I noticed I have been receiving calls lately from others stating I have called them.
Either
A:
It's a scam to get my details, but they wouldn't be calling so often as they already know my name. (less likely)
B: My number is being spoofed. (most likely) The question is what can I do about it?
Has anyone else experienced this and what can you do about it?
I'm on the 0468 range with quite a few of 8s in my number.
Spoofed
I hope they clean it up.
What did your mobile provider say?
I'm not sure. I'm at work at the moment, but thought I would write something quick and short to ask what others have done.
I don't want to vacate and gold number though.
That'd be the first step, I think.
Is it banks or just randoms calling?
Randoms, I need to keep the number as well because it's the one I give out to clients.
Call your number and see who answers ;)
If it is a spoofed number and your number is unlucky enough to have been selected all you can do is ignore it.
After a while they will discard your number and spoof another number.
As it'll be an offshore company doing this there's no avenues available in Australia to complain to who have the authority to pursue it for you.
You can either change your number or ignore them, I don't think there are any other options.
Maybe Google your number to see if it is listed somewhere online that isn't you.
It sucks that this is happening to you.
Nah, not many know it; it is personal express phone line to reach me. It's not online anywhere.
I work at a law firm, so I'm imagining the awkward phone call from the police when someone has lost thousands because my number showed up…
Hopefully they call back on the number before they transfer anything, but knowing most people; they won't until it's too late.
It will be online if it is on one of those websites where people report on scams
Hmmm, lots of 8's in the number? Lucky for Chinese people? The amount of scam calls I get leaving Chinese voices on my voicemail is getting out of hand.
Our phone system is badly built so spoofing is easy. Sorry…
/popcorn
I haven't got that but my other half and I have got a few messages talking about accomodation booked by other people and details about arrival etc. We have been, basically, ignoring them. We figure if it is legitimate that the people will fix their number up with the provider and, if it is a scam, I'm not interested.
Not sure what anyone would gain by spoofing your number in this way. Maybe go to your provider and see if there is anything they can do.
Unfortunately all (most?) Australian telcos have next to zero security or governance on what phone calls with originating numbers coming in to their network.
In the USA (pre covid19 though) there was an FTC mandate for the US telcos to use STIR to block forged calling id calls - https://www.fcc.gov/call-authentication
Hopefully the Australian govt or appropriate agency mandates the same here.
We had a similar issue at work where we have phone numbers in the same high level range as the ATO and people would come in to find 800+ missed calls on their deskphone (as it was spoofed for the "ATO is going to arrest you" scam. Telstra did some hackery just for us but they could not make it permanent or wide ranging.
Note your mobile number now is probably on many spam/scam lists so that will suck for you.
Get a new number