Can anything be done about phone calls from "the technical department of spark"?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Can anything be done about phone calls from "the technical department of spark"?

LesF

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#249103 25-Apr-2019 16:15

I've had enough of these scammers who don't seem to be able to understand, if they failed to con anybody here after 5 calls, that maybe they should just remove my number from their calling list.

At least every 2 weeks I am getting this call from "the technical department of spark".

My responses have been things like "No, you are not, you are lying to me", or "Do you ever feel bad about stealing money from people?". This is followed immediately by the caller disconnecting.

Does anybody investigate these scammers?

Can anything be done to stop them?

--
Les

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#2224958 25-Apr-2019 16:48

Disconnect your home line

lNomNoml

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#2224959 25-Apr-2019 16:48

I personally like it when they call, gives me someone to talk to so I don't feel lonely.

You can try changing your number, not sure if you are getting it on your mobile number or landline.

msukiwi

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#2224962 25-Apr-2019 16:59

Had one from the Spark Technical Department! (2D Landline)

Said try again, as I'm NOT a SPARK customer!

Hi....this is .... from the Vodafone Technical Department!

Wrong again, I say!

Before he tried another Telco name, I pointed out his lying pedigree and hung up!

They STILL try again in a week or two!

Very frustrating!

DarthKermit

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#2224963 25-Apr-2019 17:13

Get a loud whistle and hopefully rupture their eardrums.

lNomNoml

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#2224965 25-Apr-2019 17:20

DarthKermit:

Get a loud whistle and hopefully rupture their eardrums.

Make them turn up their volume first but speaking softly. :D

kiwiharry

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#2224971 25-Apr-2019 17:29

The last one I had I pleaded with him to please cancel my account and that I don't want the internet anymore. That got him confused. Haven't had a call since then.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

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Jase2985

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#2224973 25-Apr-2019 17:35

i pick up the call then say nothing, if people wanted to talk they would say hello, or ar you there, if not they hang up. easy.

Gurezaemon

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#2225007 25-Apr-2019 20:34

Given they often call right in the middle of dinner, I have had lots of success in putting the phone on speaker, and giving it to my 7-year-old with instructions to ONLY talk about video game characters. They don't usually last long.

Linux

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#2225009 25-Apr-2019 20:38

Last one I got at work, I said fantastic thanks for calling Spark owe me a refund can you help me with that first it's few hundred dollars

MadEngineer

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#2225015 25-Apr-2019 21:03

See my posts here:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=230555&page_no=5

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

quickymart

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#2225065 25-Apr-2019 22:22

Linux:

Last one I got at work, I said fantastic thanks for calling Spark owe me a refund can you help me with that first it's few hundred dollars

That's actually pretty clever, I'm going to steal that and use it next time I get a call.

Last one of these types of calls I had was from the "Windows support department" (to my Mum's landline). The moron called back 5 times and got quite abusive when I told him he was a scammer. He called me an a'hole. I should have asked to speak to his manager...

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colinuu

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#2225072 25-Apr-2019 22:35

Use Caller-ID, and don't answer calls from unrecognised numbers. If the call is genuine they will leave a message and you can call back.

It takes a while to take effect, but it's now quite a long time since we had one of these calls.

LesF

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#2225073 25-Apr-2019 22:37

lNomNoml:

I personally like it when they call, gives me someone to talk to so I don't feel lonely.

You can try changing your number, not sure if you are getting it on your mobile number or landline.

These calls are on our landline. We don't use it for much, we just keep it for the sake of a few older relatives who prefer it.

I get the impression they are calling a range of numbers so changing it is probably only a short-term solution.

The problem with 'someone to talk to' is that they don't try very hard, as soon as they realize you aren't about to play along and hand over remote access to your PC they hang up.

--
Les

hio77

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#2225127 25-Apr-2019 23:17

Last time I got one of these calls.... It was straight to my work ddi..

Those calls stopped very quickly... ;)

As the tfc say...

If you receive an unexpected phone call, be cautious and hang up; then call back the company, agency or individual who is claiming to contact you on a number you can find published online or in the phone book. It may be inconvenient, but it minimises risk and helps to protects you against phone fraud.

We recommend reporting any instances of suspected scam calls to your telecommunications provider, so they can investigate the matter and block the number if necessary.

More information can be found at scamwatch.govt.nz including a list of agencies who can help if you think you've been a victim of a scam.

When it's reported there is industry wide processes followed to assist in defending against it.

As always though, it's cat and mouse unfortunately.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

nunz

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#2225132 25-Apr-2019 23:29

Play the yes game. Just answer every thing they say with yes. Eventualy they catch on but it annoys the snot out of them as you have wasted their time and stopped them scamming a person who is less savy for a few minutes.

either that - tell them the phone you are on has a battery going flat and see if you can get them to call you back on an 0900 number. 0900 87233 is trade mes at $2 per mniutes. or 0900 naked - naked bus is about the same. Tried to find more expensive ones but searching 0900 porn numbers or tarot numbers on my computer will get me busted for all the wrong reasons.

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