Had a suspicious phone call from 0800 952 4874

[Anonymous]

Caller with Yorkshire accent sounded like she was calling from a busy call centre - said she was from O2 calling up to find out how I was doing with my mobile service and telling me that she had some special offers for me. Asked if I was the account holder, but I cut her short and asked her "how do I know you are who you say you are?" after which she told me my name - so she knew something - and then she said something that got me suspicious: I thought she said something like "can you tell me your security question - then i can bring your details up on my screen". That didn't sound right so I challenged her again: "how do I know you are who you say you are" - and she said "I'm bringing your details up on my screen" - and put me on hold. It then went quiet for 10 seconds and then she cut back in with the background noise, but then cut out again - and during this second period of silence that I hung up.

20 seconds later I get a text message from O2 saying "Here is your code: 123456 Please enter this code in the site to continue  registering your O2 account. If you did not authorise this, please contact O2"

So I rang 202 and asked for the fraud and security number. However the number I was given is an 0844 number - does anyone here have a direct line number for them? Because I'm reluctant to call an 0844 number because those numbers are not in the calling plan and I'd have to pay for it.

In any case, has anyone else had strange calls from people claiming to be O2 from 0800 952 4874 ?

[MI5]

Yeah we all use that or one of the SayNo apps.
Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum

[sheepdog]

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@Cleoriff wrote:

I particularly hate the ones who tell me they are ringing about my computer....yeah yeah AS IF!!

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I had a cracker last year. Rang my mother who couldn't understand the indian accent so passed the phone to me at which point the guy was trying to convince me he was from the 'world wide web' organisation and 'have I heard of them' and 'they have flagged my computer as a problem'. To put you in the picture at this point, I've been around on the internet since the mid 90's the phone call is on a separate line in the house and I have a work computer locked down for security (apparently so people like me can't install better software instead of using MS Paint to edit an image).

Anyway, knowing this and telling him he's talking rubbish by pointing out its an organisation with no call centres, I play along as its just about lunchtime and say I'll follow his instructions, telling him its a locked down system first....

Him: type this command,

Me: ok fine,

Him: type this command.

Me: not working.

Him: it must...try again.

Me: no it won't work because its locked by my company.

Him: it must work, its Windows

Me: its a secure laptop 

Him (now very irate): you are messing with me Mr Sheepdog, stop messing with me and do as I tell you

Me: Look I've told you its a secure version of Windows, I can't run the command

Him (basically shouting): you are insulting me Mr Sheepdog, don't treat me like an idiot

Me: OK, you really don't get it do you - it prevents me being a non-admin user from running commands from unauthorised users so I'm ending the conversation now

Him: silence.

Me: Phone down with laughter.

[Anonymous]

Astonishing @sheepdog ... glad your mum had you there to take over the call

I generally struggle to understand some accents over the phone, particularly when some people speak very fast, I now ask them to politely will they 'say that again please more slowly' this in a genuine call

Regarding suspicious calls, I have one atm which is persistently calling me, I've decided to answer with a hearty eg Good Morning, but no answer ... I shall block the number asap as per recent posting by I think @MI5 elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Yes I have and I gave my details but nothing came of it. I was soo annoyed! They actually knew my details and everything! So I was shocked. 

It turns out that all these big companies like 02 they sell on our account information to smaller companies for 'marketing purposes' but its so 02 can earn more money! I had this same problem with my bank Lloyds and I rang to complain to Lloyds, I thought it was fraud and someone had my details but turned out that it was an outside company that they gave my details too. I was really annoyed that they gave my details away but when I looked into it, it seems that all these big companies to it to make extra money...Nothing you can do about it 😞 Its all a load of crap.No real justice in this world!!!!

[MI5]

You can opt out of this kind of thing along with general marketing and advertising calls and texts.
Call CS to register your desire to opt out, although it won't stop those that already have you number.

[jonsie]

The big problem is that o2 already share your information with so called trusted partners and opting out doesn't exclude them making money from other associated companies.

[Anonymous]

I had the same call today. Unfortunately was tricked deep into giving them some sensitive information and had to cancel my card and notify my bank to avoid any potential fraud.