Should I report this to the police?

[bdw]

I just got one of these scam calls from Asia from someone who wanted me to let him have control of my computer. I strung him along for a while then told him to eff off.

Two minutes later he called back. I recognised the number through caller ID so I let it go to the answering machine. The guy left a long, threatening and extremely offensive message. I ignored it. Five minutes later he called back and my wife answered it. Despite her protests he threatened her and called her all sorts of offensive names before hanging up.

Five minutes later we got another call from a different foreign number. My wife answered it. It was the same guy and once again he made all sorts of threats. I have a recording of one of his calls. Is there any point in reporting this to the police?

.

 

[StevensOnln1]

Unless the calls are coming from a UK number, there probably isn't much the police or anyone else can do about it.

 

[bdw]

I am fairly web savvy and I knew this was a scam immediately but the comments he left and what he said to my wife was totally out of order and quite upsetting. I would have thought that there was some way we can be protected from this?

 

[Posilan]

I am fairly web savvy and I knew this was a scam immediately but the comments he left and what he said to my wife was totally out of order and quite upsetting. I would have thought that there was some way we can be protected from this?

Whilst it's annoying, I doubt very much if they woudl be interested anyway (rightly or wrongly!) given it's from a foreign source (even if it was in the UK they would probably not be too interested.

If the intent if the call is fraud (probably was) you could report it here: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ - they probably won't take action on a single case, but they do use the information to build up a bigger picture.

Steve

 

[StevensOnln1]

You could block his number, but most phone providers seem to charge for that. If their calling from outside the UK, then no authorities here would have any jurisdiction over them.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I just got one of these scam calls from Asia from someone who wanted me to let him have control of my computer. I strung him along for a while then told him to eff off.

Two minutes later he called back. I recognised the number through caller ID so I let it go to the answering machine. The guy left a long, threatening and extremely offensive message. I ignored it. Five minutes later he called back and my wife answered it. Despite her protests he threatened her and called her all sorts of offensive names before hanging up.

Five minutes later we got another call from a different foreign number. My wife answered it. It was the same guy and once again he made all sorts of threats. I have a recording of one of his calls. Is there any point in reporting this to the police?

.

Action and reaction I am afraid. if you mess about with criminals then you can expect criminal style reactions. I would put this down to experience and realise that it isn't smart to mess criminals about. They may have a 'cousin' living just down the road from you who could make life difficult for you.

This is why the best course of action is to politely tell them thanks but no thanks

 

[bdw]

All things considered there is something wrong with a system that allows people to make obscene calls to my home and my family.

then no authorities here would have any jurisdiction over them.

Tell that to Julian Assange.

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[OldWelshGuy]

All things considered there is something wrong with a system that allows people to make obscene calls to my home and my family.

it doesn't ALLOW it, it just fails to police it when it is impractical due to them being on the other side of the world in who knows where. If the guy was down the road from you, then they would be interested and able to take action.

 

[Posilan]

All things considered there is something wrong with a system that allows people to make obscene calls to my home and my family.

It's not the system you should be blaming - it's the people doing the scams...

Steve

 

[crphillips]

The police don't give a monkeys when it's just down the road so I wouldn't even bother calling them about someone in another country. The police are there to dish out speeding tickets and parking fines and that about their limit. Anything else and they're not interested.

 

[bdw]

It's not the system you should be blaming - it's the people doing the scams...

Steve

Exactly! I would love to, so can you tell me how to go about this?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Exactly! I would love to, so can you tell me how to go about this?

You have the number, track them down, travel to their country, and pay them a visit to inform them it's not big and it's not clever

 

[mobyme]

I would report it to the Police, if for no other reason than they thought it was OK to threaten you and your wife and they think you will be too afraid to report it.
I don't suppose for a moment that the Police will do anything about it, but stranger things have happened; for instance it might be just the sort of evidence needed to add weight to other complaints thus forcing their hand.
You're big enough and ugly enough to take care of yourself and shrug off any threat but the next person they do this to could be a different type altogether and find themselves the target of a serious financial scam or living in fear of reprisals.
It's the way criminals work once they find a soft target and sometimes it takes a stronger principled person to look after the interests of weaker minded people.

 

[bdw]

He called me again but I did not answer. One of his threats was to call me every day and that's now five times today from three different numbers.

Let's say that he carried out this threat. Would the police not be obliged to take some action if I provided his numbers?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

He called me again but I did not answer. One of his threats was to call me every day and that's now five times today from three different numbers.

Let's say that he carried out this threat. Would the police not be obliged to take some action if I provided his numbers?

No as it is a breach of the wireless and telegrraphy laws and classed as malicious calling. BUT they are not going to be able to justify spending the resources.

As I said, put it down to experience and accept that if you pull the tigers tail, you might get mauled.

I am really sorry that you find yourself in this position, but there really is nothing you can do (legally)

 

[crphillips]

yup... forget about it and move on. Don't waste the police's time. They're busy enough dishing out speeding tickets

 

[Psl]

OP, report it to the Police and ask them about an International Harassment Order, as that is what the Police told me they could issue if the calls continued.

I had occasion to go to the police last year over a call similar to the one you received, threatening me and my family. They were great and contacted the Police in the country the call originated to inform them, and then they, the UK Police, had a chat with the pillock that made the call.

If anything, it will give your wife peace of mind that the Police are aware of it and your complaint will be on record.

 

[spreadtrader]

I've had a similar calls recently

I hung up on the Indian caller before they got past the 'hello my name is William/Charles/Kevin' routine.

I then got abusive and threatening phone calls for a few days following it.

I'm sure they will soon forget about you.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I always say 'thanks but I really am not interested'. the call normally ends at that point.

 

[bdw]

The police should not be ignoring this. The problem is not just the abuse. Have a look around the Internet and you will find many cases of people who have fallen for this scam. I personally know someone who provided them with all the info they asked for. The result was that she had to contact her bank to put a block on her account.

We tend to downgrade the enormity of what they are doing because they are in Asia. These people are serious criminals who are being allowed to do this virtually unhindered and I do not think it would be rocket science to catch them. All it would take would be a bit of cooperation. I would assume that the authorities in their countries could connect the numbers to actual people and take appropriate action.

.

 

[bdw]

Just got another call. Looks like they are going to continue to do this so I may be forced to call the police.

 

[cmcp]

Block incoming calls from numbers you don't know. Guy sounds like a mentalist. What did you expect, stringing him along for a bit then telling him to eff off. No, it doesn't make it right, but you engaged and possibly inflamed the situation.

Block the calls and forget about it.

 

[Vectis]

.......I strung him along for a while then told him to eff off.......

Bit late now, I know, but swearing at someone, however justified you may think it is, rarely brings good results.

Yes, I'd probably go to the police if you have evidence (recorded phone message etc) of a threat to yourself or your wife. Not sure what they'll do but it will probably make you feel better for doing something.

 

[old boy]

no help i know
but I have a friend who fakes an initial interest in them
and asks them to call back when he is free

he then plays a little game with them for about 30 mins for a laugh sending them round in circles and they get annoyed and he says - there how do you like

not my idea of spending 30 mins but hey ho whatever floats your boat

 

[crphillips]

just answer it, turn the radio on and put the phone next to it. It's what i do with repeat cold callers.

Well, that's what i did before i got the 0800 number

 

[bdw]

Block incoming calls from numbers you don't know.

That should boost my enquiries then eh?

just answer it, turn the radio on and put the phone next to it. It's what i do with repeat cold callers.

This is a wee bit different from cold callers.

.

 

[SourChocolate]

I just got one of these scam calls from Asia from someone who wanted me to let him have control of my computer. I strung him along for a while then told him to eff off.

.

I've never heard about this scam - what is this scam about...?

 

[bdw]

No shortage of info on Google but basically they call you suggesting that they are from Microsoft and that they have detected a problem on your PC that they can fix if you give them access. You can use your imagination to think about what happens next.

 

[Latebloomer]

You are spending too much time on this phone calls. The best way to deal with them is to ignore it and block it. Same way you deal with spam emails.

Police will not bother about them.

 

[Deleted member 138423]

Anyone suggested blowing a high pitched whistle down the fone yet?

 

[Posilan]

Anyone suggested blowing a high pitched whistle down the fone yet?

I would imagine that would just exasperate the situation given they are already calling the OP because he told them to "F" off after stringing them along.

Steve

 

[shadesofblue]

It's an unfortunate that you seem to attract callers, be them telesales or people from Asia. However, I do worry sometimes that my taxes are being wasted on frivolous calls to the police regarding issues that are at the very most a minor irritation or brought on by the complainant.

 

[Bumblebuzz]

Report it to Police, it might be something they have other reports about.. it's another 1 to add to the pile should they do anything in the future.

+ Your wife/family may feel more secure.
Speak to BT, provide them with the 3 different numbers and get them to block them.

Can't a be a very intelligent scammer if he's wasting his time calling you instead of trying to scam money out of others. If this is his approach to all rejections... I wonder how much he's made

 

[Rumpole56]

Anyone suggested blowing a high pitched whistle down the fone yet?

I like this one.

Alternatively, try answering the next abusive call along the lines of "This is Detective Inspector Barnaby, Midsomer CID .....". (or get a friend to do it if you think he will recognize your voice). I did that once to a nuisance caller bothering an elderly neighbour, and it worked a treat. Mind you, these days, Plod will probably arrest YOU for impersonating a police officer and terrorizing the abuser, in breach of his human rights.

 

[The Panda]

Maybe we should start to pass these numbers on here and every single member ring them at least once a day. I think they would get the message.

 

[Psl]

It's an unfortunate that you seem to attract callers, be them telesales or people from Asia. However, I do worry sometimes that my taxes are being wasted on frivolous calls to the police regarding issues that are at the very most a minor irritation or brought on by the complainant.

I am sure the OP pays his taxes and his council tax, and therefore he has every right to contact the Police.

I doubt very much you would class it as a minor irritation if you or your family had found yourself in the same situation?

 

[shadesofblue]

I am sure the OP pays his taxes and his council tax, and therefore he has every right to contact the Police.

I doubt very much you would class it as a minor irritation if you or your family had found yourself in the same situation?

I wasn't suggesting the OP doesn't pay his taxes. However, paying those taxes doesn't mean the police should be at your call 24/7. Particularly for a situation of your own making.


If the OP had a real concern he would have called the police after initial contact rather than trying to string them along. Whether he did this for fun or in the hope 'assisting' the authorities I do not know. What is clear is the result of this is that he is now out of his depth and should accept some of the responsibility for the escalation.

 

I wasn't suggesting the OP doesn't pay his taxes. However, paying those taxes doesn't mean the police should be at your call 24/7..

Er actually they are.

That is what they are for.

 

[mobyme]

What is clear is the result of this is that he is now out of his depth and should accept some of the responsibility for the escalation.

What a load of garbage! The OP is mildly rude to someone trying to commit a criminal act and now he should accept some responsibility for the escalation; I've heard it all now.
In what parallel universe is it right for someone to be threatened for telling someone to eff off while they are trying to rob you? Worse still to be then told that somehow it's his fault; I give up.

 

[Dominic Taylor]

Back in school if I shouted at the bullies i expected abuse back. I don't think the real world is too much different. It doesn't make it right however, but it is how it is.