The Advantage of Being a Widow
Let’s face it, there aren’t many advantages in losing your long-term partner, but there is one.
You often immediately know that a phone call is a scam or just downright fraud.
I just had a call from a number 0845-1113111, which because of its form I thought was one of those rediculous automated text messages. Annoying those may be, but at least they are genuine. If you need to know more about the number that called me, look here.
I knew when the caller started that it was an unwanted call, as the idiot on the line asked for Mr. or Mrs. xxxx. As my wife died over three years ago now, it wasn’t the smartest thing for him to do. I told him politely that she’d died and the number was registered with the Telephone Preference Service. But he kept going on about government grants and in the end I told him to Foxtrot Oscar and left him talking to the radio.
Anybody who asks for my late wife is always considered by me to be a scammer unless they prove themselves otherwise. Some do, as they are solicitors or other genuine callers trying to reach her, who haven’t heard that she in fact has passed on.
The Anonymous Widower 
The grant is worth having, and many people are entitled to it. You are assessed by govt and then allocated to a contractor. My aunt had the grant. But these scammers ring round, ask for details etc, and they themselves cannot award you the grant.
Comment by liz | March 7, 2011 |
I have 2 numbers, both registered with the telephone preference, called on both, one after the other. Very annoying. Real number is 01792 518243.
Comment by Chris | March 16, 2011 |