01-5678-1252

This number called yesterday evening.  We let it ring.  I tried 1471 and got the number and phoned back but the number didn't exist?  How can that be?  The number called us again at 11.00 am today, asking for a Mrs Knott, when I said very politely that she isn't at this number, please take us off your database she hung up.  The number called again at 11.49 and hung up as soon as I answered.  Will see how many more calls today.  What can be done?

These days it is easy for a number not to exist.  It is called spoofing.  There are companies out there who will give you virtual numbers faked to look as if they are local to the area in which you live. If you look at the number which called you it is one digit short of a UK number.  As to what can be done it depends on the numbers calling you.  Signing up with the Telephone Preference Service is free and will stop calls from reputable (note the word) UK based companies who have agreed not to call registerde numbers.  Rogue UK companies ignore it and all calls from UK based companies need to be reported to TPS for them to take action.  The action they take is to request the calling number not to call you again!  You also need the full name and address of the calling company to report to TPS.  All in all, pretty useless.  TPS also does not cover International, Withheld, and Unavailable numbers or Market Research calls.  Youi can report calls to the Information Commissioner's Office (you only need the calling number) and they have the legal backing to impose fines up to £500,000.
The best way to ensure that you only receive calls you want is to buy a call blocking unit or a call blocking 'phone.  These can be set to block International, Withheld, Unavailable numbers and up to 1000 individual numbers.  Check out Amazon or Argos.  Costs vary, but my BT8500 'phone cost £39 and I have not had an unwanted call since I installed it.

this number has called 5 times in the last 2 days, each time asking for a different variation of my name. When I ask who is calling the telephone immediately cuts off.

I have had two calls from this number today. The first was from a man calling himself John. My info had apparently been passed on by the FFA or somesuch (an official sounding Financial body) .He told me that I have had a loan from a UK bank which was paid off in the last 6 years and that there is about two thousand pounds to come back to me for insurance (PPI?). He then asked me to tell him which bank the loan had been from. I told him I couldn't remember. He said Barclays? I knew it couldn't be them so said no. He then gave me the names of two banks one of which was the bank I have had loans from but I said I wasn't sure. I said he had the information - he had checked my name and address details - so he should tell me. He replied that he had the info but it wasn't written down (!) I repeated this line incredulously, and at this point it must have become clear that the wheels had come off and he hung up.
The second call came a few hours later. Recognising the number I told the caller that I had had a call from his friend John earlier and gave the gist of what had transpired. This caller said the loan was with (correct bank). I said Oh so you've got the information now. What do I need to do to get the two thousand pounds? He then told me that he had a form to go through and then I would be put onto a Financial Advisor who would talk me through the rest of the procedure. Smelling a large rat I told him I wasn't interested and hung up.

I have just received a call from the same number asking for Mr Jenson, he did not sound English and when I told him there was no Mr Jenson he just hung up without saying another word. It was more weird than anything else.

I can see on my phone the number that is calling. So when the stupid call came up I could see by the number that it was SCAM. I answered just because I was curious. But the noise that occurs due to long international calls was clearly indicating it was SCAM. So I couldn't be bothered anymore and put the phone down. If they ring again I will take the phone without saying anything, placing at the table and go to make a nice cup of tea!

A call to say they had a refund for me of a loan.  The number does not exist!