topic Re: Call from a Chinese woman in Pay As You Go

Call from a Chinese woman

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:21:13 GMT

Hello,

Yesterday I received a Voicemail on 901. A female voice which sounded automated said 'Chinese'. Then there was another female voice speaking in, I assume, Chinese. She didn't speak for very long. There was no background noise i.e from a call centre.

The number was from a UK mobile number beginning 07, so not from China.

I don't know anyone from China. Also why would a voice say 'Chinese' before someone spoke in Chinese?

Does anyone know what it could be about? I tried playing in on loudspeaker and recording it on Google Translate, but Google Translate couldn't pick it up.

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

MI5 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:22:05 GMT

Sounds like someone pranking you or trying to order a takeaway 😂

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Enlli — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:58:44 GMT

Had a few of them over the past two years. So as my Mrs on Vodafone.

Usually spoofed number.

Just report and block, but you will probably not stop them

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:32:40 GMT

Thanks @MI5 @Enlli I just wish I knew Chinese. I wonder if it could have been an AI recorded message made to look real?

Thanks for your help.

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:16:39 GMT

Hi, since my last message on here about the strange Voicemail messages I received another one on my other phone over the weekend. It was exactly the same as the other Voicemail. A voice said 'press 2 for Chinese' and then a Chinese speaker said something. It was exactly the same as before.

Voicemail gave the numbers, they were 2 different mobile numbers. I rang both back, and withheld my number, to see what they were about, but a voice said the numbers weren't recognised. So they are obviously spoof mobile numbers from scammers. I just wish I could understand Chinese to know exactly what the Chinese woman is saying? Does anyone know the purpose of these Chinese voicemail messages?

😀

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Oxonian — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:35:17 GMT

It might have been unwise to call those two numbers back @Anonymous, as they could have been premium rate or overseas numbers ; there have been reports on this community of customers being hit with big bills in similar circumstances.

I would keep an eye on your bill if I was in your position. 👍

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

madasaf1sh — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:23:14 GMT

I think @Anonymous is intelligent enough to know this and doesn't need the condescension....

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Enlli — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:25:42 GMT

The last one I got the only bit I deciphered was 'Chinese Embassy'.

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

MI5 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:48:37 GMT

and as it's PAYG.................

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:06:35 GMT

@madasaf1sh @Oxonian @Enlli I know calling the numbers back was a bit crazy but I withheld my number and took a chance. The numbers weren't recognised when I called them so they didn't connect and I didn't get charged. It's the same kind of thing we get now with scammers making calls from fake UK area codes with BT.

The scammers faking phone numbers is very frightening. But you are right...I won't be calling it back if it happens again.

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Snookie — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:47:48 GMT

Am getting a fair number of these calls each week now. Very annoying and seemingly impossible to stop as they use a different mobile number every time.

I do report and block, in the hope that the technical wizards at O2 and other mobile operators can track down the origin of these calls and put an end to them.

All recorded message with a womans voice but several message variants.

Threatening that my phone numer will be disabled, press 1 to hear in English or 2 in Chinese
"Chinese Embassy" spoken in English, the rest of the message is in Chinese
Something about immigration papers and to contact the Chinese Embassy, again press 1 to hear in English, 2 for Chinese

If they ring a second time on the blocked number then get a voicemail left. I wish there was a way to completely block a number so that they cannot leave a voicemail. It all feels very intrusive and disturbing.

Re: Call from a Chinese woman

Oxonian — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:46:33 GMT

I believe @Snookie that the only way would be to turn your voicemail off altogether.

If someone knows a way of blocking individual numbers from leaving a voicemail, I am sure that they will post here. 👍