Can anyone shed any light on a prank call I received this morning in Tenerife?

geetimuk · 26th August 2007, 12:08

This morning I recieved a telephone call from someone claiming to be a policeman. He spoke little English and told me that my husband had, had a car accident and that I needed to go to the hospital imediately. He knew my husbands name, our street and obviously our landline number. I asked for his number, which he gave me, although it has turned out to be false. My husband is fine, although I am still shaking!

I need to know how this person can get hold of our name, street and landline number.....can this be done through telefonica? Is it possible to get hold of somebody's landline number, just from their addresss? Also on my telefonica phone is there a similar 1471 facility so I can see who called?
If he can get these details what other details can he get? Can he use these details to do anything else malicious other than harrass us?
He seemed anxious that I go to the hospital imediately........Is there some kind of scam going on to get you out the house, so they know its empty?

I feel maybe I should report this to the police? Which number do I call?

Thank you

chip · 26th August 2007, 12:26

I read something like this happening in the USA, I think.

Someone phones up says there has been an accident, has all the info. on the person etc, says the injured person needs an ambulance and they will need a credit card as security, till his insurance is sorted out when you arrive at the hospital.

Maybe its the same type of thing but the Canarian/Spaniard forget to ask for your credit card

tendedburrito · 26th August 2007, 12:29

That is an awful thing for anyone to do........

Sounds like they were trying to get you out the house.

Hope they get everything they deserve.

geetimuk · 26th August 2007, 12:32

Could be, but they asked for no details from me. However if he asked for my insurance or anything, i was in such a state I may well of gave them to him. I am just bewildered as to how he got my details. He told me to go to the Bagas hospital in Oasis del Sur........does this hospital really exsist?

Cazten · 26th August 2007, 12:34

How horrible, hope you've recovered now.

Telefonica has caller identity, which you can ask for for free. The number then shows up on your phone, unless it's a withheld mobile number, in which case it comes up as private. Don't know about 1471, but can you not just use a "track-back" and look at the received calls on your telephone.

Someone else will be better to advise you who to report this too.

Thanks for warning everyone though. We can all be on our guard now.

PeterRayner · 26th August 2007, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetimuk

He told me to go to the Bagas hospital in Oasis del Sur........does this hospital really exsist?

Never heard of it Tim.

Did they give you a number and ask you to call the hospital on the phone. ?

geetimuk · 26th August 2007, 12:36

He gave a number and a name. The number belongs to another English person with the same surname as mine. I am furious...I have never seen my wife in such a state.

Daverock · 26th August 2007, 12:36

This is really bad. I hope you are OK now. Good luck on getting to the bottom of it.

Janet · 26th August 2007, 12:37

I've never heard of that hospital either.

As far as I'm aware, there is no "ex-directory" facility with Telefonica, so anyone can find out anyone's details. Quite what they'll reveal I'm not sure.

This is ringing some bells with me ... no pun intended ... at the back of my mind this sound familiar. When you say "spoke little English", could you even begin to identify the accent? Was it actually Spanish? Or would you say Moroccan/Arabian type ... or can you just not say?

geetimuk · 26th August 2007, 12:41

I'm pretty certain that it was a spanish accent but can not be 100% certain. They spoke in Spanish.