Vodafone what are your actions to filter out international scammers?

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone what are your actions to filter out international scammers?

RUKI

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#245229 24-Jan-2019 14:45

Known scam:

Incoming international call, usually - two sequential calls with two or 3 rings in anticipation that recipient will dial back without looking at the number and will end up calling paid number. Nuisance.

Highly annoying considering that:

021 number (prepaid) is used for 15 years and NOT advertised or published anywhere in the open media. Phone is NOT connected to the Internet. That 021 number is only used as an emergency number and also registered with the NZ authorities (i.e. IRD, District Health Board to assist elderly and some other reputable NZ authorities) - hence changing to another number is NOT an option.

Actions had been taken recently in that exact order:

- reported to Vodafone as a first port of call - no interest, did nothing

- reported to friendly Police Officer - they are aware of the scam, acknowledged that they also receive those type of calls, suggested to call DIA

- called DIA - not interested - suggested to call Vodafone (end of loop).

Question, what Vodafone is doing to prevent that ongoing scam? Surely you folks can block that numbering range? Note: I did not list last 3 digits as screen is small and I need to manually go to every call to check (can do if the need be):

006120 4997 xxx 24 Jan 2019
006123 1978 xxx 24 Jan 2019
006124 6587 xxx 23 Jan 2019
006124 0429 xxx 21 Jan 2019
006120 4944 xxx 19 Jan 2019
006124 8235 xxx 17 Jan 2019
006124 9452 xxx 17 Jan 2019
006124 9439 xxx 17 Jan 2019
006124 1640 xxx 17 Jan 2019
006124 9127 xxx 11 Jan 2019
006124 0106 xxx 11 Jan 2019
006124 8700 xxx 11 Jan 2019
006124 1501 xxx 11 Jan 2019
006124 2508 xxx 10 Jan 2019
006124 8578 033 10 Jan 2019

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coffeebaron

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#2166984 24-Jan-2019 15:01

You'll be blocking a significant number of legitimate calls. No way you could block 00612x range

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Linux

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#2166992 24-Jan-2019 15:13

coffeebaron:

You'll be blocking a significant number of legitimate calls. No way you could block 00612x range

This!

John

sbiddle

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#2167002 24-Jan-2019 15:34

The simple answer is Vodafone can do very little.

Most of the scammers use valid numbers or number ranges so carriers can't block these.

PolicyGuy

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#2167015 24-Jan-2019 16:01

sbiddle:
The simple answer is Vodafone can do very little.

Most of the scammers use valid numbers or number ranges so carriers can't block these.

Yes
0061-2-xxxx-xxxx is the whole of New South Wales & the Australian Capital Territory

However, if Vodafone can see that these calls don't originate from Australia, they could discard them. That's a big "if" though

My $0.02

Oblivian

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#2167024 24-Jan-2019 16:34

Think you'll find it's not just them

Had some all hours on 2D landline from similar aus ranges and falsified mobile 61-4 CIDs

But to answer, they all signed a code of agreement. Doing anything around that code is another story

https://www.tcf.org.nz/assets/codes/tcf-scam-call-prevention-code-endorsed-16-july-error-corrected.pdf

mudguard

1414 posts

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#2167033 24-Jan-2019 17:08

RUKI:

years and NOT advertised or published anywhere in the open media. Phone is NOT connected to the Internet. That 021 number is only used as an emergency number and also registered with the NZ authorities (i.e. IRD, District Health Board to assist elderly and some other reputable NZ authorities) - hence changing to another number is NOT an option.

Pondering this, is all it takes for that number to be on one other person's phone and there's a risk it's been shared?

I've had spam calls to an emergency prepay phone, it had never made a call, or sent a message, and it coincided with me leaving the phone on for a week. I think they're just automated through number combinations, and if they find a phone that rings (rather than goes to voicemail, like my emergency phone) it will keep ringing it.

Stu1

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#2167035 24-Jan-2019 17:09

Same problem but with a bitcoin outfit that sound russian , they use uk,us and UK codes all I can do is block each call number, Voda have said nothing than can do but change cell number

mattwnz

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#2167037 24-Jan-2019 17:20

In the UK they seem to use a form of capcha system, to ensure the person calling is real, and not a bot caller, by requiring the caller to enter numbers. I am perplexed as to why this doesn't appear to be used by NZ telcos, considering the amount of money being lost by NZers to these scammers.

My rule of thumb these days if I don't recongnise the number on caller display, is to let it go to voice mail to screen it

Oblivian

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#2167042 24-Jan-2019 17:29

mattwnz:
In the UK they seem to use a form of capcha system, to ensure the person calling is real, and not a bot caller, by requiring the caller to enter numbers. I am perplexed as to why this doesn't appear to be used by NZ telcos, considering the amount of money being lost by NZers to these scammers.

My rule of thumb these days if I don't recongnise the number on caller display, is to let it go to voice mail to screen it

User pays
https://i.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/105360600/callblocking-tech-brings-relief-to-nelson-couple-national-trial-planned

TwoSeven

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#2167121 24-Jan-2019 19:04

My feeling it should not be allowable for the originating msisdn and imei to have been modified on an incoming CDR. Especially if the originating BTS (or equivalent hardware) doesnt match the country where the msisdn puports to be from.

Also, I think data coming off a switch should go through a BI/AI filter for pattern recognition at the same time it is sent to the rating system. A simple flag to indicate a pattern is occuring ought to be enough to get someone to look into it.

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NZFINEST

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#2167185 24-Jan-2019 21:11

These calls come in as sip calls. All VF can do or any carrier who's customers are affect by this type of thing this is contact the carrier who is passing the calls to them. Then that carrier sees who is passing the calls to them and so on and so on.

There are tools that can pick the behaviour up pretty quickly, but just can't block that 1 number that's been identified, even if you could block that 1 number they would jjust use another

TwoSeven: My feeling it should not be allowable for the originating msisdn and imei to have been modified on an incoming CDR. Especially if the originating BTS (or equivalent hardware) doesnt match the country where the msisdn puports to be from.

- this would stop users being able to use there hand sets overseas

Anything I suggest or say is my own thoughts and not provided by anyone else unless stated

richms

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#2167191 24-Jan-2019 21:52

They could allow users to have a filter if they choose to. I have no reason to expect that I would get a call from anyone outside of NZ, so if they put a filter in the app that I could turn on that would solve problems like this.

Another problem I found recently with using software on the phone to filter calls is that it doesnt work when already on a call, so while I was talking to someone I had about 3 calls come in and hit the call log from BS international numbers.

Richard rich.ms

MadEngineer

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#2167206 24-Jan-2019 22:45

MadEngineer:
I've successfully had a few of these callers blocked through the online chat option https://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/chat/chat-ninja/ here.

Simply state that you received a spam/scam call, provide your first + last name, your mobile number, the offending caller and the time. Job done.

First time I did this, "Ambrose" suggested I use this rather dodgy app:

Chat
Status: Connected
Ambrose (Responding)
Ambrose: Hi, my name is Ambrose.
Ambrose: Good afternoon! Welcome to Vodafone's Ninja Expert chat services. I will be glad to assist you.
: hi, i want to report a scam call i received ealier
Ambrose: Please do not worry.
Ambrose: Surely, I will help you to block all those numbers
Ambrose: Thanks for briefing me about your query. I assure you that I am committed to resolve your query in this first contact of yours.
Ambrose: Could you please share your mobile number?
: 021[removed]
Ambrose: Thank you for sharing your mobile number.
: so im reporting this as suggested by the nz telecommunications forum
Ambrose: Okay.
: which vodafone is a member of.
Ambrose: No worries!
Ambrose: Could you share with me those numbers and time you received call, so I can go ahead and make investigation on it and block those numbers.
: call came up on my phone as being from 027025[removed], time of 11:08am this morning
Ambrose: Alright, do you have any other numbers?
: just that one this morning
Ambrose: Okay. Thank you so much for this information.
Ambrose: Actually, most of NZ people are getting these scam calls. Recently there was a news published in NZ media about this and Vodafone is taking care of his customers and start blocking and investigating those scam calls.
: yes, im aware of the scam call prevention code
Ambrose: Could you please share your full name.
: [removed]
Ambrose: Thank you so much for share your name.
Ambrose: I have raise successfully investigation request for this number and also block this number as well.
Ambrose: Also, if possible your can also download a third party app like" True caller" or Phone app where you directly block the calls from your call log.
: ok, thank you
Ambrose: You're welcome!
Ambrose: Kindly let me know if I can be of any other help today.
: that is all

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

RUKI

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#2201926 19-Mar-2019 19:04

coffeebaron:

You'll be blocking a significant number of legitimate calls. No way you could block 00612x range

No I will not. People from Australia, UK, USA communicate with me using other means, not mobile phone.

I've asked Vodafone (via 777) if they can block ANY incoming calls from overseas on my number and they said NO :-( Really? Why?

Wonder if that is so hard? I do not expect anyone to call me from overseas. As long as it is NOT from NZ - I do not want to receive any calls.

Is that something Vodafone could possibly arrange for on my prepay number? Even if it cost one-off administration fee - I'll be happy.

P.S. I am still getting those calls. I delete those from the call history immediately - to not accidentally "pocket dial" them ...

Linux

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#2201945 19-Mar-2019 19:18

@RUKI 777 said no as the option is not there or the functionality

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