Cold call from Private Number about my Telecom account

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Cold call from Private Number about my Telecom account

openmedia

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#146966 4-Jun-2014 14:47

Perhaps Telecom can comment here. I had a call a couple of hours ago that showed up as a Private Number on my mobile.

The caller explained they were from the Telecom call center and wanted to discuss my plan. They knew which plan I was on and wanted to talk about if I was happy etc.

I stopped them at this point and pointed out that I couldn't be sure they were Telecom. The caller stated that because of their call center their numbers always show up as private, but couldn't prove to me that he actually was from Telecom. He then stated that he'd have to end the call and hung up.

Was this Telecom?
If it was then they should have some way of proving that they are Telecom rather than just hanging up on the call.

Personally I'd like to discuss my account with Telecom as at present the Skinny $30 and $40 options are looking far better as they include AU calls.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#1059205 4-Jun-2014 14:54

It may have been but I can follow up if you want me to. I'll need your phone number and the approx time you received the call.

mattwnz

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#1059206 4-Jun-2014 14:55

I would treat any such call as a scam call. There is no reason for a company to withhold the number if they want the call to be seen as being legitimate. What you should do is ask for an extension of the caller, and then phone telecoms advertised number, and be asked to be put through to that extension. I have had scam calls before from people pretending to be from ISPs, there are so many scams going around, due to access of scammers to free VOIP calls from overseas.

DarthKermit

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#1059207 4-Jun-2014 15:02

I think the fact that he hung up on you more or less proves that it was a potential scam.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

mattwnz

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#1059234 4-Jun-2014 16:06

DarthKermit: I think the fact that he hung up on you more or less proves that it was a potential scam.

Possibly. I think if these companies who want to market offers they should send them by post or email, so people have full details, and there is a paper trail I noticed that one electricity company is now advertising that they are no longer going to be cold calling in on people, and I think this is a good thing for unsolicited offers

loceff13

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#1059243 4-Jun-2014 16:56

Sounds alot like the spirit telco stuff to me

DarthKermit

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#1059247 4-Jun-2014 17:09

If they phone back again, play them along until they start asking you personal questions like your DoB or credit card number.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

richms

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#1059279 4-Jun-2014 18:28

I gave fake details to cold callers. Caused one credit card company to freak out and I had to give them a right yelling at.

Perhaps it's time telecom sorted out blocking these scam private and +0000 calls from ever getting thru?

Richard rich.ms

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

mattwnz

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#1059288 4-Jun-2014 18:46

richms: I gave fake details to cold callers. Caused one credit card company to freak out and I had to give them a right yelling at.

Perhaps it's time telecom sorted out blocking these scam private and +0000 calls from ever getting thru?

I don't think they can due to the technology. I would prefer there was a law on cold calling(both phoning and visiting), like there is for unsolicited emails. It should be opt in. I believe there is a 'do not call' register, however that appears to be a voluntary organisation. It is the most vulnerable people in the community that seem to get sucked in by cold calling scams.

richms

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#1059293 4-Jun-2014 19:00

The problem is the real scammers are running from overseas claiming to be a finance company in new York or whatever. And the number of calls work gets offering seo is amazing and some are really pushy.

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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#1059294 4-Jun-2014 19:02

richms: The problem is the real scammers are running from overseas claiming to be a finance company in new York or whatever. And the number of calls work gets offering seo is amazing and some are really pushy.

The SEO ones swamp my email account. If there was a blanket ban on cold calling, then people would know that if someone is phoning them offering some amazing deal, then it is a scam.

Behodar

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#1059323 4-Jun-2014 19:43

A couple of months ago I got a voicemail completely out of the blue from a blocked number, from someone claiming to be from State Insurance. He said that he needed to talk to me, but didn't give a reason, and provided a callback number that wasn't listed on the State site. I assumed that it was a scam and didn't respond... but it ended up being legitimate. Companies sometimes just don't think things through!

Yabanize

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#1059325 4-Jun-2014 19:48

openmedia: Perhaps Telecom can comment here. I had a call a couple of hours ago that showed up as a Private Number on my mobile.

The caller explained they were from the Telecom call center and wanted to discuss my plan. They knew which plan I was on and wanted to talk about if I was happy etc.

I stopped them at this point and pointed out that I couldn't be sure they were Telecom. The caller stated that because of their call center their numbers always show up as private, but couldn't prove to me that he actually was from Telecom. He then stated that he'd have to end the call and hung up.

Was this Telecom?

If it was then they should have some way of proving that they are Telecom rather than just hanging up on the call.

Personally I'd like to discuss my account with Telecom as at present the Skinny $30 and $40 options are looking far better as they include AU calls.

A agree, The Skinny $30 and $40 deals do look very good compared to Telecom's...

I don't see how they can justify charging $9 more. 2degrees does the same for $29

l43a2

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#1059342 4-Jun-2014 19:55

dont forget on the ultra $39 you get 30GB free wifi per month.

richms

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#1059344 4-Jun-2014 20:03

Free wifi would be great if there was a way to make it secure, but as there isnt I dont put much value on it at all as torrenting and other things seem blocked on it.

Richard rich.ms

l43a2

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#1059366 4-Jun-2014 20:12

richms: Free wifi would be great if there was a way to make it secure, but as there isnt I dont put much value on it at all as torrenting and other things seem blocked on it.

Well blocking torrenting is a good thing.....

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