Robo Call Blocking

[Newlyme]

Len,

Some phone companies offer an option: When you call you go to a message that says this number does not accept solicitation calls and asks that you take their number off the call list. Then, it directs the inbound caller to hit a number to go through. A friend of mine has it on his land line in ABQ and he said it's cut his solicitation calls to zero.

I have the RoboKiller phone app for my cell phone but it's only marginally successful. In six months its blocked 59 calls. In that six months, I have received probably close to 200 robo calls that rang through. I block them every time but the VoIP protocol constantly picks new numbers in your local area to call from. The FCC has totally fallen down on this topic. If "Big Gubmint" can't stop something simple like nuisance calls, how can anyone expect them to solve health care?

Your post got me thinking about my dealings with this issue.
I answer all of the calls to my cellphone and block all of the junk calls. I figured the computer that was calling was picking, (making up/inventing), local numbers to get my attention. I block every call and have been doing this for a couple years. But your post got me wondering about the numbers that the computer is picking to use. Does anyone know if those numbers are numbers that are actually in use by someone else? Meaning that those numbers might be someone’s personal cellphone number? Am I wasting my time blocking random personal cellphone numbers?

 

[D2Cat]

Yep, two years ago during the Summer someone snitched my cell phone number. I called Verizon and the only solution was to change my number. They said it would only last about 3 weeks. They were correct.

I did have people calling me wanting to know what I wanted. When I asked them when I called and they said a few minutes ago I knew what it was, and explained the situation.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Am I wasting my time blocking random personal cellphone numbers?

Yea sorry to tell you, yes your wasting your time, as they revolve.

Now another interesting fact, if you answer the call you will get more calls, as they log the number as active.
Eventually if you do not answer the calls, your Number falls off the list of active numbers, it's not 100%, but they slow down to almost nothing.

 

[boz1989]

One day I received a call from my niece, only to be told my credit card rates were too high..

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[D2Cat]

Since this thread started I've had a few calls. I like the one that begins, "This is not a sales call. Do you suffer from back pain...." I get a human on there and tell them how bad the pain is, and every time they make a statement I just keep telling them how miserable it is, and surely there has to be something to relieve the situation. Then start over. My goal is to get them to hang up on me.

How about the ones that call and want you to be the Representative in your neighborhood to collect money for a cancer fund. Usually a nice, soft spoken lady. Even after you tell them 'NO thanks" they keep on. I am real nice to those folks, but I eventually tell them I am going to hang up because they don't hear me when I say "No". See, they use the same technique on me!!! They talk until I hang up.

North Idaho Wolfman, I do realize I'm precipitating more calls, but I don't think I can slow them down now, even if I never answered one more call.

I just use the philosophy: "Scramble them before they scramble me!"

 

[johnjk]

I have gotten to the point where I only answer calls from numbers I know or that are in my address book. I block quite a few as well since they now spoof your local exchange....

The other fun thing to try is to replace your voicemail greeting with the recording of a fax machine or modem trying to connect... Most auto dialers will log that the number they are trying is not a voice line and drop it from their redial.

If I have time, I try to talk with them as long as I can. Waste their time so they cannot scam someone else. It's the little things that are enjoyable in life

 

[torch]

My home phone provider can only block up to 12 numbers -- a complete waste. So for years now, I've been using a program called "phonetray free" on an old XP laptop. It needs a modem that has caller ID and voice.

When a call comes in, the software looks at the caller ID. If it meets the blacklist rules, it intercepts the call with a "This number is not in service" recording and hangs up.

Caller ID data arrives between the first and second ring. I have Panasonic cordless phones that suppress the first ring, so the phones don't disturb me at all if the number is blocked.

This system has worked very well for years. I think it does reduce the spam calls, but even if it doesn't, I don't know about them! However, lately there have been a significant number of spoofed caller IDs from our local exchange. If I call the number back it's usually not in service, or occasionally it belongs to some completely innocent 3rd party.

I may have to look for a new solution, but I'm not sure what could get around this latest trick by the scammers. In this day and age of computer switching phone networks, I would have thought there should be some way for the telephone company to filter out spoofed caller ID. Maybe it's just lack of will?

 

[Stmar]

The world evolves and sometimes not for the good. I cancelled my land line because all I was getting were calls from India telling me my computer was messed up. This cost AT&T a customer. For years the cell phone was impervious to scam calls but the crooks soon found a way around it, spoofing local numbers so you think it is someone in your area. Now I answer no calls unless it is in my contact list, figure if it is important they will leave a message. Crooks screw up everything and are rarely held accountable because they probably have a bevy of lobbyists wining and dining politicians that we elect.

 

[RCW]

I cancelled my land line because all I was getting were calls from India telling me my computer was messed up.

Same here - cancelled land line 5 years ago.

Lately I've been getting calls on my truck's OnStar number. I rarely use it at all.

Had 5 calls from the same # on my 15 minute drive home from work...I don't answer them.

 

[Daren Todd]

I canceled my home phone about 3 years ago. All the phone calls coming in fell into 3 categories, scammers, surveys, and half the county looking for the person who previously had my home phone number. Apparently the person who used to have our home phone number was a big wig in the town government and knew everyone in the area.

 

[BAP]

The world evolves and sometimes not for the good. I cancelled my land line because all I was getting were calls from India telling me my computer was messed up. This cost AT&T a customer. For years the cell phone was impervious to scam calls but the crooks soon found a way around it, spoofing local numbers so you think it is someone in your area. Now I answer no calls unless it is in my contact list, figure if it is important they will leave a message. Crooks screw up everything and are rarely held accountable because they probably have a bevy of lobbyists wining and dining politicians that we elect.

Wait a minute, I thought Crooks and Politicians were the same thing!!!

 

[bcp]

Answer with tractor names.

Yanmar?

Iseki Belarus

Landini Mahindra Massey

Zetor

Etc.



List:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tractor_manufacturers

Bruce

 

[skeets]

Hello: ( Pick a name) police department ,homicide Sergeant Friday speaking, do you have a homicide to report? CLICK

 

[GeoHorn]

... Crooks screw up everything and are rarely held accountable because they probably have a bevy of lobbyists wining and dining politicians that we elect.

Substitute the word "Crooks" and insert "Monied Interests". The gov't (which is US by the way) has become enslaved to money beyond redemption due to "Citizens United".

 

[skeets]

I want to know how to load a fax machine sound on to my phone

 

[blperk]

My approach has been twofold: I signed up for Nomorobo on my landline, and that blocks 99% of junk calls. On my cell phone, I set it for "Do Not Disturb" all the time. That means that only people in my contacts list can call. 100% of others are blocked. Blocked callers can still leave messages, but it's way easier to delete them than it is to answer a dozen scam calls a day. One minor challenge is that this setting turns off text alerts, but you can overcome that by setting an emergency override in the contact listing for people who send me texts.

 

[Toyboy]

My old cell had the option of answering only those in my phone book...really nice. With the new one I have to add -block caller- after they've called.

 

[dirtydeed]

Timely Thread.

I just received a call from Alvin TX that "my time time will expire within the next 24 working hours" and there are 4 serious allegations against me and that I will be taken "Under" custody by the local "cops".

hahahahaha. I mean, if you're going to try to scam someone, at least get the vocabulary correct.

I think I'm going to save this recording so my wife can hear it when she gets home.

Let me know if you guys want the number to call

 

[torch]

I run an automated mailing list for a motorcycle group that recently got an e-mail from someone who claims he hacked the list's computer, gained control of the camera and has video of the user watching porn, which he will send out to all persons in the contact list if I don't pay the blackmail in bitcoin within 24 hours.

I didn't even know server racks had web cams! I wonder what e-mail daemons consider to be porn, anyway? Pictures of bare motherboards? Floppy disks being inserted into 3-1/2" drives? SATA cables sinuously draped over a chassis? Inquiring minds want to know!