Scam calls are getting out of hand

[Mapantz]

The number of scam calls I am getting on digital voice is getting absolutely ridiculous. I'm getting 20 a day, even after blocking dozens of numbers. 

They are now spoofing numbers which are using the area code and the local code, so it is impossible to tell by the number if it's a scam call.

I am at the end of my tether with all of this harassment. Why is it so bad? I didn't have this kind of problem with the original service..

[jac_95]

Hi Mapantz,

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[Keith_Beddoe]

@Mapantz 

You will not stop them by adding them to a blacklist, as the numbers change all the time.

The only option is to use a phone which uses a "whitelist" of personal numbers, and makes all of the rest announce themselves first, which scam callers  never do, as the calls are automated.

The BT4600 is one such phone.

[Mapantz]

It's quite unacceptable to only have one option..

That phone is no good to me, as I cannot plug it in to the router.

I'm already using the "BT advanced digital home phone"

This has to stop because it is causing me alarm and distress with the amount of calls that keep coming through.

Call protect is a complete waste of time. It is shameful that BT are not doing more to protect people from this, especially with the amount of money I am paying for this service.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@Mapantz 

You can plug the BT 4600  into a Digital Voice Adapter, which can be located wherever you want, if you cannot plug it into the phone socket on the home hub.

https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/phones/digital-voice/digital-voice-adapter

Call Protect is never going to be effective.

There are other BT phones which have the same 100% call blocking feature.

[Mapantz]

I'm sorry, but I do not see that as an acceptable solution. Why should I have to pay more money for an inferior phone?
I am simply not handing out more money, and no one should have to. That in itself is a scam..

I'll fight this tooth & nail if I have to.

BT have a duty to protect its customers.

[Mapantz]

Just talking to someone via live chat, and I get this reply:

" I have activated BT call protect on your digital voice service."

Wow, just wow!
They haven't activated anything, as it was already activated on the day I got digital voice, and already has a long list of numbers that I have been blocking.

[gg30340]

There are tens of millions of scam calls made every day which it is a world wide problem not just a BT problem.

All telephone providers are blighted with this problem and if it was an easy problem to resolve the telephone providers would have resolve it by now.

Most but not all the calls originate from out side the UK and are an "Internet call" with "spoofed" numbers.

Number spoofing scams - Ofcom

This means that they are not genuine phone numbers so it is a pointless exercise trying to block them.

Ofcom are well aware of the problem and are realistic about what and how much the telephone providers, including BT, are doing to try and stop the problem.

45 million people targeted by scam calls and texts this summer - Ofcom

As regards "I'll fight this tooth & nail if I have to" .    Please keep this thread updated how you get on.