Bot scam calls

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Bot scam calls

DarrenJ

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#240299 31-Aug-2018 19:58

We've had a few scam phone calls today from a "Spark" person about broadband.

Usually, convo is along lines of "(long pause) Hello it's xyz from spark" ( long pause) " how are you today?" (long pause) "We are calling about your spark broadband" (pause) <disconnect>

Pretty sure its a Bot auto dialing numbers.

Looked up the caller IP and it's coming from Callplus and source phone number showed Singapore country code, and France country code.

Tried to call Vocus to let them know to do whatever blocking they need to. Got after hours message, then hold music then hung up from their end.

Anyone else had similar things today?

Linux

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#2082049 31-Aug-2018 20:29

Just Today? You are aware this goes on all day every day?

John

MichaelNZ

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#2082053 31-Aug-2018 20:39

Outrageously annoying but unfortunately the flipside of cheap VoIP calling.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

DarrenJ

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#2082056 31-Aug-2018 20:47

Linux: Just Today? You are aware this goes on all day every day?

John

First time I've had one like this that was a bot. Usually its indian call center scammers and you can have a bit of fun :)

sbiddle

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#2082078 31-Aug-2018 21:27

Linux: Just Today? You are aware this goes on all day every day?

John

Seems to have been a massive influx of these calls particularly today. I know a few people who had even mentioned being called today who have never had callers before.

bananamaster

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Vocus

#2082106 31-Aug-2018 23:41

Hi, can you please PM me the scam call details (A-party number, B-party number and the time of the call), I'll have a look.

mattwnz

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#2082107 1-Sep-2018 00:15

Amazing that telcos in NZ still don't seem to have a captcha type system, were callers type in a pin after hearing some numbers. I was told by one telco when I mentioned it to them that it was a great idea, but noone has done it here that I can see. Could save the country millions from these scammers. Personally I don't answer calls unless I know the number that shows up on caller display. Instread I let the answerphone answer it, which allows me to screen them for scam calls. Sad reality of todays world with all these scammers.

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Oblivian

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#2082108 1-Sep-2018 00:44

mattwnz:

Amazing that telcos in NZ still don't seem to have a captcha type system, were callers type in a pin after hearing some numbers. I was told by one telco when I mentioned it to them that it was a great idea, but noone has done it here that I can see. Could save the country millions from these scammers. Personally I don't answer calls unless I know the number that shows up on caller display. Instread I let the answerphone answer it, which allows me to screen them for scam calls. Sad reality of todays world with all these scammers.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/105510232/potential-trialists-keen-to-ring-in-change-with-callblocking-tech-to-stop-scammers

ANglEAUT

altered-ego
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#2082109 1-Sep-2018 01:24

DarrenJ: We've had a few scam phone calls today from a "Spark" person about ...

Our Matamata offices received several calls on Thu & Fri from "Spark" stating "that someone is using my private information as an illegal illegal breach of privacy for foreign activity and to press 1 immediately to connect with Spark and quote ref #xxxx..."

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

Oblivian

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#2082110 1-Sep-2018 01:39

Still not sure how people don't immediately recognise or still fall for it with it being the talk of the water machine/cafes/public in the last 2 years.

Who else says 'errr? I am fine, thank you for your concern' as a responce to 'good thanks how are you..' Alarm bells! (see scammer calls NZ police (for 2nd time!) https://twitter.com/nzpolice/status/1034570744049491968 )

richms

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#2082111 1-Sep-2018 01:47

A bit ridiculous that the networks are so useless at dealing with it that people have to consider buying devices to put on their phones to stop it.

Richard rich.ms

ANglEAUT

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#2082112 1-Sep-2018 01:48

Oblivian: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/105510232/potential-trialists-keen-to-ring-in-change-with-callblocking-tech-to-stop-scammers

The Truecall tech spoken about in that article is from https://www.truecall.co.uk/. Their sales pitch was a bit to happy for my liking .Reminded me of all the good social media was going to do back when it first started. They also get a voice print of most people calling you and all the meta data of your phone calls. I'd want to make sure they have a decent privacy and security policy.

' trueCall Call Blocker is easy to set up – you just plug it in between your phone and the wall socket and it quickly learns who you like to speak to and who you don’t. You decide how you want it to handle your calls, and trueCall Call Blocker does the rest.
It doesn’t end there - you can optionally manage and control your trueCall unit online through your personal Internet Control Panel. This allows you to view a log of all your incoming and outgoing calls, edit your trusted callers list and change your configuration settings. Online access is free for the first year after which there is an annual charge of £20. See example here.
Join our community! You can choose to block numbers that appear on our community block list - these are phone numbers that other trueCall users are blocking.'

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

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Oblivian

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#2082113 1-Sep-2018 01:49

Hhaha, Theres a 24/7 scam the scammer link in that vid. Guy was stringing one along and windows update bit him :P its gold

kingdragonfly

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#2082191 1-Sep-2018 08:23

9 Best Call Blockers 2017

bananamaster

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Vocus

#2082342 1-Sep-2018 12:45

BTW If you are Orcon or Slingshot customer now there is a way to report scam calls:

https://help.slingshot.co.nz/hc/en-us/articles/360008166993-Malicious-and-Unwanted-Scam-Calls

https://help.orcon.net.nz/hc/en-us/articles/360008054154-Malicious-and-Unwanted-Calls

Fighting scammers can be a bit of the whack-a-mole, so quickly submitted detailed reports improve the chances of blocking that entire scam campaign quite a bit.

The important details are:

Date and time of call:
The number they called from (if possible):
The number they called:
Nature of call (what was said):

This reporting a fairly new thing, so when submitting a report via Slingshot form there is no "Scam" option yet, just choose "Query about my Account or Bill".

Another important thing to remember, if you or someone you know became a victim of the scam (eg lost money or received actual threats) first thing to do is report it to NZ Police (can be done at you nearest Police station). If scam involved compromising your computer (installing some remote control software etc.) please do report it to CERT NZ: https://www.cert.govt.nz/businesses-and-individuals/report-an-issue/

Some more details on phone scams and and more detailed advice can be found here: https://www.tcf.org.nz/consumers/mobile/phone-scammers/

^ Feel free to spread this info, awareness is a very good thing.

DarrenJ

147 posts

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#2082635 2-Sep-2018 07:18

Thanks for looking into it! :)

bananamaster:

BTW If you are Orcon or Slingshot customer now there is a way to report scam calls:

https://help.slingshot.co.nz/hc/en-us/articles/360008166993-Malicious-and-Unwanted-Scam-Calls

https://help.orcon.net.nz/hc/en-us/articles/360008054154-Malicious-and-Unwanted-Calls

Fighting scammers can be a bit of the whack-a-mole, so quickly submitted detailed reports improve the chances of blocking that entire scam campaign quite a bit.

The important details are:

Date and time of call:
The number they called from (if possible):
The number they called:
Nature of call (what was said):

This reporting a fairly new thing, so when submitting a report via Slingshot form there is no "Scam" option yet, just choose "Query about my Account or Bill".

Another important thing to remember, if you or someone you know became a victim of the scam (eg lost money or received actual threats) first thing to do is report it to NZ Police (can be done at you nearest Police station). If scam involved compromising your computer (installing some remote control software etc.) please do report it to CERT NZ: https://www.cert.govt.nz/businesses-and-individuals/report-an-issue/

Some more details on phone scams and and more detailed advice can be found here: https://www.tcf.org.nz/consumers/mobile/phone-scammers/

^ Feel free to spread this info, awareness is a very good thing.