Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Cinnamon]

I think I am the victim of a prankster/nasty person

 

It started yesterday evening when I got a call to my mobile saying that I had completed an online form asking for a quote for replacement windows. As I own a replacement window company this is a little unlikely, & the chap I spoke to suggested that someone was winding me up. They obviously know about my association with the trade & my mobile phone number (which is private & not a company number - very few people have it). They also put a false email address down (sarah@yahoo.com)

 

I didn't think much of it until I got 9 more similar calls today,from similar businesses & P.P.I claim people.

I have also had 6 'dead' calls on my home phone., & a message saying my P.P.I claim pack is in the post to me

As it happens they haven't bothered me much as my home phone is on permanent call-minder & my mobile blocks any unknown or obvious spam numbers, however 9 did get through...these are now blocked too.

 

Its a bit worrying that someone is going to the trouble of putting my name & number on these online forms & I would LOVE to know who it is - any ideas on how I can find out.......will an IP address help maybe?

 

As I said,my mobile number is not widely known, nor is our trade.... its all very suspicious

[Geoid]

will an IP address help maybe?

Yes, your ISP or the police can trace it to a person/address

[Grandmashazzie]

Have you recently filled in your number on anything online?In the last two weeks our landline has had numerous calls around 5-6 per day,previously 1-2 a month.I can only think it has been passed on by some company.I am really cross as I get genuine calls from withheld nos and international calls so I can't block them.

[Cinnamon]

No,I never put my mobile number on forms & such.

I have checked with each company & they all say that my details were voluntarily sent to them,rather than them getting them from another source, & all on Sunday just gone too, when we were out all day.

[WitchHazel]

No,I never put my mobile number on forms & such.

I have checked with each company & they all say that my details were voluntarily sent to them,rather than them getting them from another source, & all on Sunday just gone too, when we were out all day.

 

I would ask the companies concerned to send you the IP address (and any other info they have), if they have captured that information. The police are unlikely to do anything, as no fraud has been committed, but having the information available may be helpful in the future, just in case it escalates.

 

It's probably not really malicious, I suspect that someone you have upset lately (or someone who is upset that you have upset someone else) did it for a "bit of a laugh". I appreciate that, even if that is the case, it doesn't really help or reduce the nuisance value to you..

Edited March 5, 2013 by Guest

[sjp]

only the police and BT can ask for the IP address etc in the case of prank /malicious phone calls and the police should take them serious either way they need to be reported to the police

[WitchHazel]

only the police and BT can ask for the IP address etc in the case of prank /malicious phone calls and the police should take them serious either way they need to be reported to the police

 

I'm really surprised at that, as a users IP address is widely circulated and recorded and doesn't directly provide information on who an individual is. It'ss stored in email headers, it's recorded when the user visits web pages etc.

 

I can see that only the Police or other appropriate agency are the only ones who can legally requre the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to disclose any information that links the IP address to a person or physical address... but I'm not convinced that they are the only ones who can ask for the IP address itself.

 

In Sarah's case the IP address may be of limited use, as many people automatically have new IP addresses assigned at intervals. But you never know.

[Cinnamon]

4 more phone calls today & the Postie has jut delivered 5 P.P.I claim packs too

 

I am more annoyed about the amount of paper being wasted than anything

[WitchHazel]

4 more phone calls today & the Postie has jut delivered 5 P.P.I claim packs too

 

I am more annoyed about the amount of paper being wasted than anything

 

We've had an inordinate number of P P I calls over the last few weeks, mostly to our home phone. I don't think anyone has given out our number, I think these are probably just autodiallers.

 

The fact that the postman has delivered a load to you though definitely shows that this isn't random. It's someone who knows your address and your mobile. Annoyingly, if they have input these details somewhere, then you're likely to get a whole load of additional hassle now, as it's likely you've been opted-in for having your details sold.

 

I would definitely contact the police or you local PCSO (Community support officer) to register that this has happened.

Edited March 5, 2013 by Guest

[Cinnamon]

This is what I have found out now.

I kept getting one number repeatedly call me,& now that I have spoken to them I have found out that they are an online P.P.I agents. Basically other companies register with them & they pass the details on once an online enquiry has been made.

Someone made one at 3.30 Sunday afternoon,saying I wanted every P.P.I company registered with this umbrella company to deal with my claim.

They have now taken me off of their database,but not before 10 more claim packs were posted to me today!

I have a number for their IT dept & am going to ring them later in the hopes that I can get more details.

 

I am going to chat to my local support officer I think,thanks for that suggestion.

 

I can only assume something similar has been done with a double glazing firm.

I REALLY want to find out who is behind this.

[WitchHazel]

Someone made one at 3.30 Sunday afternoon,saying I wanted every P.P.I company registered with this umbrella company to deal with my claim..

 

I think that should be enough grounds for the police to take this a little more seriously.

 

It's good that the company concerned is being so helpful. Do they record their calls at all?

[Scary Mary]

How very irritating for you - its bad enough when you haven't been specifically targeted, but you have been put right at the receiving end of a feeding frenzy.

 

Just a thought, before involving the police, is there any chance it could be your new sister in law (or her friends) ill conceived idea of a joke/revenge for your non compliance regarding her baby shower.

 

It is very pleasing to think of the police turning up on the doorstep of the guilty party - but if it turns out to be family future relations might be quite strained to say the least!

 

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

 

Mary

[soapdragon]

So sorry that you are having this hassle, Sarah - its infuriating and I do feel for you, esp not knowing who is behind it. PCSO or local bobby is an excellent idea and asap! Hope you get to the bottom of it .

 

Are you registered with the telephone preference service? There is one for mail to; they don't stop everything but we have noticed a HUGE reduction since registering with them - just a thought .

[Geoid]

only the police and BT can ask for the IP address etc in the case of prank /malicious phone calls and the police should take them serious either way they need to be reported to the police

 

I'm really surprised at that, as a users IP address is widely circulated and recorded and doesn't directly provide information on who an individual is. It'ss stored in email headers, it's recorded when the user visits web pages etc.

Thats because it's not true, your IP address is public information, only the police/ISP's can trace it however.

[Redwing]

Surely the police have better things to do? there is nothing sinister here - no one is applying for loans with a stolen identity etc....its annoying yes but all those letters can go stright in the recycling once the address has been torn off them

 

Whoever it is will get bored soon I dare say

[The Dogmother]

It's a pain more than anything I guess. If you speak to your 'phone provider, they will be able to block any numbers that you can get hold of. I would be tempted to let all calls go through to the voice mail for a week or so to filter out all the nuisance sales calls; if they get VM more than a couple of times, they soon stop ringing.

 

Use TPS and MPS to block any spam mail etc.

[Cinnamon]

I already have an excellent call blocker on my mobile,so that is not a problem & in fact I turned it off so that the umbrella company could get through,so I could speak to them)

 

Its more the principle of the thing than anything. That someone has gone to the trouble of doing this.

Yes, I did think of my SIL.....she is a very strange woman & has done some odd things in the past. We did communicate a week or so ago, & it didnt go well. There is also another woman I suspect.

I would rather know than suspect someone innocent. And I do find it malicious & sinister......its a truly horrible thing to do & I for one cannot get my head around why someone would be so mean. What next? Will they anomalously write to my work & say I am stealing? This could go on & on & I think it needs to be taken fairly seriously.

[The Dogmother]

If it goes beyond just being a nuisance then I'd report it to the police. although they probably won't pay it much heed unless they are actually threatening you (check this with Fred), having said that, they were wonderful when I had a stalker a couple of years back, but then he was very threatening.

[Willow]

Sarah,

If you haven't already you should report it to the police and get a case number. Even if they don't do anything much to track it down if problems escalate and particularly if they try to do anything to undermine you at work you have the evidence trail of having reported an unknown person harassing you to the the police.

It is very difficult to get an ISP to release name and address details from an IP address but I can put you in touch with someone who can provide professional help if you need it and you will absolutely need a police case number.

I don't think you should hold off calling the police in case it's a family member.

[TheGirlsMum]

Would it be worth letting the people know that you suspect that you will be reporting to the police what has been happening, they might well try and stop you and in so doing, own up?

 

Just a thought.

 

I know I would hate to be going through what you are I would be in bits worrying what they would do next.

[Cinnamon]

Well,I have contacted the police & they were worse than useless - it is not a crime to give a third party false information (which I knew) & they basically told me to stop bothering them.

I am quite cross not to even have been properly listened to,but dismissed as a time waster.

 

I am determined to get to the bottom of it all - have had more calls & packs through the post today. Also,very oddly I had a pack from an estate agent with properties for sale in Horsham (never been there) addressed to a Mr G*******, at my address. We have lived here for 25 years!

I phoned them & the lady I spoke to said she remembered him coming in, he was a middle aged man, & that all the other contact details he gave were false & bouncing back.

But why give my address? Its a fairly unusual address....I really can't fathom this one at all. Again, the Police were not interested in this either.

[Willow]

they should have taken it seriously. It is harassment

 

I think you'd best start a log of incidents with dates

Edited March 6, 2013 by Guest

[RyanR]

Well,I have contacted the police & they were worse than useless - it is not a crime to give a third party false information (which I knew) & they basically told me to stop bothering them.

I am quite cross not to even have been properly listened to,but dismissed as a time waster.

 

I am determined to get to the bottom of it all - have had more calls & packs through the post today. Also,very oddly I had a pack from an estate agent with properties for sale in Horsham (never been there) addressed to a Mr G*******, at my address. We have lived here for 25 years!

I phoned them & the lady I spoke to said she remembered him coming in, he was a middle aged man, & that all the other contact details he gave were false & bouncing back.

But why give my address? Its a fairly unusual address....I really can't fathom this one at all. Again, the Police were not interested in this either.

 

The Police are too busy with this sort of nonsense. Perhaps wearing a pink pom-pom would have got their attention.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2288329/Community-slams-police-hanging-knitted-pom-poms-trees-help-reduce-fear-crime.html?ITO=1490&ns

[patsylabrador]

The pom-pom thing is misguided and I'm all for police not having to be social workers and counsellers but people get cross if they try to only deal with crime.

Thanks to government cuts the police barely have the resources or manpower to deal with crime let alone other problems.

They haven't properly recruited young officers for nearly three years and have been busy kicking out older, experienced officers and I can't see it getting better. A reduced service with gimmicks just about sums it up.

[Cinnamon]

I was only asking their advice & did not expect them to investigate, but the officer I spoke to was downright rude & I don't think I deserved that.