Mobile Scam?I’ve been getting a lot of odd incoming calls on my mobile recently. They ring strangely and on the screen it says they are data calls. If I answer them I get modem type noises so I have stopped bothering. I have a very low function brick so maybe they are photographs or ring tones or something like that.
They all come from 01772 208600 so I did a search on that and it seems he same number is used by a rogue outfit called Blue Bamboo in Preston, Lancs. who cold call people to get them to buy upgrades to their Orange contract. It is not going to work this way on me, but perhaps the idea is to persuade me to ring them back. Be warned!
Note: this situation has moved on since the original post was made so do read to the end of the comments before jumping to any conclusions.
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I have just found out that I have extended my Orange contract through Blue Bamboo which is quite amazing considering I have never spoken to them.
I feel a call to watchdog coming on
Had the same “convincing” message given over the phone when I suggested they were cold calling my data number, claiming someone had “hijacked” their 0161 number, didn’t believe it then, don’t believe it now, so called Orange to get my data number, then #31# called back asking Blue Banana to remove me from their database, which they happily did, till the next time I get another data call!
Person who I called originally told me three times they were an Orange dealer, only after asking three times did they say they were Blue Grapefruit or whoever. Second time I called back they did say Orange Dealer Blue Bamboo, so I guess there must be someone upfront and honest there!
Orange weren’t any help regarding reporting Blue Bumbag, they first gave me ICSTIS to call who then told me to call the telephone preferencial service, anyone who wants that number should call 0800 398893 to get their number removed from the cold calling database or go to http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
I have also been having this number call me frequently over the last couple of days. I called 150 via Orange phone to report as it states in a previous response. A guy at Orange was very helpful and got my number blocked from receiving calls from that number, will see what happens but fingers crossed.
Thought others may like to try this.
Dial 150, go through multiple menus till you speak to a human and explain all from details above.
Cheers
Thanks Nick, The menus are not obvious but until you get to a human think “my phone is not working” and it gets you to the right place – also pick a quiet time of day as they get very busy. I am fortunate that I have a designated number for corporate phones and it was painless.
After 1/2 hour or so you should get a SIM update which is them removing the facility.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who uses the data facility and it getting the problem as, clearly, they can’t go this route.
I also got a large number of calls a day on my Orange phone number. Each call came through to me as a “data call”, and I made a note of the number to return the call using voice. I called them straight back using my voice number, and got connected immediately. I found that the original caller was an outfit called – you guessed it – “Blue Bamboo”. I then asked them to remove my number from their database; they immediately agreed and apologised – but not until after trying to sell me something! However, this apparent removal did not stop the incoming data calls from them.
After a bit of thinking, I remembered that my phone has two separate numbers; one specifically for voice and another for data. Many old contracts were set up this way with two numbers; the idea being that, in the early days of mobile phones, the “data number” could be used to dial-up email and internet access. Nobody needs to access digital services by dial-up nowadays; instead this is routed through GPRS which is much cheaper and far faster, especially if you are a 3G customer. Recent contracts need only have one number.
To their possible credit, Blue Bamboo probably had removed my VOICE number from their database, but since they were calling my DATA number, this removal would have had no effect.
Realising that I did not actually need my data number, I phoned Orange and asked them to remove it. The initial response from the Orange representative was “what’s a data number?” After explaining what had happened, the guy at Orange did a bit of research and was able to identify my data number to disable it. After 5 minutes I got a SIM update from Orange which removed the data number. Since doing this I have had no more calls from Blue Bamboo.
Just to be safe, I also registered my voice number on the OFCOM privacy database!
So, if you get repeated calls from Blue Bamboo (or anyone else) to your data number, call Orange and get them to disable it. You most likely will never need it anyway.
I too have been recieving these calls, but never answer them as i assumed they were a scam! its so annoying, i’m not exagerating in saying that i would say that every single number that is written on this page has rang me at some point during the week- my phone is now permanantly on silent, which, whilst not being the end of the world is inconvenient when i’m out and about.
also the calls have been really early on a morning and late at night. these people (whoever they are) obviously have no shame
Thanks Julian, I wasn’t aware there there were two numbers on these phones – I wonder what my data number was, I have removed it now. I suggest to Meg and anyone else with this problem to ring 150 and get this number removed. If enough people do it they may put it in their training script and will immediately know what we are talking about. If you have a company phone with a large contract then you may have a better “priority” help line which will be even easier.
Hi just to let you all know that the number 0161 4440098 and 01772 208600 are from blue bamboo and apparently our mobile numbers are put into an automatic dialer which when a call is not answered (even if you cannot answer – data call) get put back into the system and continued to be called. If you call them up and ask to have you number taken off their lists the problem should be solved.
lets hope! .. although i have made a complaint to orange and ofcom as this practice i find very irratating and very unprofessional.
Hope you all get this solved!
I would like to add that all the comments written by the owner of blue bamboo are lies. Hi uses a system called AMCAT. This is an automated dialing system that uses an interface to import numbers and then the system does the rest. He also uses a system called pinging. This sends a signal down the line and will ring you once, this will tell him that your number is live and then his staff will wait for the amcat to dial your number again and try to persuade you to take something you dont want. I no this bacause a company i once worked for used a similar system and we visited Blue Bamboo with AMCAT for a demonstration because they were trying to sell us one. They even told us that we can spoof numbers using this system so that people dont actually no where we are calling from.
If you read previous comments made you will see that someone put the 0161 number down as being a number that is spoofing theirs.RING THIS NUMBER AS I DID. IT IS THE SAME COMPANY. You will even get the same nugget on the automated voice message telling you that all the operators are busy and please hold.
BlueBamboo are a waste of space and the manager ian is just feeding you all lies..
i have also had about ten calls recently of this company trying to sell me a upgrade i have been asked to be taken off the system bout 5 of the times they have called but they still havent done this also i have found out were the company is based as it is not to far away frm my home it is about 7miles away which was a good thing as i have been in and sed about what has been happeneing i have spoken to the boss ian and he has said that he will sort it out and take me off the system but he hasnt as i had a call today at 3:37 pm someone called sam now this girl has rung be about 3 of the tens times but she just doesnt get the picture so dont get your upgrades from blue bamboo also i think that we should start a potintion of some sort to shut down the company as they are becoming very annoying to alot of people all over england and they are very rude and crap at there job!
Very interesting. Just found this forum while waiting to be transferred to a manager after receiving a missed call, two weeks after being taken off their database. To cut a very long story short, they confirmed that the 0161 number is a fake CLS they use which diverts to their Preston office. They also confirmed that they use AMCAT to dial out. They adamantly deny making deliberate missed calls but having called them four times this afternoon (from landlines and withheld numbers), they have on each occassion answered the phone by introducing themselves in such a way that they clearly believed I had had a missed call – often apologising for it! And of course they are using every opportunity to blame this mystery person who is apparently blackening their good name by making missed calls pretending to be them. Oh, nearly forgot, apparently its just me 🙂
I’ve had numerous ‘missed call’ messages, plus the data calls.
These people are scum; my numbers are registered with TPS, and fools like these simply ignore them. Frankly, it’s becoming one of the worst things about being with Orange; outfits like these and numerous others, calling up being disingenuous about who they really are.
I’ve tried reasoning with cold callers, I’ve tried asking them if they’d break other laws if their boss asked them to, I’ve tried swearing at them. They just believe that the laws don’t apply to them.
They’re despicable, sleazy people and the sooner Blue Bamboo go out of business, the better.
I recently upgraded my phone when blue bamboo called me. They said that they were Orange, not calling ON BEHALF of orange, everything was delivered without a glitch.
I then found out that they should have offered me various different tarriffs which they did not. I rang Ornage today to be told to take it up with blue bamboo who told me that Orange had said i was not eligible for a different tarriff… Orange said that this was not the cas eand said i was eligible for any tarriff even the new ones. I then rang blue bamboo back who said that they would listen to the recorded conversation bewteen me and the sales guy and ring me back. They didnt ring. They also said that i was entitled top 10% off my BILL…but they meant off my LINE RENTAL.
tHEY ALSO SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO CHANGE MY TARRIFF AS ITS PAST THE 7 DAYS TO CANCEL MY CONTRACT.
Does any one know of any other ways around this?? Is it illegal to cancel my direct debit??
Blue Bamboo are cowboys! DO NOT GET INVOLVED!!
I ordered a phone through them, they sent it out via courier the next day to my home address rather than the specified delivery office address. The courier do not accept changes of address unless the origin company changes them. Blue Bamboo have said twice that they will call and change the address but having called the couriers, they have not.
This was 5 days ago- Last night they cut my Sim Card off- I now have no new phone and no mobile phone capabilities. Fantastic.
I will be reporting these idiots to the regulators.
Hi everybody – I am closing comments on this post now because it is getting a bit out of date and out of control. I suggest that you contact OFCOM if you have any problems of this sort.
[Update: 16 May 2007. Rick Clark has taken up this topic and is inviting comments on his blog.]