A Private phone ringing me .. is it O2

[monkeyspunk]

I keep get a private number ringing me saying its O2 and they can half my bill ... Its a Indian call centre and half way through they say I don't have to contact or tell Virgin or O2 .. It all sounds very dodgy and I hang up .. Do O2 have Indian call centres working for them ? .. Does this sound legit ?  

[Bambino · Accepted solution]

@monkeyspunk 

It's a well known scam
Don’t give them any information. If the number has been withheld you can't block it so just hang up.
O2 advice here:

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/phishing-and-smishing-advice
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/unwanted-calls-and-messages
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

[Virginia_L]

Just had this call today, I questioned why they were calling me from a private number and it wasn't appearing as O2 on my phone, the response I got was so ridiculous, that their phone lines are so busy and they have to use an alternative line. The hilarious thing is they think you actually swallow it. I told them to send me all the details by email then hung up. Surprise surprise nothing came in. In 20 years O2 have never called me to upsell me any product or save me money. 

[Oxonian]

@Virginia_L 

But bear in mind that even if your handset says that it is O2, it doesn't mean that it is - "number spoofing" will make it appear that O2 are calling you when it is a scammer. 

If you are in any doubt, terminate the call, reboot your handset and then 'phone O2 on a number that is on their website.   

[Aido]

Thanks for confirming what I thought.  I got a call from a Private number today and when I answered the caller said they were from O2 but there was a lot of noise in their background.  I just said "no your not, goodbye".  I was a bit concerned I had been rude to someone just trying to do their job, but if it was a scammer I'm not bothered 🙂

[Oxonian]

A warm welcome to this O2 customer to customer community @Aido. 

It almost certainly was a scammer as O2 do not engage in "cold calling". In fact, if you browse this community, you will find that O2 rarely 'phone anyone at all, even when customers want them to do so ! 👍

[Aido]

I've just had another call.  I was a bit politer this time and made the excuse, I've got to prepare for a meeting and don't have enough time to discuss.

[Enlli]

O2 Rarely ring from private numbers

Just put the phone down and ignore.

[MI5]

I had a call earlier from a mobile number and Truecaller identified it as O2.

Slightly concerning but did not answer it to find out if it was O2 or a scammer.

We know for a fact that O2 don't call out from mobile numbers but it was still flagged as an O2 call.