This topic

Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:23:04 GMT

I'm getting constant harassment from a range of random Birmingham numbers.

I cheesed off a scammer yesterday by giving him a piece of my mind and now he's auto-dialling me on repeat.

How can I block ALL of Birmingham?!

Provider reckons it isn't possible. They are apparently powerless to help.

Surely the call can be traced??

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

NigelB72 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 10:42:38 GMT

Do BT Retail provide your telephone service?

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:41:39 GMT

yes 🙂

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

gspearson — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:49:30 GMT

They are not real numbers. Try ringing one - number unobtainable - nothing to do with Birmingham

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:58:09 GMT

Yes I know they're fake numbers. The number changes each time the scammer rings.

They are kind of to do with Birmingham though as the caller ID area code is always Birmingham.

Do you have any thoughts on whether or not Birmingham or "Birmingham" can be blocked?

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

NigelB72 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:59:29 GMT

They're originating from an IP based phone system that can be anywhere in the world. The number that is showing on Caller ID isn't actually their phone number so blocking the whole of 0121 will have no effect because they can just change it to another area code

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:04:18 GMT

Again -sorry, I wasn't clear - I know these are virtual calls where the scammer is actually based in India.

However, hitherto, the calls (and there have been hundreds) have ALL had a Brum area code.

Would someone please answer the question if it's possible to block an area code at exchange level?

I can trivially do this with my PBX when the call hits the ATA from the PSTN but the calls are coming so thick and fast they're blocking my line...

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:11:45 GMT

@dance

The most effective solution is a call blocking phone, like the BT4600. This is 100% effective in blocking scam callers because unless they are sored in your phone directory, they will be asked to announce themselves, and they never do.

You mention a PBX, then that suggests you may be a BT Business user, is that correct?

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:10:54 GMT

The most effective solution sounds like it's what I already have. A PBX (Asterisk) connected to my PSTN via a Linksys ATA. This allows me to send any Birmingham calls straight to the bin but allow any other area code through as normal.

HOWEVER, this still means my phone line is tied up a lot of the time dealing with these calls and I neither my existing solution (nor the BT4600?) would stop this.

That's why I want to block the calls at exchange (or higher) level.

Any ideas anyone?

(I'm a domestic/residential customer I just like to roll my own telephony after the master socket.)

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:13:17 GMT

I do not think that BT can do what you are asking.

You could try BT Call Protect, as that is included in your landline contract.

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

Firefox1701 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:24:50 GMT

As stated, the call-blocking phone is your best option in this scenario. It does mean waiting for the phone to be delivered, and for that matter it also means shelling out for another phone that you probably don't need, but in the scheme of things it's still the optimum solution. Even if BT or any other provider could or would block all numbers whose CLI included the Birmingham code ( which I doubt ), by the time you got them to do it, you'd still be better off just getting the new phone and have done with it - although I'm bound to ask, if you do want to pursue the idea of asking BT to block that code, surely the easiest thing ( and yes, knowing how long it can take to reach a human being at BT, I do use that word in it's most generous sense ) would just be to call BT and ask them?

I think we know that you know that the calls aren't actually coming from Birmingham, but the point is that if this particular scammer actually does have that much of a grudge against you ( and they're usually thicker-skinned than that - they have to be! ), they could just spoof a different area code and carry on changing it indefinitely for each area code that you block ( again, if that were possible ). I'd love to know what you said in the first place that p*ssed them off to that degree - I'd try it myself!! - as I've never known a scammer, either as an individual or a company, to waste their own time in a pursuit like this.

In the short term, you might want to think about either unplugging the phone ( unless you have a dozen phones ) or leaving it off the hook. I know, before you say it, that that's inconvenient; but if the scammer is calling regularly and often enough that it's actually blocking your line as you say, you're not going to be any worse off, and at least the phone won't be ringing every five minutes.

P.S.: Just read the last couple of posts: I'm not familiar with the technology you're referring to, but if you can do that, once again, it'll be a sight quicker than investigating the possibility of BT doing it for you - which, as has been said, they almost certainly can't. Even then, though, the scammer can still spoof from a different area code once they twig what you're doing.

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

NeilO — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:33:08 GMT

Hi @dance welcome to the community and thanks for posting, what a nuisance, I can appreciate why you want to block that area code, but unfortunately, this is not a service we provide.

The options recommended such as Call Protect or a call-blocking phone would be the route BT would advise you to take. Alternatively, there is the option to change your land line number if that's something you'd consider?

Thanks

Neil

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

Devon_Dave — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:52:28 GMT

Are you a Business Customer of BT Retail /Consumer?

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

gg30340 — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:55:35 GMT

@Devon_Dave wrote:

Are you a Business Customer of BT Retail /Consumer?

See last paragraph in message 9.

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

Devon_Dave — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:35:09 GMT

I think there is a lesson to be learnt here. Don't upset the scammers.

Re: Need to block all of Birmingham....

dance — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:20:28 GMT

Indeed - but see fourth paragraph of message 7.

but thank you!