Scammer using my number?

[DJChoice]

Hi all, I have received 4-5 calls over the last few weeks from different people and one business saying that I've called them so they're returning my call. I do not know the people so I assume scammers have taken my number and are somehow using it to call these people so I get a returned call from these other people. Has anyone experienced this and if so, how can I get this to stop? Thanks 👍

[JonathanB]

Hi @DJChoice,

There's only two ways that your number could be used in this way. The first would be through a SIM swap fraud, i.e the fraudster had your number swapped to an alternative SIM. This can't have happened if you're still getting the return calls, as your number can only be active on one SIM at any one time.

So the most likely explanation will be something called "Spoofing". You can read more about spoofing on our Fraud to watch out for page. Spoofing is done with software which hides the real number being called from, and presents a number of the fraudster's choosing instead. Most numbers spoofed are picked at random, and are perpetrated by fraudsters outside the UK, they'll have most likely chosen your number simply to appear as though they're calling from the UK.

Organisations like Action Fraud and OfCom are working on solutions to tackle this situation, but it's a complex issue which is difficult to solve. Furthermore the fraudsters don't actually need any access to your number to fake calling from it.

We appreciate this can be really frustrating. You can have your phone number changed by customer services if you get in touch, however in most cases spoofing doesn't go on for long, as the perpetrators tend not to use the same number for many calls.

I'm sorry we can't do much to help with this other than provide information, hopefully we'll be able to work with the relevant authorities to put a stop to this in time. If you have any concerns that your account or number may have been accessed by a 3rd party, please get in touch with customer services, and they can double check this to be certain, but as I mentioned, spoofing is done independently of your network.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[gbal30]

Should Three customers report it to Three if they are being spoofed? I appreciate not much can be done but should we report it so that it is logged? Is that worthwhile?

[PeteG]

Hello there. 

Welcome to Three Community. 

I don't think anything can come from contacting the team to report it. Any number can be spoofed, and it isn't an indication that anything has happened to the number in question. 

It would be worth making sure that your accounts are all secured with strong passwords, and unique passwords. It's also worth noting that in some cases, the people calling to say that they have been receiving calls from you are in fact the scammers them selves trying to gather information from you. In those cases, the number might not have ever been spoofed, so make sure not to share your details with anyone, and ignore calls from numbers you don't recognise if you're not expecting a call. 

Pete.

[gbal30]

OK thanks Pete, understood

[JonathanB]

Hi @gbal30,

I'm not sure if you will have seen it in my original response to this topic, but there's more info on our fraud to watch out for page. As Pete mentioned spoofing isn't taking place as a result of anyone's account or connection being breached, so Three are limited in what we can do when this happens.

From what we've seen in the past, it's generally a short term activity and stops fairly quickly, and to my understanding the scammers are usually just using a UK number in the hopes of making their scam more convincing, it's unlikely that they are directly impersonating you as an individual.

Customer services can help change your phone number to a new one, but there's no guarantees that this won't be spoofed in the future too, so I think for most people it's a case of weighing up whether it's worthwhile doing this, and making all your contacts aware of a new number or not.

Action Fraud are the official police body for cybercrime and fraud, so they may be able to provide more help and advice, and you can report this as a crime if you've been the victim of spoofing too.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[gbal30]

Hi J - yep all completely understood, I was just simply wondering whether it's helpful to Three if customers let them know when it has happened, so it gets logged perhaps.

All fine, hopefully just a one-off in my case. I really don't want to be changing a number I've had for 20 years or so.

Thanks for your insight

[JonathanB]

Hi @gbal30,

Thanks for helping to raise awareness about the issue on our Community, and likewise hope this is just a one off for you. Yeah I totally appreciate that the number change isn't helpful for everyone.

My understanding is that the UK networks, and organisations like Ofcom, and Action Fraud are looking into how we all best combat this spoofing trend, so hopefully new tech will emerge in the future to protect us all.

Thanks,
Jonathan