Understanding the State of Telephone Spam in the UK: Insights from July 2023

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The digital age has undoubtedly brought immense convenience to our lives, but it has also opened up new channels for less desirable interactions. One prominent example of this is the rise in unwanted phone calls, often involving sales pitches, continuous calls, and even dubious and fraudulent activities. The good news is, data can help us understand this landscape better. In this post, we delve into the data collected by Clever Dialer, a phone spam detection app, for July 2023 in the United Kingdom (UK).

The Top 10 Spam Numbers in the UK

In July 2023, the ten most significant sources of spam calls in the UK were as follows:

1. The number +44 08007613372 was at the top of the list, accounting for 17.22% of all spam calls. These calls were primarily reported as sales calls.
2. The second most frequent spam number was +44 01246488759, which accounted for 15.36% of all spam calls. These calls were classified as sales calls and traced back to Chesterfield.
3. Coming in third was +44 02037810895 with 15.17% of all spam calls. These calls were reported as continuous calls and originated from London.
4. The fourth number, +44 01273062555, was responsible for 10.50% of all spam calls. These were considered sales calls and were traced back to Brighton.
5. The fifth most reported spam number was +44 01315614532, accounting for 8.96% of all spam calls. These calls were reported as survey calls and originated from Edinburgh.
6. The sixth number on the list, +44 01792825960, accounted for 8.39% of all spam calls. These calls were classified as dubious.
7. In seventh place was +44 08000338005, which accounted for 7.75% of all spam calls. These were also classified as dubious calls.
8. The number +44 03335565564 took the eighth spot, accounting for 5.70% of all spam calls. These calls were reported as being from a debt collection agency.
9. The ninth number on the list, +44 07774209924, accounted for 5.63% of all spam calls. These calls were classified as dubious.
10. Finally, the tenth most reported spam number was +44 03335565835, which accounted for 5.31% of all spam calls. These calls were also reported as being from a debt collection agency.

Call Categories

In terms of the types of calls, ‘sales’, ‘continuous calls’, ‘survey’, and ‘dubious’ were the most common categories among the top 10 spam numbers. The number +44 08007613372 was responsible for the most ‘sales’ calls, while +44 02037810895 from London was the source of the most ‘continuous calls’.

Spam Calls by City

When we look at the data based on the origin of spam calls, London, Chesterfield, Brighton, and Edinburgh were the top cities from which these spam calls originated. This may suggest a need for more robust call regulations in these cities.

Conclusion

Telephone spam continues to be a significant issue in the UK, with a handful of numbers responsible for a large percentage of unwanted calls. Clever Dialer’s Telephone Spam Index offers an insightful snapshot into this landscape. By staying aware of the most significant sources of these calls, we can be better prepared to tackle this modern inconvenience.

Remember, if you receive a call from an unfamiliar number, especially one matching those listed above, proceed with caution. If you suspect a number to be a source of spam, don’t hesitate to report it. Together, we can combat the issue of telephone spam.

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