Significant increase in spam calls on my mobile - Will O2 do anything if I was to report it?

[MrRichAllen1976]

Above.

It's been happening for quite a while since towards the end of last year, usually people trying to sell me stuff like Solar panels which I neither need or want.

The thing is, I don't know where they got my number from as I know not to put it online unless I have to for security reasons.

If I was to report this, would the company do anything?

[Bambino · Accepted solution]

@MrRichAllen1976 O2, like every other network is limited in how much they can do to prevent unwanted calls.

You can block the number that called you, or any number you think may be suspicious.

How to block a number:

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062352/

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201229

There are also these links to look at:

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/phishing-and-smishing-advice
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/unwanted-calls-and-messages
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

[madasaf1sh]

@MrRichAllen1976 

Very easy to do, get a spreadsheet, then download the number plan from OFCOM (S7 file) which is publicly available and copy the number ranges then create 100K lines using autocomplete, input new file into Autodialer.. bobs your uncle you have a 100K numbers to dial and sell garbage to to or try and scam... 

Time to complete 10minutes..

[MrRichAllen1976]

Would there be a way to get mobile numbers "ex-directory" like you can with landlines? I doubt it'd make any difference though because a lot of the calls aren't from UK numbers.

[Bambino]

@MrRichAllen1976 You can register with the Telephone Preference Service: https://www.tpsonline.org.uk/

As you're already getting unwanted calls it probably won't make any difference as your number has already been passed to every spammer on the planet.

O2 allows one free number change but that's a tedious chore in itself.