Help Calls from strangers claiming I called them

[benny11]

I recently bought a new Galaxy S3, and I have been receiving calls from people who claim that I just called them. I never called these people, and it even shows so in my call log. About an hour ago, I received three calls all within the same 10 minutes. I was away from my phone at that time though, it was left untouched on my desk.

What could this be? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[snilloconator]

I had this today as well.... Anyone know what is going on?

 

[Rxpert83]

Sounds like a malicious app, or one of your friends pranking you.

It's painfully easy to fake a caller id and have someone else's phone say your number is calling them.

 

[benny11]

Sounds like a malicious app, or one of your friends pranking you.

It's painfully easy to fake a caller id and have someone else's phone say your number is calling them.

It's a brand new phone. I don't even have too many contacts yet. It can't be a prank because the few times I was able to answer, I spoke to different people. I don't think it could be an app either because all my few apps are all official apps.

 

[msndrstood]

This happened to me to the point that the same people were getting repeated calls (all strangers to me) from my phone days on end. They were happening when my phone was off and battery pulled. I went to AT&T, they could not figure it out and contacted the FCC while I was in the store, FCC could not point to any reason why it was happening.

This went on for two months, a caller left a message stating they called the State Police for harrassment. I went through all the people that called and complained and left messages on my phone about the calls, finally found someone I could question about my number showing up on their Caller ID. With some detective work between me, AT&T and the helpful victims we figured it out. Apparently my number and an 855 toll free number used by Wells Fargo were the same, except for area code. WF was making solicitation calls for financial products from that number, hence the repeated calls to the same numbers in my area code (no area code needed to call locally, so my 7 digit phone number is what was showing on caller ID, it really wasn't my phone at all). AT&T recommended I change my number since WF would not change theirs and the problem stopped. It sucked because I had that number for 7 years.

That's my story of the Phantom Phone Dialer. Good luck with yours.

 

[lexluthor]

I never called these people, and it even shows so in my call log.

Are you saying that you see outgoing calls to the the person who said you called them in your call log?

That rules out someone else forging your caller ID (which, as other have said, is trivial to do).

If that's the case, I'd say it's got to be a malicious app or someone, somehow has remote access to your phone.

 

[GJade]

hmmm.. that's creepy... you should def. contact your carrier. if it shows on your call log, does it also use up the minutes..? now that phones are technologically advancing, viruses for smartphones are popping up everywhere. what a scary world...

 

[Optimus Prune]

Are you saying that you see outgoing calls to the the person who said you called them in your call log?

That rules out someone else forging your caller ID (which, as other have said, is trivial to do).

If that's the case, I'd say it's got to be a malicious app or someone, somehow has remote access to your phone.

If I read the post correctly, they are saying exactly the opposite. Namely, their call log shows no outgoing calls. It was a bit vague.

 

[Rxpert83]

I'm saying it's very easy for someone to place a call using phone "a" and calling phone "b" and have it show up on phone b's caller ID as phone "c". If phone "a" then hangs up, phone "b" tries to call back and calls phone "c".

You are phone c

You've never called them, and they claim you have because that's what showed up on their caller id

 

[benny11]

Are you saying that you see outgoing calls to the the person who said you called them in your call log?

That rules out someone else forging your caller ID (which, as other have said, is trivial to do).

If that's the case, I'd say it's got to be a malicious app or someone, somehow has remote access to your phone.

No, no. It doesn't show any outgoing calls on my log.

--

I just received another call from a man. He was willing to help me out a bit. I asked him to to verify the number he received calls from. He said that the number has been showing up for the past couple of weeks. He gave me a number with the exact number, but the area code is where my number starts.

For example, if my full number is (123)-456-7890, he gave me this number: (456)-789-0345. My exact number, just the last three digits are different.

I called this number, and it was some automated "do not call" list service. It asked for me to register my number. I was very suspicious, so I just hung up.

 

[sorka]

No, no. It doesn't show any outgoing calls on my log.

--

I just received another call from a man. He was willing to help me out a bit. I asked him to to verify the number he received calls from. He said that the number has been showing up for the past couple of weeks. He gave me a number with the exact number, but the area code is where my number starts.

For example, if my full number is (123)-456-7890, he gave me this number: (456)-789-0345. My exact number, just the last three digits are different.

I called this number, and it was some automated "do not call" list service. It asked for me to register my number. I was very suspicious, so I just hung up.

Sounds like you are being setup for a scam. If the number he gave you, that he called you back on himself is *NOT* your number and if you have someone else call the number he gave and it does *NOT* ring your phone, then the guy you talked to *IS* part of the scam.

 

[davoid]

Sounds like you are being setup for a scam. If the number he gave you, that he called you back on himself is *NOT* your number and if you have someone else call the number he gave and it does *NOT* ring your phone, then the guy you talked to *IS* part of the scam.

Yes, I was just going to say - how come when you ring the number he gave you, you get this suspicious scam line, but when he supposedly rings the number, he gets you?

 

[Eryl Flynn]

One of you is likely in a 7 digit calling area, and that changes what number it is actually calling. Deal with that at work frequently, as a slight change in a dialing rule or misunderstanding of how things work for my internal customers will lead to them calling the wrong place.

 

[benny11]

Sounds like you are being setup for a scam. If the number he gave you, that he called you back on himself is *NOT* your number and if you have someone else call the number he gave and it does *NOT* ring your phone, then the guy you talked to *IS* part of the scam.

But it doesn't seem like any sort of scam. I receive calls from real people. They aren't saying anything weird, they are just questioning why/if I called them. It's not a problem on my end as I see it now, it just happens so that my number is similar to the fraud thing.

Now all that's left is stopping these people from calling. Is the only way to stop this is to change my number?

I've called T-Mobile multiple times, and they just tell me the same thing. They say that I can setup a block-list, which is useless. Then as I explain to them the actual problem, they offer me to change my number for a fee of $15. I don't understand how they expect me to pay them for a problem I'm not responsible for, especially that it's the number they gave me.

--

Edit: I just received another call from a man. He said he's been receiving robotic/automated calls. I asked him to verify the number, he said he can't view it because it's in the caller ID of his phone. He just said he remembered it was area code 123 (for example), which are the first three digits of my phone. We were from the same area code, so I told him it's area code whatever, and he ended the conversation.

 

[Rolo42]

Have you talked to the phone company? Whether fraud or programming error, Ma Bell has to get involved.

 

[scrannel]

As I recall, a few years back this was happening to a bunch of people and it turned out to be a network issue. T-Mobile in that case (there's a complaint on the T-mo forum about this right now).

 

[benny11]

As I recall, a few years back this was happening to a bunch of people and it turned out to be a network issue. T-Mobile in that case (there's a complaint on the T-mo forum about this right now).

So what should I do? I called T-Mobile, but they don't provide any good support. I wrote that post on the T-Mobile forum.

 

[davoid]

For example, if my full number is (123)-456-7890, he gave me this number: (456)-789-0345. My exact number, just the last three digits are different.

What I don't understand is why these people are not dialing the last three digits when they return the call...

 

[HotRoderX]

This sounds like someone is spoofing your number for either solicitations or perhaps fishing for personal information from people. I think if I was in your shoes I contact the phone company tell them what is going on then request a number change if they could not give me a satisfactory answer.

 

[benny11]

What I don't understand is why these people are not dialing the last three digits when they return the call...

Me neither. Just now, I received two calls (7 calls today already from 10:00AM to now 11:30AM). One guy told me a number completely different from mine with no similarity. The other gave me my same number, but with different last three digits. This number was some automated call about the IRS and taxes.

This sounds like someone is spoofing your number for either solicitations or perhaps fishing for personal information from people. I think if I was in your shoes I contact the phone company tell them what is going on then request a number change if they could not give me a satisfactory answer.

Will do.

Edit: I called T-Mobile, asked for a number change. They said they will waive the fee, so all is good. The new number should take in effect in two hours or so. Hopefully this new number doesn't have the same issue.

 

[sorka]

It wouldn't be all good with me. I've had my cell number for 22 years and I'll have to be dead before I give it up.

What you're saying that isn't making sense to others is that the people who are calling you back *AREN'T* actually dialing your number so how is it that they are calling you back?

Something is very fishy here.

 

[ravenas]

I've had some weirdness happen with my Google Voice number this week. Random people (about 4 now) keep calling/texting me. I got one call at 2am. Annoying because I have GVoice set to ring my home and cell phone simultaneously. (Reminds me, I need to set that time filter.)

I figured the number has gotten on some list or there's a network issue at play. My new T-Mobile account got a few random texts as well, probably directed to the old phone number user.

I also mistakenly allowed my niece to register for one of those "text for a prize" coupons at Hollister a week ago. I stopped it before she could finish (as soon as I read the small print warning), but I'm wondering if my number got listed then. I never encountered that particular scam before. Next time I'll be much more weary of those texting ploys.

 

[shotinthenads]

It is very easy for someone to spoof a cell number or have your number show up on someone else's caller ID. If it was me I would have Verizon issue a new cell number. I had to change my cell number a few times and I wasn't charged. I think you can even do this on-line.

 

[shotinthenads]

I've had some weirdness happen with my Google Voice number this week. Random people (about 4 now) keep calling/texting me. I got one call at 2am. Annoying because I have GVoice set to ring my home and cell phone simultaneously. (Reminds me, I need to set that time filter.)

I figured the number has gotten on some list or there's a network issue at play. My new T-Mobile account got a few random texts as well, probably directed to the old phone number user.

I also mistakenly allowed my niece to register for one of those "text for a prize" coupons at Hollister a week ago. I stopped it before she could finish (as soon as I read the small print warning), but I'm wondering if my number got listed then. I never encountered that particular scam before. Next time I'll be much more weary of those texting ploys.

Don't forget you can block callers on Google Voice (and for that matter on your Verizon account)

 

[ylexot]

What I don't understand is why these people are not dialing the last three digits when they return the call...

Maybe they are. See if this makes sense...
Phone # (456)-789-0345 calls person in area that uses 7-digit dialing.
That person dials 456-789-0345 (or just hits redial), but since they are in a 7-digit dialing area, they should have dialed 1-456-789-0345. The phone system connects them to 456-7890 and ignores the last three digits.
Benny's phone rings because that is his phone number.