Does reporting unwanted calls work?

[Ronin13]

Somehow lately I seem to be getting inundated with unwanted robo and sales calls even though I confirmed I'm on the Do Not Call registry. This week alone I've filed 3 complaints with the FTC. But two questions come up, and I figure there are probably a few here in the know:
1- Does the Do Not Call Registry even work anymore? Do any companies even vet the calls before making them to ensure they're not violating this?
2- Do FTC complaints even do anything at all?

Ideally I'd love to make it so I don't receive these calls to begin with, but that's like saying "I don't want any more junk mail in my email or mailbox" but that's a pipe dream.
It's especially frustrating when the phone goes off at 3AM (like I got this morning).

[TRnCO]

Since Oct. 3rd I've had 22 calls all from a (303) 929-XXXX number. I don't answer them and put each on my "reject" list in my phone. BUT every one of these calls has been a slightly different number, but all with (303) 929-XXXX. Frustrating to say the least. STOP CALLING!!!!!!!!!!!! If I don't recognize the number, I will NOT answer. Anyone that knows me can leave a message or send a text.

[SuperiorDG]

Since Oct. 3rd I've had 22 calls all from a (303) 929-XXXX number. I don't answer them and put each on my "reject" list in my phone. BUT every one of these calls has been a slightly different number, but all with (303) 929-XXXX. Frustrating to say the least. STOP CALLING!!!!!!!!!!!! If I don't recognize the number, I will NOT answer. Anyone that knows me can leave a message or send a text.

I get the same thing but with my first 6 numbers. I usually just do the quick text thing that I can't talk now. I've even had someone call me with the same first 6 numbers and say I called them first.

[hollohas]

I've even had someone call me with the same first 6 numbers and say I called them first.

I've had the same thing happen. I think the fake numbers they use can actually be real numbers. They're somehow spoofing the caller ID.

[Great-Kazoo]

Since Oct. 3rd I've had 22 calls all from a (303) 929-XXXX number. I don't answer them and put each on my "reject" list in my phone. BUT every one of these calls has been a slightly different number, but all with (303) 929-XXXX. Frustrating to say the least. STOP CALLING!!!!!!!!!!!! If I don't recognize the number, I will NOT answer. Anyone that knows me can leave a message or send a text.

I get the same thing but with my first 6 numbers. I usually just do the quick text thing that I can't talk now. I've even had someone call me with the same first 6 numbers and say I called them first.

I got one last week that came up with a name and # of someone I have on my contact list and it was a spam call !!!

I've had the same thing happen. I think the fake numbers they use can actually be real numbers. They're somehow spoofing the caller ID.

All this happens when you answer the phone, respond, OR if you call the number and do a Do Not Call when prompted to. I did it 1x, which sent my number out to who knows how many people calling or texting they received a call from my number.


The best way to avoid any issues is DO NOT ANSWER YOUR PHONE, IF the call has no I.D. If you don't recognize it but the prefix seems familiar. If it's that important a call, they'll leave a voicemail.

[Bailey Guns]

Once...just once...I'd like to be left alone with one of these phone scamming assholes. Then I'd challenge the DA to charge me and find a jury that would find me guilty.

[MarkCO]

If they get enough complaints about a particular company or organization, yes they do prosecute. But that threshold is pretty high. And never say "yes" on any of these junk calls.

I use "Should I answer" which lets you block nuisance calls and in many cases, others have already flagged them. But some of the Robo calls like TRnCO mentioned spoof cell numbers. Once I blocked enough of them, I stopped getting the calls.

https://www.shouldianswer.com/

[68Charger]

There seems to be a rash of robo/scam calls using fake caller ID credentials.... they appear like they are cell#s in the same area as your number.

This is painfully obvious when you live 800 miles away from said area, but haven't changed your phone# yet.... I've been getting them almost daily from 719-371-xxxx (which is Pueblo/Canon City)

very annoying, and I can black list each one, but they don't re-use numbers anyway (they don't own the number they're pretending to be)... I sometimes wonder if I should answer them with "Federal Communications Commission, fraud division" and see if they'll blacklist my number instead.

[Denver_AR]

There seems to be a rash of robo/scam calls using fake caller ID credentials.... they appear like they are cell#s in the same area as your number.

This is painfully obvious when you live 800 miles away from said area, but haven't changed your phone# yet.... I've been getting them almost daily from 719-371-xxxx (which is Pueblo/Canon City)

very annoying, and I can black list each one, but they don't re-use numbers anyway (they don't own the number they're pretending to be)... I sometimes wonder if I should answer them with "Federal Communications Commission, fraud division" and see if they'll blacklist my number instead.

Also getting robo-calls where originating number matches the NPA-NXX as my cell. I've had good luck with NoPhoneSpam app. It allows you to setup wildcard rules such as match 719-371-****. As I don't know anyone with same NPA-NXX as my cell phone, this works for me. Note - It actually sends these calls to voice-mail, but in practice I only get a small percentage of VM compared with the number of incoming calls before using the app.

[StagLefty]

I got one last week that came up with a name and # of someone I have on my contact list and it was a spam call !!!