This topic

Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:32:20 GMT

Hi.
I have access to my Dads landline account (as hold power of attorney for him) as he is a vulnerable person.
He currently has call protect on the account and I monitor his incoming calls via the security function once signed onto his MyBT, check the numbers and was blocking the ones identified by others as scams.
The issue is that he now has the maximum 100 blocked numbers and still gets new calls every day. Every single call except one’s from us family and friends is a scam one. He doesn’t like having to accept calls and wants the call blocking removed. While I don’t want to do this as know many are being stopped, I thought getting him a new landline number would mean he wouldn’t be the easy target he is currently. He has already lost money as gets drawn in. Question - Can we get his land line number changed? TIA

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:47:44 GMT

@RichieRichie

Welcome back to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

The best option would be to buy a BT4600 phone. This has the ability to block all numbers that are not stored in the directory of the phone, so only important calls will get through. All other callers are forced to announce themselves first, or can just be sent to voicemail.

BT Call Protect is not very effective, as you have discovered.

Changing landline number would not help as calls are generated randomly, and all phone number get them.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

VeteranISPUser — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:51:55 GMT

Hi @RichieRichie

You need something like trueCall which has been designed for your situation.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:57:42 GMT

@VeteranISPUser

The BT4600 does the same as TrueCall.

https://shop.bt.com/products/bt4600-premium-nuisance-call-blocker---twin-084666-BY4J.html

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

VeteranISPUser — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:59:58 GMT

Hi @Keith_Beddoe

You cannot manage it remotely with the BT4600.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:16:08 GMT

There is an annual charge with TrueCall.

I have the BT4600 and never had to answer a spam call. They show in the received call log but never ring the phone.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:04:19 GMT

Thank you 😊

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:07:06 GMT

Thanks. I think that’s probably the phone he has and says that he doesn’t get lots of bogus calls but unfortunately he has a tendency to spin a line so I can’t be sure if that’s true. Would the phone (if it is a 4600) still allow blocks without the ‘accept call’ bit beforehand? Thx again

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Les-Gibson — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:23:07 GMT

Have you thought of getting him a mobile and setting it up so that only starred contacts (in Android) can call him but he can call any and all of them if he wishes.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:37:14 GMT

@RichieRichie

The BT4600 does not require you to accept a call unless the caller states their name, you are the given the option of taking the call or blocking the call, or doing nothing. Scam calls are generated by a computer and are only passed to the scammer if the recipient answers the call.

Unknown calls are intercepted by BT Call Guardian and the phone does not ring unless its a phone number that is stored in the phone itself.

You can change the Call Guardian settings so that unknown calls go to answerphone instead of the announce mode, however the announce mode is of more use in case someone calls that are known, and their number has not yet been stored in the phone.

Its 100% effective in blocking scam callers.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

licquorice — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 20:15:12 GMT

Exactly, blacklisting is a complete waste of time, the amount of numbers to block is infinite. The only sensible option is whitelisting.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:14:57 GMT

Thanks! He does have a mobile but he struggles to use it or to charge it. It may be an option for us to weigh up. Cheers

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:15:39 GMT

Thanks 🙏

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:21:44 GMT

Thanks very much Keith. Would this be configured via the security settings on his package when I access the MyBT, or on the settings on his actual phone/answerphone (or indeed both)

I’m comfortable that all of the wanted callers are in the phone contacts (and also set as VIP on the caller lists on MyBT online)

Thanks again Rich

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:22:38 GMT

Thanks 🙏

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

RichieRichie — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:29:19 GMT

Thank you and everyone else so far. I’m not sure if my thanks are appearing under the right message! Please forgive my newbie-ness on the forum! 😊

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 08:57:17 GMT

The phone would also need to have the wanted numbers stored, otherwise those callers would need to announce themselves first.

Any number not stored in the phone, would either need to announce themselves first, or be directed to the inbuild answerphone (not the best option).

So on the phone, BT Call Guardian mode would have to be announce, although I think there is an answerphone option to answer, but not record.

You would effectively have a "whitelist" of wanted numbers stored in the phone, and all other numbers would be rejected. The phone also has the ability to prevent outgoing calls to certain numbers which can be useful if you have someone who keeps calling "123" for the time, which gets expensive.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 09:28:37 GMT

I would still consider the Truecall device for the remote access. It's around £100 to buy & the subscription is only £20 pa after the first year.

There is also a "Secure" version designed exactly for your scenario. With that the device can automatically block all unknown incoming calls, but with options. One allows anyone with a pre-shared code number to get through by entering the code. So someone trusted calling from an unusual number can still get through. An example could be someone with a new mobile number or a CLI fault preventing caller ID. If you wish, you can also add your number to this message so someone genuinely trying to make contact can do so via you. Although I guess it potentially opens that number up to abuse, so maybe a second mobile number on a PAYG SIM?

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Lesternixon — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:10:41 GMT

Unless the caller gives you their identity, the BT4600 does not force you to accept a call. Instead, you are given the choice of answering the call, blocking the call, or doing nothing. Computer-generated scam calls are only sent to the fraudster if the call recipient picks up.

Re: Can I change a landline number which is swamped by scam callers?

Carlusha — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:44:03 GMT

@RichieRichiewrote:
Thank you and everyone else so far. I’m not sure if my thanks are appearing under the right message! Please forgive my newbie-ness on the forum! 😊

Quote the message to which you are THANKING like yours above and then your message of thanks.. Also, there is a RATINGS button which you can click to show appreciation.