View Full Version : Robocalls, WTF!
These types of calls have gotten out of hand, I get 8 or more a day for various credit card or insurance scams.
Not sure about the rest of you, but if I'm expecting a call from someone, the last thing I want is silence or some lowlife recording telling you about your credit card rating or some F-ing health care scam.
I have decided to lead these clowns on as long as possible and tie them up as long as I can. I have a job where I can take a few minuets off and give these scams fake numbers and dates, just to waste their precious time instead of scamming someone else. You can keep them on for minuets at a time!
Feedback?
I never answer phone calls from a number with the same prefix as mine. But that's about all I've done to prevent.
I have a job where I'm constantly having to call people I've never talked to before, so you can imagine that I leave a lot of voice mails and send a lot of emails. I'm always grateful when people actually answer though.
I own my own business and at least once a day I get a call alerting me that my Google listing is incomplete or out of date. I also get calls telling me I qualify for a better credit rate on my existing cards.
Home/land line about 100 to 1 on crap calls to real...
Cell phone rate was worse, but the total # of calls was less.
I said *(&&(&@ and turned off the cell and the home phone for the last 4 months...got a new cell and gave that new phone number out to 3 people. So far the Spammers have not ID that # yet.
I own my own business and at least once a day I get a call alerting me that my Google listing is incomplete or out of date. I also get calls telling me I qualify for a better credit rate on my existing cards.
I have had that call a bunch of times. I stayed on the line once thinking it was Google. I went through the whole process and they wanted like $300 for the service. For a real business, that'd probably be worth it, but it is not for what I do. I keep getting that call still.
I never answer phone calls from a number with the same prefix as mine. But that's about all I've done to prevent.
I have a job where I'm constantly having to call people I've never talked to before, so you can imagine that I leave a lot of voice mails and send a lot of emails. I'm always grateful when people actually answer though.
This is my strategy . . . if it's the same prefix or some weird location as the source I just let it ring. No call from the same prefix has ever NOT been a scam or robocall. If it's important, they'll leave a message.
Zundfolge
08-06-2019, 19:53
I keep getting this guy's videos in my recommended feed (along with a couple of other similar channels).
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0uJKUXiU5T41Fzawy5H6mw/videos
Its fun to watch him screw over the scammers.
I have a device like this (https://www.telsentry.com/) on my landline. It's one of only a few devices that will answer the phone, BEFORE it rings, challenge the caller to make sure it isn't a telemarketer, and then only once they press "0" to continue, will it ring your home phone. Best money I have ever spent. Zero Telemarketing calls get through and I have had my same landline phone number for 40 years. Disclaimer, I have a different unit than the one I have linked, but the unit I have is no longer available.
They are apparently sold out off their 3.1 version, but the 2.2 version is available on Amazon today for a very reasonable price for the peace and quiet it affords...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1PPWDO/ref=psdc_172612_t2_B019ERMS90
One caveat, you can only have one handset connected to the landline with this type of device. Other handsets would ring... which is what we DON'T want to happen. Or if you have wireless phones, you would connect the base unit to this device, etc.
-John
My neighbor has this thing where you have to press 1 to get through. What's to stop a telemarketer though? Any time I call a number and it immediately goes into a robot recording, I don't even bother to listen before I press 1 to get through.
With telemarketing calls, robocalls, there is no person on the other end to know that they need to press 1, or 0. The robocall just knows that the phone has been picked up and it starts its recorded spiel. It has no idea that nobody is actually listening. And we don't care, because the phone didn't ring and we have no idea that the robocall is blathering away (many times a day.)
-John
That works until they train the computer how to respond to a challenge.
There was a news piece this morning about how Telcos are starting to shutdown robocalls (not friggin' soon enough!). An interesting statistic is that Colorado is the 2nd worst state for these calls.
electronman1729
08-06-2019, 21:48
I have come to enjoy the robo calls. When I get a call I always push the numbers to talk to someone, and I start playing games with them. Been quite fun.
Great-Kazoo
08-07-2019, 00:01
I stopped them on the cheap. I don't answer calls i don't recognize. If it's important enough they'll leave a vm.
I get the Chinese calls all the time. Apparently its about their immigration status and screwing illegals out of money. Another indication Trump is having a good effect if they are spending money on this.
This is your final notice, the IRS or Social Security will notify the police if you do not respond. I get text messages too, Get a loan at a good rate, text us back at #######.
LOL
Blocked
That works until they train the computer how to respond to a challenge.
There was a news piece this morning about how Telcos are starting to shutdown robocalls (not friggin' soon enough!). An interesting statistic is that Colorado is the 2nd worst state for these calls.
Sure they are. That's why I got 31 of them in ONE FRIGGING DAY at my business...
Yeah, we had another thread on the subject a while back. The telcos are part of the problem since they make money on the calls. They were also charging for tools/services to prevent them.
For Verizon users, download the free app called Call Filter. After installing that, the number of spam calls on my cellphone dropped to zero.
The way I read it.
For Verizon users, download the free app called Call Filter. After installing that, the number of spam calls on my cellphone dropped to zero.
[Coffee]
ETA: Just got a call with the Call Filter app installed. Was identified as "Potential SPAM" from a 303 number, but not blocked. Adding it as a blocked number in the app requires "Call Filter Plus", which is a paid service. Seems like the free version is just a 'lite' version that offers the opportunity to up-sell a product that shouldn't be required.
My neighbor has this thing where you have to press 1 to get through. What's to stop a telemarketer though? Any time I call a number and it immediately goes into a robot recording, I don't even bother to listen before I press 1 to get through.
Most of those systems work by automatically dialling phone numbers, waiting for the line to be picked up, and then cue off of you speaking. This is why often times with telemarketers you will have to say hello at least twice before the system connects the live person. I've noticed that with phone calls, if you say hello once, even if it's a bad connection to a legit person, they'll usually venture a "hello?", but if it's a telemarketer, the line stays dead. That's usually when I hang up.
If the system is completely automated until it gets a voice response, it's a good chance that even if it does connect to a live person, they weren't actually connected in time to hear the message to press 1, or the dialling system doesn't recognize the challenge as an answered line. Either way, you win.
The way I read it.
[Coffee]
ETA: Just got a call with the Call Filter app installed. Was identified as "Potential SPAM" from a 303 number, but not blocked. Adding it as a blocked number in the app requires "Call Filter Plus", which is a paid service. Seems like the free version is just a 'lite' version that offers the opportunity to up-sell a product that shouldn't be required.
Tmobile does this as well. Any incoming call that spoofs a phone number gets identified as "Scam likely."
Note that the system isn't 100%, as there's a good chance that most numbers that use call forwarding will be identified this way.
I've tried answering a couple times just to see what happens, and usually it's a telemarketer. Sometimes its the NRA calling to beg for money.
I've been able to filter out the Area Code+Three calls using an App called WideProtect.
If I had to use my phone for business with a nationwide footprint, I'd likely have to pay for a service to avoid answering almost every call.
If you wholesale block area code+3, are people in your contacts excluded?
If you wholesale block area code+3, are people in your contacts excluded?
I think that's an option, but I don't have any conflicts with that rule.
ETA: Confirmed. There's a slider to allow numbers from your contacts
Man, last week I had the most ridiculous spoofed call effort I'd ever seen.
If people aren't aware, the biggest issue with robocalls/spam calls is that they spoof numbers - e.g. pretend to be calling from #'s that they just randomly generate. It's likely even your phone number has been used to robocall people in the past. This is what the FTC is forcing telecom to fix, identifying when numbers are being spoofed, but yet... not blocking the practice of spoofing them. (WHY?)
So anyway, I always answer my calls, I have to.
So they call on a random area code. Already know, but answer. Yup, selling some sort of software bullshit or something. Hang up.
Immediately call back from a different area code fifteen seconds later. Reject.
Immediate call back from a different area code fifteen seconds later. Reject.
Immediate call back from a 666 area code fifteen seconds later. (That area code doesn't even exist.) Reject.
Immediate call back from a different area code fifteen seconds later. Reject, getting pissed off.
Immediate call back form a different area code fifteen seconds later. I accept the call, and bleat like a sheep. They hang up.
Immediate call back from a different area code fifteen seconds later. I accept the call, and it's a guy with a thick indian accent on the line, again trying to sell some software shit, I have no idea. This time, I did my most racist east indian impression I could muster, and immediately said "Woood you lik muh cred-it card? Eet is fooooour fiiiiiive seveeen siiiix, wait, tha.....
I hear the Indian guy cover his handset as he talks to someone else around his cubical, surprised. He's like "He wants to give me his credit card?" He pops back on the line in a second as I'm still reading numbers back "eeiiight, wait, that's a siiiiiiix" and he's like "No sir we don't need your credit card right now we..."
"Fiiiiiive..... eiiiiiight..... one"
He hung up on me and they never called back.
I swing between bleating like a sheep, and going directly to credit card info to deal with asshole phone spam. The latter seems to scare the crap out of them. You can chew a ton of time acting like a blind guy though. Read off twelve digits from your head (they always start with 4 or 5, btw) and then keep going back and changing numbers. Have fun.
At times I meet people from around the world and expect to get calls from them. I usually answer but can recognize the robo-calls within 3-5 seconds and hang up immediately. I don't waste time playing games. Lately I've been getting the "social security account cancelled" scam calls. I won't be an easy mark even when I get older and more stupid.
MY GOVERNMENT would be targeting these scammers with prosecutions, property confiscations, summary executions and JDAM missiles from afar. Death to spammer scammers! All of them.
I think the government should concentrate on stealing more cash from citizens that are carrying more than someone thinks they should, or stealing truck loads of hemp and then reselling it. Focus on what's really hurting the country.
So the entire country is afraid to answer their phone when it rings? Who cares.
Something changed in July. I was getting 10-20 calls on my cell, but since about 2 weeks ago, they dried up.
I do still get a few at work I just forward to the fax machine.
StagLefty
08-08-2019, 07:19
I noticed recently I get almost zero calls on the weekend.
We switched to majic jack and a new number two years ago. No junk calls, none.
But, but, but - we've been trying to reach you about the extended warranty on your vehicle.....
ChickNorris
08-09-2019, 11:08
Someone put my number on their farking list. For near three weeks half the country has tried to call me & twice on Sundays. Funny.
Everyone is on a list. A computer can dial every possible number combination quite easily.
When my VoIP home # gets hit, I flag the caller to respond with a 'No longer in service' tone and message. Most AutoDialers will remove that number as a target.
I started having fun with it. I have a call recorder app on my phone so when I answer the calls I tell them I'm interested, then proceed to tell them all the neat things their mom and I did the night before. I get some interesting responses sometimes.
I started having fun with it.....
It can be quite fun. One I've wanted to try for awhile is to mimic the accent as best as I can and pretend they somehow called a coworker.. e.g. answer the phone giving them a shpiel and devolve from there into "Wait, don't you work here too? We've been hacked! Look above your cubicle, I'm waiving!"
I've been able to filter out the Area Code+Three calls using an App called WideProtect.
If I had to use my phone for business with a nationwide footprint, I'd likely have to pay for a service to avoid answering almost every call.
HIYA does the wildcard blocks as well as reducing SPAM and adding number blocks - all for free. The Paid version adds more robust caller ID and something else I don't recall.
I tried Hiya. Didn't like it. My phone wouldn't ring, but I'd still get a voicemail and a notification for it. I might as well just reject the call.
BladesNBarrels
08-09-2019, 15:18
But, but, but - we've been trying to reach you about the extended warranty on your vehicle.....
But, but, but, I am busy sending money to cover my IRS penalties, and that pesky government will only accept prepaid gift cards - they must hand them out when they run short of food stamps.
I tried Hiya. Didn't like it. My phone wouldn't ring, but I'd still get a voicemail and a notification for it. I might as well just reject the call.
Default options...
SideShow Bob
08-09-2019, 22:02
I have this recording link in the notes on my iPad. When I get an unknown or spoofed number call, I play it when I answer.
https://youtu.be/2BVbyCZXc5s
ChadAmberg
08-10-2019, 07:16
Immediate call back form a different area code fifteen seconds later. I accept the call, and bleat like a sheep. They hang up.
Of course, if they were Scottish, they'd keep calling back and moaning... "Aye yeah... you like that, doncha laddie. Let me put on my velcro gloves..."
Got a text from a worthless politician today.
"Hi, this is Congressman Jason Crow. I will be hosting a job fair on Wed, 8/21 from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Sign up here! http://txt.af/suIIvT
Reply STOP2Stop"
855-916-0948
My reply:
"Fvck off gun grabbing nazi"
Waiting for CBI/FBI to come knocking or a reply
Got a text from a worthless politician today.
"Hi, this is Congressman Jason Crow. I will be hosting a job fair on Wed, 8/21 from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Sign up here! http://txt.af/suIIvT
Reply STOP2Stop"
855-916-0948
My reply:
"Fvck off gun grabbing nazi"
Waiting for CBI/FBI to come knocking or a reply
Could've got hired by him, and then go on the campaign trail distributing fliers claiming he wants to lower the age of consent to 13, which will solve all our jail overcrowding problems and reduce a lot of the pressure on the foster care system. Vote for Jason!
[Evil]
Got a text from a worthless politician today.
"Hi, this is Congressman Jason Crow. I will be hosting a job fair on Wed, 8/21 from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Sign up here! http://txt.af/suIIvT
Reply STOP2Stop"
855-916-0948
My reply:
"Fvck off gun grabbing nazi"
Waiting for CBI/FBI to come knocking or a reply
Oh shit, you got him good!
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