I ts all tied into the scam callers. But obviously its not the call that causes the problem so much as their inability to hang up.
The most widespread scams are on WhattsApp, you get a random message apologising for missing a date of note and then the trap starts. Works well apparently if you're susceptable, I had one two ago was quite funny managed to string them along for a considerable amount of time before they turned off their side of the chat. lol That may well be why your experiencing a reluctance to give out numbers although the scam above will be just a list of numbers with a chance they hit pay dirt.
The first time on a motorway on my bike - heading to the IoM TT - got on the motorway and thrashed it down the road thinking this is great - as far as a sign that said "Welcome to Devon" . I bought a new VFR 800 and did not fit the sat nav before going away - thought it will be fine. What a pain in the bum trying to navigate across the Voges, heavy rain. No obvious route - stop - look again in a couple of kilometers - repeat. Very slow going. Doing this I nearly crashed it trying to use a hand held Garmin Etrex GPS unit - that could not update quickly enough and seemed to be always pointing in the wrong direction. Bad idea trying to use that on a moving bike !
Totally agree. But restricting the number of people who can call you, is like nailing you letter box shut in case a Nigerian Prince writes to you...
They may not be worried about scam callers but sim swap and/or identity theft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_swap_scam
Yes, if they successfully swap your SIM card by scamming your mobile network provider, they gain control of your phone number and can intercept your messages, including those used for two-factor authentication. This allows them to access accounts, change passwords, and potentially steal your money.
Which is why all this crap given out by the Co-op, M & S et al that don't worry because it's not your bank details they have stolen but 'only' your number & email & address is exactly that - crap.
Well I'm not an expert. But convincing the phone company that you are the owner of the number/ SIM card is far from easy. Its pretty difficult to get anyone one on from customer service on the 'phone and there's a series of questions you have to answer, which its unlikely that a random scammer with be able to get correct. Mine also has voice recognition test. A family member or a close friend perhaps has some chance. I am certainly not too worried. But thats just my opinion.
I'm no expert either but scamming is big big business, we're talking billions here, so it's not going to be one toe rag trying their luck but rather huge crime operations that are uber professional in how they go about things. They will no doubt employ much much better brains than me and can obtain surprising amounts of personal detail from previous data breaches, phishing, social engineering etc. Big payoffs with pretty much no chance of being caught. And it's certainly not my intent to scare monger but given all the evidence it is prudent not to share any personal information if you don't have to. Phone numbers included.
No doubt we should all be extra careful. But most of the scams are done via people not hanging up, people who believe the the scammers are their bank, or their phone company etc. Just hang up if anyone asks you for almost anything except a date, and you will probably be perfectly fine. Though the date may also be troublesome at some point in the future!
There was an article on the radio last year on people having their phones stolen and the crims take your sim and place it in their phones and gaining access to your bank account through your app. the security codes are sent to the crims directly. Some people had lost 10's of thousands and they have no recourse to the banks. It's why I don't bank online or allow companies I buy from online to store my details,
I probably should have specified that I don't use a sat nav as such, but instead use Apple Maps or Waze on my phone. I also downloaded a few apps recently which (supposedly) allow you to find and navigate green lanes (Byways Open to All Traffic/BOATs), but they were about as much use as a chocolate teapot. One even tried to send me into someone's driveway. I wasn't stupid enough to actually open and ride though the gate, but the owner was watering his lawn and judging by the look he gave me it wouldn't have been the first time he'd had to tell some hooligan on a dirt bike to "get orf moi laaaand". I thought he was going to turn the hose on me.
The MyRouteApp Navigation Next app has city avoidance as one of the options when plotting a route if you select anything other than, logically, the straight line route to a destination (there are 4 options; straight and three varying levels of curviness). There are obviously cases where it can't avoid them and it's interpretation of 'avoiding cities' may vary from yours... In the planner there is city avoidance when using the automatic route generation tool too.
Sat Navs? Pffffffftttttt. Blummin technology. But......I succumbed about 3 years ago and bought a Garmin XT, I too cannot be bothered to plot a route to each and every turn, life's too short. I put in the destination but usually check a map beforehand too, Sat Navs aren't great at seeing the bigger picture. If that town/city is going to be a pain in the derriere then you've already spotted it, planned your way round it, knowing the Sat Nav will pick up the route on the other side. The GPS will always get you there but they can be a bit Pffffffftttttt. I've tried using a mobile and mapping apps, it's an halfway house with its limitations, I can't be the only one riding in Southern Europe whose phone has said, "I'm a bit hot so I'll turn myself off now, goodbye"! I find the Garmin easy to use and the audible, "slow down you pillock" warnings can come in handy. With volume control on your headset you can switch it real low if it becomes tiresome. I am a Sat Nav convert but I wouldn't be without my flapping in the wind map. Upt.
