Another call from Social Security.

The scary thing is that the local police will not help in any way. I got a lot of calls from the same local exchange and having been a telephone man I looked up the number. It belonged to an elderly Jewish couple. I called the number and learned that they were frightened from people calling them saying what do you want. I tried to get the local police to at least help the frightened older couple but they wouldn't. This whole problem is the result of government breaking up Ma Bell and destroying the best telephone service we ever had.
 
Not sure why anyone would answer the phone if they don't know the caller and why they are calling.

We have just moved into a new house and are trying to get services established such as newspaper, trash pick-up, transferring auto insurance, etc. taken care of. We don't want to miss a call back for some service were couldn't speak with immediately. Also with the way people moveabout once they have a cell phone number, the area code of the caller really doesn't have any bearing. A friend got a cell phone number in WI with a 608 area code 25 years ago and has kept the same number even though he has lived in SC, GA, MT, NY and KS.
 
If you get a letter for laundering money or a phone call with a return number you can report the number to the FTC. They seem to be interested in these things. It worked for me and the rep was decent about it.
 
"Hello-Is Nathan there?" Honest to God, just called while I was reading this. Nathan, you left your friend the wrong number. Call him and give him the right one. He doesn't believe me, even when I insult him and use Old Germanic adjectives.
 
For the record, SocSec NEVER 'cold calls' anyone. Ever.

Neither does the IRS. Mail or website with an account that you log into. That's it folks. If they call it ain't them. :D

I just dealt with the VA over the phone, I called them, they didn't call me, and was able to navigate an ID interrogation that the FBI would have been proud of. I passed but just barely. They said only about 10% of the callers can do it in the time allotted. I have a pretty good memory so I'm still in there throwing strikes. Somebody trying to scam that system would have to get up pretty early.
 
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Not sure why anyone would answer the phone if they don't know the caller and why they are calling.

Caller ID works pretty well for screening calls. If it's a legit call the company will ID themselves. Scammers and others you don't want to talk to won't ID their call. My name is on my call so anyone who wants to know who's calling will know who it is.

I screen all of my calls. If unidentified I'm not talking to you unless you leave a message. Generally scammers won't take the time to do that. They just move on.
 
The nature of my business is such that I have two landline phones forwarded to my cell phone. I have to answer every call. If a potential customer gets voice mail, they might leave a message, but they're calling the next guy on their list when they hang up. Sometimes I know it's probably a scam call based on the city in the caller ID, but not always. I've had legit calls from the obscure flyover country municipality the scammers in Missouri seem to be fond of.

If it's a call center call, there's almost always a pause, then an audible little click or beep, and then you hear voices in the background before "Andy" finally picks up. I always hang up at the click, because I don't have time to screw with them like many here seem to have.

Since I've got three phone numbers to deal with, at times, I have received the same call three times in a row, once on each line. (I actually don't know this for certain, because I have no way of knowing which number was actually dialed. They may just have called one number three times, but I doubt it).

I chalk it up to just another cost of doing business . . .
 
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I've gotten 4 or 5 of these "Social Security" calls in the last two days. I haven't answered any of them, but they all displayed as the local area code. Surprisingly, they all left a message with a phone number to call back. Needless to say, I didn't call back.
 
Here in Central Montana, the last month or so, we have been inundated with SS, CC and elect. ion polling calls.

They start at 0830 like clockwork. Have gotten as many as ten in a day.
 
I got a call today from Social Security. A female voice, slightly accented, told be I was being contacted for improper activity on my account and they were going to suspend my IT. For more information press 1.
A moreheavily-accented male answered and asked why I called.
"You called me. I'm just returning your call".

"Would you like to know the nature of the activity on your account?"

"Yes."

"Before I can tell you, you need to give me your name."

"You should already have my name. You called me."

"All right, M*****F*****, you are really going to be in big trouble now." [click]

Yes, you have heard that right. He had the nerve to hang up on me, before I could even get his street address and GPS coordinates.

I had the same call and just laughed at him and said "yeh? The jokes on you..... I don't need my social security because I just wire transferred ten grand to a guy in Kenya who is sending me a $100 million inheritance of which I was unaware!"
 
My name is on my call so anyone who wants to know who's calling will know who it is.

The number I got for my cell phone was somebody else's and his name appears when ever I call anyone. I tried to get it changed but my carrier says it doesn't put people's name on phones anymore. They changed the name so now when I call anyone, it just says "Wireless Caller". I guess that will have to be my name from now on.
 
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