https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1ianhss/myself_and_wife_both_received_lots_of_private/
created by andyby2k26 on 26/01/2025 at 19:18 UTC
72 upvotes, 18 top-level comments (showing 18)
Last night I got 4 missed calls from a "private number" between 1.45am and 2.45am. I woke up and noticed the missed calls and panicked, thinking something was wrong (family emergency or something).
My wife woke up and she also had 3 missed calls. All the calls were alternating (me, her, me, her...). My phone then rang again at this point. I answered it and said "hello" but all I could hear was a loud computer/electronic sound (like a fax/modem kind of sound), and then after about 5 seconds, my voice echoed back to me. The call was then ended.
Neither me or my wife received any more calls after this.
I'm used to spam calls, but I'm confused how both me and my wife would be receiving the calls in the alternating fashion.
Another answer would be that it's someone both me and my wife knows. There's noone that comes to mind for this. We don't really have the type of friends who'd do random phone pranks at 3am.
It genuinely felt like something out of a horror movie while it was happening, but now it's just really confusing me. Is there some other answer that anyone can suggest?
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Comment by Projected2009 at 26/01/2025 at 19:26 UTC
17 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Sounds like a scene from 'White Noise'... someone probably trying to spook you.
Comment by Frosty_Thoughts at 27/01/2025 at 00:02 UTC
14 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As another user stated, it's likely phone phishing to see if a number is active or currently in use. I used to receive them too, always at some ungodly hour of the morning. I changed the settings on my phone so that it automatically rejects private numbers and they stopped shortly after.
Comment by ilikewatch10 at 27/01/2025 at 04:45 UTC*
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you have a elderly relative who might have subscribed to a fall alert/emergency button service and added you as contacts?
I know there are some cheaper versions of these that aren't monitored by a call centre and will just keep.dialling all the contacts on rotation until someone answers.
Comment by PrestigiousTest6700 at 26/01/2025 at 21:41 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It will be phone phishing.
Comment by melanie110 at 26/01/2025 at 19:30 UTC
63 upvotes, 1 direct replies
With an iPhone, you can divert all none stored numbers.
It’s called silence unknown numbers. My phone number has been spoofed and I’ve had so many calls. I just divert them
Comment by Medical_Squirrel3955 at 26/01/2025 at 19:46 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Monitored Alarm or Tracker?
Comment by paganinipannini at 26/01/2025 at 19:53 UTC
21 upvotes, 2 direct replies
They would like to talk to you about your car's extended warranty...
Comment by Beautiful-Oil4835 at 27/01/2025 at 00:15 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Have you contacted 111? Or have you or your wife had any tests done through your GP?
Because when you get tests done via your GP, e.g blood tests and results come up concerning, then the lab would forward your results to the OOH GP and then they call you or whatever numbers is stored with your GP
EDIT: I used to work for both 111 and the OOH GP.
Comment by relentless_rage at 27/01/2025 at 07:50 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I've had random numbers that show up on my phone saying they had a missed call from my number. Also I have returned missed calls from random numbers and they say they never called me. Weird
Comment by YvanehtNioj69 at 27/01/2025 at 03:11 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This sounds creepy I'm glad you have your wife though and that she has you there as an anxious single person I would not be going back to sleep after this haha. As others are saying though 99.9% chance that it's nowhere near as creepy as it could seem.
Comment by Doctorstrange2186 at 27/01/2025 at 06:20 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You can block private or unknown numbers directly on your phones. Most smartphones have settings to silence or block calls from numbers that don’t show their caller ID.
You could also try apps like Truecaller or Hiya. These apps help identify suspicious calls, flag potential spam, and let you report unwanted numbers so others can avoid them too. It’s a quick way to take back some control over your phone!
Comment by RPG_Rob at 27/01/2025 at 11:51 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Aliens.
Comment by Jiggerypokery123 at 27/01/2025 at 11:55 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Indian acammers probably.
Comment by New_Expectations5808 at 27/01/2025 at 20:37 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I was trying to get hold of your wife. When I couldn't I thought I'd ask you
Comment by Annual-Ad-7780 at 26/01/2025 at 19:22 UTC
-19 upvotes, 2 direct replies
There's a very simple way to stop this, don't put either of your mobile numbers anywhere online unless you absolutely have to, as you WILL get spam calls.
I've had several myself over the last month or so, pointless reporting to the Network because they either can't or won't do anything, just block them.
Comment by ledow at 27/01/2025 at 01:18 UTC
-12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Here's a tip:
Turn your ringtone off or set it to a silent sound.
Add individual contacts as ringtones with actual sounds.
Sleep easy and stop panicking about "unknown caller" calls forever more.
Computer dialling systems are so prevalent for spam callers that it's just not worth bothering about and even reported is largely useless. Likely a company that you both have your numbered registered on has had a computer fault or a database leak and your numbers are next to each other on the same address. Could be literally ANYTHING that you've both got your numbers on (even if not at the same time / account), or anyone who's ever worked for their calls teams and has stolen the database (happens far more often than you think... and I have proof of it happening several times to myself). Could be your bank, GP surgery, local pizza place (if you've both ordered from there in the past to the same address), carpet shop, etc. and literally ANYONE who's ever worked for them could have taken a copy of the numbers to sell onto a rival or sell to a database list that spam callers use.
I have had the same number for 25 years... I basically get almost no spam calls... and the ones I do get are silent and just ring out (no voicemail either). I then report them to spam reporting services. Nothing ever happens about them.
It's 2025. Stop fussing about spam calls and just ignore them... automatically... by configuring your phone properly. And if you have a landline... throw it away.
If you're not listed in my contacts already, it'll ring out silently forever. If it's important, you'll text me - and tell me who you are and what you want. And I can just ignore that too if I want.
Do you fuss about every spam email the same? No? Then calls are no different now. The generational training that you think a phone call is somehow important is the cause of the problem. It's just a spam email. At 3am. Who cares what it is or where they got your number/email address... just ignore it.
And the best way to do that is to silence your phone and add individual contacts so only your KNOWN CONTACTS ring. Anything else... they can leave a message, send you an email, text you, Whatsapp you.... gosh it's like in the modern age we have any NUMBER of ways of getting into contact with someone.
Comment by pajamakitten at 26/01/2025 at 21:10 UTC
-24 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Could have just been a case of wrong number TBH. Not everything is a big conspiracy.