This is a collaborative post
People can be on one side or the other when it comes to phone calls. Some people love receiving calls, allowing them to talk to loved ones for hours on end without actually needing to see them in person. Others may be hesitant to answer the phone, preferring to text, email, or instant message to convey information. Regardless of which camp you reside in; you may want to think about some of the reasons why a number you don’t recognise could appear on your caller ID.
One of the most worrying things that could occur via telephone might be a scam caller. Even those who have researched the types of scams that exist could find themselves being led astray, especially if the person on the other end of the line is particularly convincing.
If you find that the number is an 0161 code or something else that you do not immediately recognise, there are some steps that you can take. Initially, it could be a good idea to ignore the call entirely. A lot of the time, a genuine caller may leave a voicemail containing their name, company, the reason for calling, and a number that you can call back on. You may find that scam callers do not leave such information.
Another reason an unfamiliar number may try to contact you can be through cold calling. While this may not be as dangerous as scam artists, it can still be incredibly annoying. These calls could come from a company that you already deal with, such as your internet provider, trying to upsell you other services. Alternatively, third parties could have gotten hold of your number, and be using it to try and convince you to spend your money with them. At times, charitable organisations may also contact you to ask for aid. One of the ways that you can reduce the likelihood of this occurring can be signing up for the TPS, or telephone preference service. This is a list of numbers who have opted out of cold calling, and companies may face significant fines if they do not respect an individual’s wish to not be called.
There may also be a simple reason why a caller is unknown to you. That could be because they have misdialled, and are trying to reach someone else. This may be because of illness, old age, the influence of drugs and alcohol, or simply human error. When this occurs, you may be left with a couple of options. If the individual leaves a message, you could ignore it and hope that they realise their mistake on their own. Alternatively, you may want to inform them of their error, so that they can then attempt to contact the correct person. A misdialled call may not be nefarious, but the result of a genuine mistake.
When an unknown number calls, you may be worried about being tricked or manipulated by the person on the other end of the line. By finding ways to reduce the likelihood of speaking to scam callers, and minimise the number of cold calls that reach you, you may be better able to protect yourself.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post