). This time he mumbled something I didn’t catch twice and I’m the third go of me asking him to repeat himself he said very clearly “I heard you had some used underwear for sale” to which I said “absolutely not, where did you get this number” and he hung up. I haven’t bothered reporting as it was a waste of time last time but does anyone know if there’s anything I can do to stop this?? It makes me feel so sick and violated. I don’t want to change my number but I’m worried with the similarities in the calls that my number is on some seedy site (god knows how!) and I would obviously want it taking down if it is!

2 calls 3 months apart. I doubt it's your number on a site. Perhaps a mis-dial. You could try putting your number into Google and see if anything comes up.
Easier to let blocked numbers go to voicemail.

Thank you - the rational part of my brain had what you said as a fleeting thought but disregarded it as it just feels so horrid! I need to give my head a wobble.

I wish I could set it up to not allow calls from blocked numbers!! 02 said this isn’t possible.

You can block private numbers on most 'phones, you don't need the network to do it. It'll be in call settings somewhere.

I have a iPhone and if you go to settings, then phone there is a option there to silence unknown number calls. Could you do that? It says the calls will be silenced and sent to voicemail but will show up on your recent caller list so you would see if you’d had one.

Yes you can block calls from withheld numbers on most phones. Just look in the settings it'll be there somewhere.

If someone like the HNS can't get through to you they will ring from a line with a visible number if it's urgent, or write to you if it isn't.

It sounds as though your number is similar to another that used for bizarre purposes.

Sorry that's a bit garbled, I'm typing over a bowl of porridge.

On my android phone i go to call settings,
Then click on block numbers
Then at the top you should be able to click on block unknown callers. Anybody important will leave a voicemail.

Hope that helps x

NHS won't necessarily ring from a line with a visible number as there may not be any and may not leave a message due to confidentiality.

Also (and I don't work for them!) if anyone has problems with nuisance calls from blocked numbers, there's a company called show me the number. £6 a month and if you reject a private number call (includes if they're blocked on your 'phone) you contact them and they then text you the number that called.

This page describes how to set up call screening on Android phones.

policeandthieves Maybe it varies by area, but here they definitely do call from another number.

I work for the NHS. We don't have any unblocked 'phone lines in most of our buildings.

Beatingthisthing maybe not, but when our local hospital were trying to get hold of DH, they did ring from a line with a number when the calls from a withheld number were being automatically declined.

And that's great. But it doesn't mean that the NHS as a whole will call you from a visible line, as many buildings don't have that option.

Thank you everyone - I didn’t realise I could silence blocked numbers (you’d think 02 would have suggested this when I spoke to them, glad I pay such a lot each month for line rental!!) I’ll do that now!