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3rd party call centres selling customer data

  • Thread starter Thread starter clivejo
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clivejo

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My dad was with TalkTalk almost a decade ago and there was a data breach which led to cold calls by people with Indian accents asking for him by name. He had three names (ie Tom Dick Harry) and used one he didn't use on a daily bases) and also he died. The calls STILL go on to this day on the landline number that was with TalkTalk. It really upset my family and I, getting constant calls, so installed a whitelist of numbers which could reach us.

However, I have noticed that the same is now happening for me (this past week I've had 5 calls from fake numbers), but via my mobile number and the only people I gave my number to are Three UK due to the complaints open with them.

The call pattern is like this:

1) Get a call from a fake UK number
2) I answer and takes a number of "Hellos" before I'm put through to someone, I think it's automated to filter out answer machines etc.
3) The person then asks for me by my full name.
4) I ask who they are and they hang up
5) I block and report number as Spam on my dialer
6) Rinse and repeat the next morning

I am now convinced that a Three Contact centre has passed on my details illegally, but wondering if anyone else has noticed this?
 
Hi clivejo,

Is three the only company who know your mobile number?

I have several mobile numbers, but only one number receives spam calls and texts, which are always reported to 7726, text call to 7726 and you get a request for the number that called you, text a spam message to 7726 and they ask for the sender's number.

Where can the details be obtained, from, well, TrueCaller had a data leak of 300 million users, and you do not need to be a user of TrueCaller to be in someone's phonebook in that leak.
 
Is three the only company who know your mobile number?
Yes, as I rarely give it out. I had to give it to Three Tech Support to call me back regarding the speed issues I've been having from January 2022. Before this point I had blanket SMS's for fake parcels etc, but nothing calling me up and asking for me by name!

Just feels like too much of a coincidence!
 
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Talk Talk basically called me a liar and wouldn't own up to it, until this - https://www.decisionmarketing.co.uk/news/talktalk-fined-100000-over-india-call-centre-failings but by that time I was as far away from them as I could be!

Also, Jim Browning(YouTuber) has exposed the fact that many of these call centres are being used for scam activities outside of regular hours, or even in a separate room in the same call centre for "cover" the bosses and management knowing full well what is going on!
 
I am with Three and have never used TalkTalk in any form, I get these calls. If I accept the call I never say anything and after 4 or 5 secs the call terminates and I add the number to the blocklist. Don't even bother answering them now, straight to block if they do not leave a voicemail. I am now on Android 12 and this blocks a lot of these numbers automatically and you can report them when blocking. Calls from new people Android recognises gives you the company name and asks for confirmation after the call it really was them, works on the local tradesmen's mobile numbers.

On the landline the longest spat of spam calls was when I was BT and they were using Indian call centres, moved to Plusnet with UK call centre and they stopped within a fortnight. It now on Sipgate and just get the odd spam from mainly 020 numbers which seem to be calling random numbers, no voicemail and they get blocked.
 
I am just pointing out that TalkTalk had this problem a number of years ago, where 3rd party caller centre stole customer data.

Yes, I have that in Android 12 too and report and block them after the call. But what is concerning me is how they know my full name! It's one thing to cold call and phish for info but knowing my full name is the issue here.
 
Could be any of a number of data leaks, I was included in the Equifax leak and Google has identified some other leaks too over the years too. I deliberately never allow it to get to where they name me, in my mind that would only risk confirming their info is good, best to leave them in the dark.
 
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There are "companies" that just try every number - they then sell the list of numbers which are answered to other spammers. Numbers where they manage to get your name or location can be sold for more.
So random calls don't need to come from a leak - although calls where they already know your name are more likely to be from a leak (or bought from other spammers).
 
deliberately never allow it to get to where they name me
How do you prevent that? India (or most of the other 3rd party call centres the likes of Three use) doesn't comply with GDPR/DPA nor do their authorities look into or even shut down these scam call centres.
 
I know about this, I subscribe to FireFox Monitor which checks and alerts me about email and online account breaches. The original point is about cold call telephone calls who ask for me by my full name. This happened to my father via a TalkTalk breach, I am suggesting that these scammers got my details from Three UK who are the only people I have given those details to and have call centres based in India. I am asking other Three UK customers who have called Three "Techincal Support" or "Complaints Team" if they have received these calls.
 
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How do you prevent that?
You can't prevent the leaks unless you are totally offline but they are not 100% certain they have your true name until you say 'how do you know my name' or similar response. You then go on the fully confirmed list and get more calls as your confirmed data becomes more sellable to other scamsters. If you never answer you give them no more clues and eventually they drop you off the list of numbers to ring as they realise the data is a waste of time and resources to ring.
 
Still missing the point. Somehow they have got my full name. There are vulnerable people out there that could be convinced that these scam artists are their bank, HMRC, Amazon, Microsoft, BT or whatever other company they pretend to be. By having a name it makes it far more likely for them to get a victim to fall for the scam. If Three are indeed behind this, they need to own up to it and do something about it!
 
Here here, having to continuously give your name, date of birth and postcode to EVERYONE you speak to is just tedious. Especially when they ask again for your postcode literally 30 seconds later!

The technology is there to stop the majority of these scam callers too, but there are companies making big money from criminals to turn a blind eye, even the local police force in some parts of the world are "in on it".
 
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