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.

[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.

[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.

[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 !!!

[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.

[Gman]

The Do Not Call Registry is an enormous joke, and the telemarketers, primarily off-shore, know it. They're easily spoofing caller ID. If the call is from the same area code and prefix, it's likely a marketing call.

I had a guy that had the same area code and prefix as mine that kept calling me to tell me he had just received a call from my number. I kept telling him that it wasn't me. I finally had to block his number because he never could understand what was going on and was being a spam caller of his own.

Now you can pay for a service that will screen and block these calls. I found the crowd-sourced apps really sucked.

The thing that really bothers me is when I block these numbers on Verizon. Verizon is kind enough to then notify me that they blocked a call from X number, and sometimes allow them to leave a voicemail even though the call was supposedly "blocked".

[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.

[SuperiorDG]

FCC: Americans Get 2.5 Billion Robocalls A Month
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/11/2...fcc-crackdown/