Telephone spoofing

[margo2]

For the past two days someone has been calling across Canada (mainly Quebec and B.C.) using my telephone number.  I have rec'd maybe 20 calls a day from people so-called "returning" my calls.  I've left a voicemail telling them that someone is using my number and to block the calls but I'm hoping there's something that Public Mobile can do to prevent this from happening.  Please advise.

[hairbag1]

Yep....best practice alright.

[HALIMACS]

I got that,  @hairbag1 

What I was proposing is the calls to them may be a reverse attempt to market their number/availability. 

The OP should not be answering any calls from any of these people.  My rule of thumb is if you're not on my contact list, you won't get answered.

If you choose to leave me a message and I want/need to call you back, I will.

[margo2]

Thanks but I’m not calling people back. I’m just leaving a message when they go to my voicemail telling them that there’s a scam happening.

[Yummy]

Don't waste your time calling and apologizing. Scum use technology to steal money from people.

What you can do (for a time being) is to change your voice mail message to say something 'If you are returning call received from my number be aware it was not me but scumbags spoofing my number'.

Or just do not pick up the call if you do not recognize number.

PM cannot prevent these calls so we all have to live with them.

[margo2]

Thanks.  I guess I will put DND on so I'm not bothered all day long with unwanted or unsolicited calls.

[margo2]

Thanks for your answer.  I left the message on my PM voicemail so that people calling me back would block my number and hopefully deter further calls.

[hairbag1]

@HALIMACS...

I don't think she's getting calls...sounds like someone is using her number to call others around the country.

[margo2]

Hmm.  Good point.  I haven't been answering but letting the calls go to voicemail as I read online that that's what I should do.  Thanks for your prompt reply.

[hairbag1]

@CountyDownIeUk....

sounds like someone spoofing her number to call around.

[HALIMACS]

@margo2 

I'm going to go in a different direction. 

Re all these people calling you, don't answer. You may not even be aware that these people may be calling you as a means to "market" your number to telemarketers and by you picking up an unknown caller, it may signal more unwanted calls to you.

[CountyDownIeUk]

1. Spoofing is easy to do

2. Lasts for a week, then they move to another number

3. Don’t answer calls  that are not an number In your contacts list. 

4. You can put DND on 24/7 to not answer calls if not in contacts. . 

5. Not a PM issue. 

6. You left a voicemail at PM? How did you do that? 

[softech]

 @margo2 

This is called Caller ID Spoofing. 

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/telemarketing/identit.htm

From your prospective, nothing is compromised.  This is a trick that scammer use system to make calls out and then just enter any number in the Caller id and try to trick the receiving end to think it is a valid calls instead of those junk 1800 number.    The trick is not target on your.  So, no worry

No, at this point, there is nothing you can do to stop it.  It is common, but it just like letter mail.  People can send letter mail and put your address on the return address there and nothing you can do can stop it

[hairbag1]

Not much anyone can do to stop it.

You can change your PM phone number if you wish to.

[Quigley]

@margo2 

Sorry but there's nothing Public Mobile can do about that.