Scam callers

[TheVTCGuy]

Another one this morning, local number, looked legit, not in my contacts but thought it might be a Doctors office or something - NOPE. Someone telling me my student loans (didn’t know I had any) are past due and I’m going to be arrested and my children (don’t have any of those either ) deported...and sold for scrap or something.

I must have 400 blocked numbers on my phone right now, does anyone use any apps? Do they work? How do you deal with these.... £*^_#£!?!?

[dddrees]

I only pick up and answer those I recognize. All others I either ignore or pickup and hangup right away.

[CamSLC]

Blocking the numbers won't do anything. Those are spoofed and belong to regular folks like you and I.

I get them all the time as well. To the point I rarely answer my phone if its an unknown. A few months ago I switched to T-Mobile, if the number is a potential spoof the caller ID say "scam likely" and I ignore it.

[doubleroll]

I have Verizon FiOS which includes nomorobo service. Spam calls are flagged quite often but many more get through. Same as the rest, I just don’t answer any call from an unknown to me number...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

I have nomorobo which doesn't seem to do much so I downloaded a ringtone that is silent on my iPhone and set it as my default. Then I set my contacts as a separate ringtone and all is well.

If I'm expecting a call from someone like a doctors office I just set my phone to vibrate for incoming calls and get them that way or else just check for voicemails.

As long as some corporation is making money from this, they'll bribe politicians to keep it going.

Some people may be too young to remember this but there was a time back in landline heaven when the only annoying calls you got were from your mother in law.

[crazymcmichael]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Another one this morning, local number, looked legit, not in my contacts but thought it might be a Doctors office or something - NOPE. Someone telling me my student loans (didn’t know I had any) are past due and I’m going to be arrested and my children (don’t have any of those either ) deported...and sold for scrap or something.

I must have 400 blocked numbers on my phone right now, does anyone use any apps? Do they work? How do you deal with these.... £*^_#£!?!?

Better listen to them and pay of your student debts

[Syed117]

The call screen feature on pixel phones is the best.

I call screen every call from a number that I don't have saved. Never thought I would get so much use out of it.

[Redtele58]

Simple. Just call forward everything to Jocke!

[Jocke]

For once I believe you Paul when you say you have no student loans.

Se it in a positive way, at least someone call you.

Maybe next call is your next date.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Redtele58

Simple. Just call forward everything to Jocke!

That is not a good idea.

[piratfisk]

I was reading about the latest waves of scam calls. Apparently, when people talk back at them, they record your voice to be used later to, say, open an account of something via the phone.

[swils8610]

I only answer numbers I know. If it’s that important they will leave a message. I do use an app called RoboKiller and it has cut back the amount of scam callers I get. Works well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[LandWatch]

I only answer calls if I recognise the number. If it’s genuine, they’ll leave a message. If not, they don’t seem to call back. But, I only ever seem to get a couple of scam calls a quarter, so I can live with that. I’m also very very careful who I give my number to.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by HighlandWatch

I only answer calls if I recognise the number. If it’s genuine, they’ll leave a message. If not, they don’t seem to call back.

Ditto.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by HighlandWatch

I only answer calls if I recognise the number. If it’s genuine, they’ll leave a message. If not, they don’t seem to call back. But, I only ever seem to get a couple of scam calls a quarter, so I can live with that. I’m also very very careful who I give my number to.

Exactly.

I rarely give out my number and block anyone that does not leave a message

[smym18]

What's the scrap value on children these days?

I get literally anywhere from 10-30 of these calls PER DAY. My blocked number list must be in the 500s at this point. If I don't have the number saved I just cancel the call immediately. If it's an actual important call, they'll leave a voicemail.

[Pw92676]

Originally Posted by HighlandWatch

I only answer calls if I recognise the number. If it’s genuine, they’ll leave a message. If not, they don’t seem to call back. But, I only ever seem to get a couple of scam calls a quarter, so I can live with that. I’m also very very careful who I give my number to.

I am starting to do the same. But I’m getting about 3-5 per day which is annoying.

[crew]

I called Verizon a few weeks ago to complain about the quantity of spam calls I was receiving. The rep I spoke to suggested I enroll in a new service that they offer “virtually eliminating spam calls” for $7.00/month. I expressed my displeasure that they obviously had the technology but wanted me to pay extra just to get better service that I was already paying too much for.
He then suggested a free app.
I downloaded that app from the Apple App Store called “call filter”.
I’ve had it for about 3 weeks now and my robo calls are down to about 2-3 week.
So far I am pleased with the results.

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I must have 400 blocked numbers on my phone right now, does anyone use any apps? Do they work? How do you deal with these.... £*^_#£!?!?

Two things I have done:

1. Robokiller ! It is a fantastic app and I have been using it for two years or so now. Works fantastic and IMHO worth the small cost. Look up its features at Robokiller.com.

2. Never pick up unless it is someone in your contacts list. Everyone else can and will leave a voicemail if it is that important. (A "very few" scammers may or may not bother with a voicemail.)

Do not become a slave to answering the calls!

[AzPaul]

Got one recently in which a robotic, female sounding, voice told me my social security number was about to be suspended, and for several reasons.

When will I ever get my act together

[-lenny-]

wasn’t there just a big thing where data was being stolen relating to the whatsapp app via missed/unanswered calls?

[dba]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

Got one recently in which a robotic, female sounding, voice told me my social security number was about to be suspended, and for several reasons.

When will I ever get my act together

Got the same call, once from somewhere in PA and another in NY.

I only answer calls from someone in my contacts. If I get a call from a number that I don't recognize, and they don't leave a message, I just block it. I know it doesn't work, but it makes me feel better.

[mfer]

I don’t answer if you aren’t in my contact list anymore. Leave a message please or text me if you know me.

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

Two things I have done:



1. Robokiller ! It is a fantastic app and I have been using it for two years or so now. Works fantastic and IMHO worth the small cost. Look up its features at Robokiller.com.



2. Never pick up unless it is someone in your contacts list. Everyone else can and will leave a voicemail if it is that important. (A "very few" scammers may or may not bother with a voicemail.)



Do not become a slave to answering the calls!

Robo Killer works great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[kulak]

I use NumberShield on iPhone. It can block whole area codes or prefixes of your choosing. It is low tech in that your call history isn’t collected by the app developer. It doesn’t use a network connection for anything if privacy is a concern.

[77T]

AT&T Call Protect - now get one a day - better than the 10 per day without it.

There is no end to it on the called party end of the call (aka: your phone). Without a better set of network controls there is no app on the end point that will stop spoofing legit numbers.

So the spoofed calls continue to go out by the millions per hour. After a few dozen calls per number scattered over an hour or so, the algorithm skips to a new number. With VoIP, they run hundreds per hour in parallel.

Technically not possible to stop them today without NSA-spec tracing. Not going to happen for commercial traffic though.

But if the carriers were incented to snag these perps at the callflow source, then we’d have less of this.

Rant over...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[SearChart]

This must be an American thing? I've never been called by a scam caller

[Sarosh]

I have loads of blocked numbers, if I don’t recognise the number, I leave it. They’ll leave a message if it’s important. Lol

[JTL31]

On a related note... I have just started to receive text scams that contain links to spam or nefarious sites.

[kulak]

Originally Posted by SearChart

This must be an American thing? I've never been called by a scam caller

Not sure that it is just American issue but business must be good as it has gotten worse. If people would stop picking up unknown numbers and giving financial info it would stop. It’s like paying a pirate’s ransom in that it encourages more ship pirating.

It predominantly originates from call centers in other countries like India.

I am about ready to change my personal number to a toll number. They can pay by the minute to talk to me if they want.