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You guys seem to be much more in the know than me . Why am I phoned at least once a week from someone, purporting to be from Microsoft, with a heavy sub continental accent, telling me I have problems.
I never go further than 30 seconds but I am intrigued to know what he is after! Can you enlighten?

My in laws had a similar problem. It looks as though the Aussies are too:

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/presspass/post/Microsoft-issues-warning-on-phone-scam

I'm in the same boat as you, Neil. I've got caller ID on my phone and it shows UNAVAILABLE. I've tried telling the caller politely that I'm not interested, being shall we say, impolite, switching the phone on and off quickly but still it goes on. I'm now just ignoring it in the hope that the robot dialler will delete my number.

The latest scam is from someone trying to get you to claim on mis-sold PPI insurance (even if you've never bought one)
also someone claiming to be from Dyson who will do a free check on your machine (even if you don't own one!)

I see the scams, and if they have my phone number, what are they after? I cant believe its my EMail address as can change that. They already know a postcode.so what's going down? Sorry if I sound so innocent!

They are after you to pay a fee or a subscription so that "they can fix" your computer!. If they get your bank account details then they will try to access your account. Next time they call tell them the police are monitoring your calls in attempt to trace them, better still just put the phone down.

Your telephone number and postcode are listed on a database. I am even registered with the telephone preference service, but that does not stop foreign calls coming in. Most of the scams are trying to get you to divulge PIN numbers, Bank account details so they can empty your account. Simply put the receiver down. Never get into conversation with them.

Good advice there Jazzgirl - that's exactly what we do.

Thanks to all. I would never be so gullible to fall for this but my daughter answers the phone, as does my wife and I suspect, many other people in other households that are susceptible. What are the filters I can use?
I did try a cold call block but it obviously doesn't work.

Sorry Neil, can't help you there as I'm not in the UK, but jazzgirl mentions a preference service above.