@Foxylady6264 wrote:
Your database of phone numbers has been hacked or shared. This is really worrying given the GDPR rules we are expected to comply with. I shouldn't be having to purchase a device to screen calls that are fraudulently claiming to be from a business that I purchase a service from. I have reported it to the action fraud team, however, Virgin Media needs to be doing more to protect it's customers.
Unfortunately, it would seem unlikely that VM will be implementing any further features for customers to use on its existing phone network as that is scheduled for retirement by 2025. After that, home phone services will be provided via a connection to the back of the VM hub. From that point, more technological solutions are likely to be available to centrally block scam calls more effectively.
The scam calls are not as a direct result of a data breach. The calls are generated by automatic dialling software which rings blocks of numbers in sequence hoping to make a connection. All telecoms providers are affected by this problem although other providers do have better customer-enabled features to mitigate against the problem.
If you do not wish to invest in a call screening/blocking device, your existing phone may possibly already have some features built in which may help a bit with identifying the scam calls as outlined below.
https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Home-Phone/High-number-of-nuisance-scam-calls/m-p/4451594#M1412...
Some phone ranges such as Panasonic do also allow blocking of certain number ranges as well as withheld numbers. Worth noting though that blocking withheld numbers can sometimes block calls from doctors, hospitals etc. who do sometimes withhold their caller ID.
The most effective solution though is a screening/blocking device of some kind.