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    Default Receiving phone calls from a disconnected number?

    OK, in the last few days, I've received - missed actually - on average two calls a day from a particular number. Trying to call the number back results in a "the number you are calling is not connected" RVA. Tried it from three different phones just to be sure.

    Telemarketers / charity? Don't think so, they are supposed to have at least some announcement indicating what organisation you have called in to, even if it doesn't result in you connecting to a real person.

    Something a little more sinister then? What's your thoughts on this?

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    Lots of online portals to call random numbers....
    Could be anything.....

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    Business phone systems can have the calling number display showing a different number to the one that the call is actualy being made from.

    Eg: a business may have several different lines, all with different numbers, but they set the displayed number to one common main incoming number.

    In that case, such a number may have been disconnected, have a fault, or have been changed, but the phone system may not have had the calling number updated., etc.

    Just one possibility.

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    Another remote possibility is that it is a spoof voicemail message. I have a voicemail app that lets me use a disconnected number message as my voicemail message if I am screening my calls. It's amusing for me, but confusing for the person on the other end. Especially if they're calling someone they supposedly know.

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    I rang Telstra about something similar because of the unusual number and the operator told me Telstra leases/sells blocks of numbers to companies (telemarketers obviously) but these numbers cannot be called back.
    Of course if the call is coming from O/seas it could be anything.
    Its rather like these damned SPAM gambling emails I get from the weirdest address's but obviously non existent as you cant 'bounce' them back to the sender.
    The so called 'Privacy Act' only seems to work on one direction and that's for shonks to harass and annoy people.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    Senior Member BCNZ's Avatar
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    I discovered some years ago that the Police have special numbers which they can call out on, but people can't call in. If you try to dial the number, you get a 'not in use' tone.
    I don't know the reason behind this, as almost all government department numbers these days have the caller ID suppressed - so all you see is 'anonymous' when a call is received.
    Then there were the restricted access numbers. You'd dial them, and there would be no ringing tone - you'd just hear silence. At this point you had to key in a 6 digit number, which if correct, would then connect you to the recipient. A bit like a password really.

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    studio, as I said earlier regarding the Telemarketers, these companies use this facility possibly for Auto Dialers and to keep a tight recorded control on the numbers being called and it also gives them greater anonymity if they are in any way dodgy, thats dodgier than the rest of the callers.
    And if you cant ring back, that also stops the employee 'idling their Time' with incoming calls personal or otherwise.
    With the Police, the last thing you would want while your setting up a 'Sting Operation' is for the POI's 'Caller Display' showing the number of the local Nick would you?
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    perfectly legit switchboards sometimes give out numbers that you can't ring back
    but if they don't leave a message then could be dodgy

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