Tag Archives: tellows.co.uk

The Top 5 Most Wanted Numbers

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Dear tellows friends,

another week, another series of nuisance calls. The fact that summer is at its height and people would like to think about other things than a ringing telephone doesn’t defy constant telephone-spammers. We present to you the top 5 most searched for numbers of the past few days:

1. 01234567890 with 3 comments and 2372 search requests. tellows Score: 6
2. 08000641087 with 7 comments and 8745 search requests. tellows Score: 5
3. 01656838051 with 0 comments and 289 search requests. tellows Score: 5
4. 02078909052 with 7 comments and 3230 search requests. tellows Score: 7
5. 02077850257 with 1 comments and 1336 search requests. tellows Score: 5

Ranking on the first place is number 01234567890, which appears to be used for computer scams. User David explained in his comment how the caller tries to gain access to the user’s PC:

Caller spoke very broken English and gave a very English name (who was he kidding!!) Claimed to be from a tech company that had picked up indications that my computer was not operating properly. Wanted me to go to my PC and give him control to fix the problem. Clear scam so i told him to go away and get an honest job. Beware.

While the number 08000641087 that places second raised user’s suspicions with frequent calls, so far no one has any further details on the number. However, user Joe has some theories:

This number called 5 times but leave any message; surely it is up to something bad. I dont how it had number but I have two theories. Either from ITV after submitting an answer to a competition or moneysupermarket.com after buying insurance, the only two companies I have recently given my number.

In spite of rising interest in number 01656838051, users have yet to share any experiences with it. In contrast, our users offer differing information on number 02078909052. Several report that they have been receiving unwanted calls even with ex-directory numbers. Fed Up wrote:

This company makes nuisance calls purporting to act for various companies – including MY bank! They call at unsocial hours and on Sundays. They should be stopped!

Quite a few users were also occupied by place 5, number 02077850257. User Chris commented:

They say that they are payday uk. They asking me about my loan and want to sell me repayment options. I told them that I don’t want to buy anything and that asked them to remove my number from their system.

If you receive any nuisance calls these days, please don’t hesitate to share your knowledge on tellows! Many users have benefited from the comments of others and could save a lot of time and energy by simply looking up a suspicious number on our site. Take care and stay scam- and spam-free!

Your tellows team

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Top5 Annoying Callers – The Unknown Spammers

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Dear tellows friends!

Finally we manage to give you an update on the recently most annoying numbers on tellows.co.uk. Most of the numbers of todays ranking will still be impenetrable afterward, but see it for yourself!

1. 08000641087 with 7 comments and 8433 search requests. tellows Score: 5
2. 01925555601 with 5 comments and 2962 search requests. tellows Score: 8
3. 08003160492 with 1 comments and 828 search requests. tellows Score: 6
4. 02078909052 with 7 comments and 3005 search requests. tellows Score: 7
5. 02084336082 with 2 comments and 714 search requests. tellows Score: 8

The tellows community is quite unsure about the source of number 1. A lot of people got called, but no one answered the phone. Calling back was not working at all. Joe reports:

This number called 5 times but leave any message; surely it is up to something bad. I dont how it had number but I have two theories. Either from ITV after submitting an answer to a competition or moneysupermarket.com after buying insurance, the only two companies I have recently given my number.

His two options might be good hints for someone else, who also got called and now sees a connection. Do not hesitate to share your experience on 08000641087 as well! Another conclusion about the source if this number can be made be looking at a comment on the German tellows website of this number, Lee Mollins tells us:

It’s a firm called LBM marketing and they appear to work on behalf of several of the networks – including O2, Orange

The case is pretty similar with number 2 of this weeks most annoying numbers. Although we registered 2962 search requests, there are not much comments that tell more about the origin of 01925555601. A lot of times, no one answered or the phone was put down. While Ryan says:

sounded like the guy off fonejacker persistant in offering me upgrades rolling contract says hes from O2 then from Carphone none of which have ever rung me off a Warrington number… avoid

River has a different explanation:

they called me today and said i qualified for a new handset- it is being delivered to my work tomorrow. It’s Carphone Warehouse whom I have a contract with. Nonetheless it sounded a little too dodgy for me.

Either way, there is no solid conclusion what this number is about. Still, most of the users rated this number as untrustworthy.

Also number 4 02078909052 is a quite mysterious number, the suspected owner ranges from staff of “carglass”, service providers for several banks and even members of the department of education. What is clear, there is no serious intention behind these calls. Kathleen sums up, what a lot of other users might also think:

I am really fed up with these type of constant calls, I am ex-directory and with the Telephone Preference Service I have complained about this number to Ofcom and will keep doing this every time I get these unwanted calls. It’s about time the government did something about this constant harassment.

We always want to provide you with a lot of information regarding nuisance and spam callers, but as a matter of fact, you, the community of tellows, is needed for it! Through commenting and sharing experience others will be encouraged to talk as well, or even take action against scammers and spammers. This week we come to realize, that it is sometimes hard to get the needed information, which makes cooperating much more essential.

Stay tuned

your tellows team!

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Ofcom Study – Ban on Cold Calling is claimed

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A research initiated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) reveals the truth about unsolicited nuisance calls in the UK and thus calls for action to solve to problem of far too many cold calls.

The Ofcom Study
Within a period of four weeks 850 consumers were asked to keep a diary of all cold calls they receive. The Ofcom research revealed that 80 percent of the participants received unwanted calls regularly, on an average even more than twice a week. Especially calls on PPI reclaim (Payment Protection Insurance) were the most annoying and yet also the most often ones. While at least one out of four people got called more than 10 times, most calls came from PPI claim companies as well as from market research firms.

What is next?
In terms of the survey findings the Citizens Advice called for a complete ban on cold calling. Not only because more than one third of all complaints from companies are related to cold calls. Mostly firms dealing with financial services use cold and silent calls and thereby demanding upfront fees or trying to sell unprofitable offers, cheating people out of their pension. Furthermore the companies get personal data through the nuisance calls, mostly unbeknown and unauthorised by the individuals. A ban would help to make cold calls clearly identifiable as illegal. Citizens Advice recommends the banning of credit brokers and claims management companies as well as of pension unlocking services.

Ofcom follows a different strategy though. Not the banning but a wide investigation into claims management companies making the cold calls is needed. Thereby not only the big companies will be in the focus of enforcement actions, also smaller companies are responsible for the nuisance calls to a large extent and should be overseen. Ofcom is now promoting wider investigation and action regarding cold calls, especially dealing with claims. Thereby they focus on silent calls as well, which are done by the company’s telephone systems automatically without even having a staff member conducting the calls.

Taking Action
The government as well as other regulators and institutions are called upon to take action more effectively. Ofcom already imposed penalties for silent and abandoned calls done by major firms as TalkTalk. Furthermore the ICO supports the attempts of Ofcom by pointing out the regulations and industry rules to over 170 marketing companies. Nevertheless householders can get active themselves. By signing up for the free Telephone Preference Service (TPS) individuals can stop nuisance calls on the purpose of marketing and sales. However, as we already mentioned in our last article, it is extremely hard to block most of the calls, as they often come from overseas call centres. Not more than one third of all abandoned calls can be cut out. For further improvement Ofcom is currently collaborating with the ICO and the Ministry of Justice for more effective actions.

We will keep you informed about upcoming achievements in the struggle against nuisance calls in our blog on tellows UK.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/may/17/ofcom-urged-ban-cold-calling

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Data Protection and Nuisance Calls – Rights and Regulations

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The usage of nuisance calls is one of the most annoying marketing strategies nowadays, its benefits are highly controversial and justifiably so. Nevertheless dozens of companies call and message their customers as well as total strangers every day. While the tellows community offers fruitful hints about the source of certain telephone numbers, we now would like to provide you with useful information regarding your right to data privacy as well. Especially the regulations on personal data and its use are rigorous and actually promote benefits for all of us. But for a successful fight against scam and spam calls you need to know and defend your rights.

The following information will give you a broad knowledge on data security, mainly based on laws and regulations valid in UK. Some institutions were specially built for the protection of our data.

The Data Protection Act
The DPA is one of the most important pieces of legislation when it comes to data protection in the UK. The DPA was enacted to be in line with the data protection directive in the EU, which should guarantee protection of people’s right to privacy, especially concerning the processing of personal data. As it aims to safeguard consumer rights regarding personal data, the 1998 DPA also guarantees self-control over personal information and the right to privacy. It determines that any collection or use of personal date requires consent of the individuals concerned. Furthermore, all organisations processing this kind of data need to comply with the regulations of the Act and need to be registered at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as well. It also vests all individuals with the authority to get access to their stored data by any organisation.

Privacy Electronic Communication Regulations
The EC Directive, known as the E-Privacy Directive is a continuation of the DPA on data protection. It enables criminal proceedings through fines up to £500,000 for the unauthorised use of recorded messages for marketing purposes. The impact of the EC Directive also includes phone calls, emails and SMS messages. Thereby it provides the legal basis for consumer protection especially in the case of direct marketing and has been amended several times.

Information Commissioner’s Office
As mentioned before, the ICO is the authority for upholding consumer rights as well as data protection in the UK. The enforcement of both presented regulations is controlled by the ICO, who has multiple tools for opposing misuse of personal data. There are not only possibilities of monetary penalty, the ICO is also entitled to audit and prosecute anyone disregarding the DPA or the EC Directive.

Every call or message as marketing measure needs to be consented by the individual to be permitted. In any case marketers need to provide a possibility to opt out any following messages or calls to meet the legal regulations. If this is disregarded, those responsible also disregard the regulations and thereby are liable to prosecution. Thus, consulting the ICO is everyone’s right. When there is violation of rights, the ICO takes action to ensure a proper handling of personal information and also enables individuals to detect the information held about them.

Telephone Preference Service
Next to these legal institutions and laws consumers have the possibility to use the TPS. This central register enables people to opt out from receiving unsolicited nuisance calls. As described before, organisations have to respect the request of individuals not to be approached if listed in the TPS. The free registration can be done by any individual for a certain number (mobile phone numbers as well) and takes full effect after approx. 28 days. The TPS offers a complaint system as well. Although the TPS is not allowed to take any action of enforcement, they regularly send updates about the incoming complaints to the ICO as the body responsible. This strongly supports their investigations.

While reliable companies accept the TPS entries as it is a legal requirement, it is quite easy for organisations working outside of the UK to circumvent the regulations. Through Caller ID spoofing, which allows deceptive organisations to display a number that is not the original one. Although this is obviously illegal, the ICO’s and TPS’s authority is not effective outside the UK. Unfortunately a TPS registration does also not prevent calls on the purpose of legit market research. Also the receipt of marketing text messages is not under the control of TPS. To stop receiving SMS messages you have to send a request to the company yourself, a simple „STOP“ message is enough though.

The Office of Communications
The Ofcom has an even broader scope. As it is a regulatory and competition authority approved by the government, it represents the interest of UK citizens regarding competition and protection for broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries. Thereby the Ofcom also deals with problems of nuisance calls and offers particular guidelines for several situations.

All of the presented regulations and authorities can help you taking care of annoying, even malicious phone calls and messages. In some cases however it might be advisable to consult a lawyer to advice you for further legal steps if necessary.

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The New tellows iPhone App – The Answer to “Who’s calling?”

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Dear tellows fellows,

it is done! Finally, the new tellows iPhone app is avaiable for download in the App-store. Brand-new and technically up-to-date the app features a vast database of 10 000 comments on dubious rated numbers and 50 000 users per day on tellows.co.uk. Access tellows effortlessly through your iPhone.

Comment to Go – Search, Type, Send

Submitting queries for unknown phone numbers has never been easier. Just navigate to the query box, type in the number and hit the search button. Subsequently, you will reach the detail page of the wanted phone number. Not only does this page display the tellows Score but also hosts all existing comments on the number and offers, additionally, the possibility to rate the number and to post a comment yourself.

Who’s calling? – The End of Unpleasant Suprises

Due to the apps synchronization with the tellows database, the app will automatically identify the nature of the incoming call and display the imminent threat’s rating with a score of 7 to 9. Save valuable time and nerves by recognizing an unsolicited call at the first ring.

Harassment Protection – Individual Set Up to Your Liking

By activating the Harassment Protection, the app will be able to compare incoming calls with the tellows database and, therewith, divulge the trustworthiness of the phone number. Thanks to regular update your phone will always know the latest scam and spam phone numbers. Choose the score you would like to be warned about.

Features of the Version 1.8

  • categorization of incoming calls according to the tellwos score 7 – 9
  • post a comment
  • query unknown numbers
  • history of last calls
  • history of “Most Wanted” phone numbers

Download the App for free and check out our support page in order to get more information about the App and receive answers to possible questions that you might have!

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Weekly Update on the UK’s Top 5 Most Wanted Telephone Numbers

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Here we go again with Tellows weekly update on 5 most annoying spam and scam numbers in the UK. Let’s have a look what has been changed and who is the new Top 5 leader this week:

1. 01422387713 from Halifax – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 9
2. 01618505451 from Manchester – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 8
3. 01792455426 from Swansea – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 8
4. 01933441081 from Wellingborough – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 7
5. 01942710601 from Wigan – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 7

1st place this week goes to the number 01422387713 from Halifax. There were more than 15000 inquiries for the Top Leader this week. Tellows user tmstony reported this number as harassment call and commented on this number:

Calls and hangs up. Unable to take no for an answer and behaves badly when I refuse to confirm personal data.

2nd place goes to the number 01618505451 from Manchester. Our users already know this number very well as it has been irritating them for the last couple of months and still persist being harassing. Tellows user Mad woman told us:

These blighters called my mobile phone – a number I never give out and saved for friends and family only and worried about a friend in hospital. Called them back, in a panic. Obviously a chattering call centre. Asked for who were they – HYC – what does that stand for Help Your Claim (hello??). And why did you think I needed help with any scurrilous claim? Got the schpiel, personal questions etc. OUTRAGEOUS! Said something unprintable and have now reported to Information Office Commission (government run) www.ioc.co.uk. Thx for your good work.

Last but not least this week number 01942710601 from Wigan. This is the first time this number appears in our weekly Top 5. Our user Jag commented:

I made a financial query on the MSE site and this number keeps on calling. FED UP!!!

Please do not hesitate to share your experience with us! Number of inquiries for unknown numbers increase every day and we need your contribution in order to provide more and more information on spam and scam numbers.

Together we can!
Your Tellows Team

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New Top 5 of Most Annoying Numbers in UK

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Whenever someone receives a call from a strange number arrises a question: ”How to check who is calling me?” Answer is simple – check it on Tellows It works very simply. Put in the number of someone who called you, read the complaints and see where the number comes from, read experiences of other people and then post your own. Simple, you see!

Regarding the most wanted numbers we make our weekly updates on most annoying numbers in UK. So, are you ready to know who is hiding behind UK’s most annoying numbers this week ? Here we are with UK’s latest update on Top 5 of Most Annoying Numbers.

1. 01422387713 from Halifax – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 9
2. 01618505451 from Manchester – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 8
3. 01709384780 from Rotherham – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 6
4. 01933441081 from Wellingborough – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 8
5. 01614867770 from Manchester – United Kingdom with a tellows Score of 8

The most wanted number 01422387713 this week comes from Halifax and Tellows user Fed up posted the last comment on this number:

Call daily on my work phone. Have requested they stop but they still persist

This is a classic harassment call and it has been our top leader for a couple of months already. The second place goes to number 01618505451 that has been reported as harassment call, also. Our user bagsy told us:

Calling me everyday for months despite me ignoring their calls. ask too many personal questions over the phone

If you receive harassing phone calls, hang up immediately on obscene callers or strangers who ask questions regarding private matters. Do not share your private information and be aware of scammers!

We wish you a scam free week!
Yours, Tellows Team

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Work Methods of Call Centres – The Importance of Telephone Number Blocks

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Constant avaiability through our mobile and smartphones has become a part of our daily routine. Although there are, undoubtably, advantages to this avaiability, for some people this benefit turned into curse, especially as far as unsolicited calls are concerned.

One Company, Innumberable Phone Numbers – Thanks to Phone Number Blocks

Who does not know about the problem of being called by unknown phone numbers? Often the perpetrator is only one call centre disguised behind a broad range of phone numbers. How does that work? On one hand, call centres employ the Voice over IP technology to generate random phone numbers to conceal their true numbers, on the other hand, most call centre request vast blocks of telephone numbers from the network provider.

A phone number block contains at least 10 phone numbers which match each other in their initial digits. The public telephone network offers block numbers containing up to 1000 phone numbers. Some companies with a high affinity to telecommunications maintain block numbers supplying up to 10000 phone numbers to support their telephone systems. Another variant of block numbers refers to the bulk of extension numbers to define a telephone systems substations.

The main advantages of number blocks enables companies the use of Direct Dial Ins, that provides the telephone system’s substation to be avaiable directly from internal and public networks without the need of being relayed manually. As far as the consumer is concerned, he or she will be able to skip the company’s or institution’s swithboard and call the desired colloquist directly through the extension number. Additionally, consumers can recognize the number and attribute it to a certain company or institution.

Call Centres Use a Large Variety of Numbers

De facto most call centres use their number blocks to their own profitable ends. Hence consumer will be targeted by various numbers behind which telemarketers and lottery scams lurk. Most call centre expect their numbers being blocked every now and then. In order to avoid any losses call centres draw on a vast pool of numbers, essentially, thanks to the number blocks provided by the nertwork operator. The more number block a company has at its disposal, the more phone numbers it can employ. Although numbers of nuisance callers are blocked not only by consumer on a regular basis but also by official institution – some only after thousands of complaints – the call centres supply of replacement numbers enables the company to go on as if nothing happened.

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The Most Wanted Scam and Spam Calls in the UK

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Here we go again with last week’s 5 most annoying spam and scam numbers:

1. 01422387713 , from Halifax – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 8
2. 01618505451, from Manchester – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 8
3.01933698538, from Wellingborough – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 7
4. 01709384780, from Rotherham – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 6
5. 01942710601, Wigan – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 6

The first 3 places this week go to PPI claim companies. I’m sure you’re all sick to death of having these calls and the day when they will stop calling you will be the happiest day of your lifes.

Tellows user Fed-up commented on the number 01422387713 :

Call daily on my work phone. Have requested they stop but they still persist

Another tellows user Lucius wrote the last comment on this 01618505451 number:

yet another scam with profound interest in me claiming my PPI. they cold call any number they get their dirty little fingers on. scum/scam.

Telemarketing calls are also still annoying our users. This time calls from Vodafone. Our user Ian_Belfast is writing:

I recently had a text from Vodafone telling me they would call soon to check that I am on the right price plan. Inquiries on the web suggest that this number belongs to Vodafone,so nothing to worry about except that it’s irritating that they have rung three times in one day and hung up on answer each time

We’re looking forward to reading more of your comments!
Keep us updated and have a spam free week !

Yours,
Team Tellows

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The British Top 5 Phone Scammers

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The winner of this week is scam from Manchester claiming to get back your PPI. They call you, leave no message and hope you will call them back. If you do so, they charge you double for your phone call.
Let’s see who are the UK spammers of the week:

1. 01618505451, from Manchester – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 8
2. 01933698538, from Wellingborough – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 7
3. 01614867770, from Manchester – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 8
4. 01706830603, from Rochdale, Rossendale – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 7
5. 01912760399, from Tyneside – United Kingdom, with a Tellows Score of 7

Tellows-user Tyson has reported number 01618505451 with a Tellows score of 9 and wrote:

Scam artists wanting your money like the banks and the PCM of uk does fuckall again come on bnp

Second place belongs to the number 01933698538 what is another “reclaim your PPI” scam. SMGR wrote the last comment on this number:

Icemark Consumer Solutions – looking to recover PPI (I have never had a loan or credit card). Did not pick up – a recorded message left a voicemail

For the first time in our Top 5 appeared number 01614867770 that was reported as Harassment call with Tellows score of 9 by our user P.A.T. :

Several calls over the last few days some silent. Have sent an email telling them that if they call again I shall log nit and ask my solicitor to claim £30 for each call I answer! Silent or not.

Don’t hesitate to share your experiences with us,
Take care,
Your Tellows Team

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