Got a call from Homeland Security

[Mister Coffee]

@P&R Fan This is why I never answer the phone. Nothing against India. I'm sure they're fine people. Everyone knows I love curry and Mindy Kaling, but . . .

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

If I'm not home, 95% it's the wife. Not in my phone? No answer. Don't even open texts I don't recognize the words quickly.
I can now go days without one call, but it took some time.

 

[mreed911]

I love the IRS warrant calls. I explain that I work from home and they're welcome to come collect in cash or serve the warrant.

Nobody has shown up.

 

[lihpster]

I get calls a couple of times a year from the Grandson I don't have. He says "Grandpa, I'm in jail. I need money to get out".…

Well I WAS born, but not YESTERDAY!

When I get that one, I reply, "After what you did to your cousin, I hope you rot in jail with a horny cellmate." Then I hang up.

 

[SMSgt]

You all think you're so clever.

The truth is when you answer these people they put your number out to all their scam buddies and you'll find you'll get way more calls.

I quit answering any unknown numbers and odd numbers and might get 1-2 scam calls a month if at that.

You're missing out on a heck of a lot of fun.

 

[swsig]

If you have an answering machine, it picks up the call. Thus, they got your number anyway.

The only solution is to stay home 100% and then not answer. Or, don't have an answering machine and still stay home. But that's not a solution either because if you DO go out the important calls will not leave you a message.

There is no solution.

Actually there is a pretty effective solution. It is called Nomorobo, and it is free for landlines. Once you sign up, Nomorobo screens incoming calls. If Nomorobo's computer detects a call that has been dialed by a computer, it sends a signal to the dialing computer that your phone number is no longer in service. The dialing computer then will delete your number and you will get no further calls from it. Your phone will ring just once to let you know Nomorobo is on the job, and that the incoming call has been sent to spam oblivion. Using Nomorobo has pretty much eliminated spam calls on my landline. There are two limitations: 1) Your landline must operate using voice over the internet protocol (VOIP). Most landlines these days use VOIP, but if you still have an old-fashioned copper landline, you're probably out of luck. 2) If the call has been dialed manually, Nomorobo won't detect it. But, hey, it's free, so why not use it? Check it out at nomorobo.com.

 

[ameridaddy]

I tried that. Half the time they hang up, half the time they keep talking.

I think the goobermint could solve this if they ban calls from India, or they make it impossible to scam a USA number to make the call.

How about a law that says all USA phone companies charge all overseas callers $1.00 for every call incoming to the USA from overseas. My friends in Europe wouldn't mind at all for four or five calls a month, but a scammer or telemarketer boiler room using robo dialers placing 10,000 calls a day might not like the odds of payback.

 

[Rimfire Fanatic]

You're missing out on a heck of a lot of fun.

I give them my ex wife's address and phone number. But then, she did try to kill me once and her worthless pedophile son that abused my kids gets frequent visits from missionaries, etc.

 

[LVSteve]

When I get that one, I reply, "After what you did to your cousin, I hope you rot in jail with a horny cellmate." Then I hang up.

I'm stealing that one.

 

[lihpster]

I'm stealing that one.

Be my guest.

 

[Markpixs]

I asked if he needed my Social.Security Number. He said no. I was disappointed. I was gonna give the one I always give as a collector of Smith & Wesson Revolvers. 357-19-2728.

The first three digits on my SSN are 257, Georgia baby, but would be great if 357. Folks in IL would have a group of those. Back when the first three were location-based.

 

[Telecaster]

You all think you're so clever.

The truth is when you answer these people they put your number out to all their scam buddies and you'll find you'll get way more calls.

I quit answering any unknown numbers and odd numbers and might get 1-2 scam calls a month if at that.

I don't answer, and I still get tons of the calls and texts. Like someone said, if it goes to voicemail, they know it's a good number to trade around.

Scam calls are the tech equivalent of herpes.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

For all the scam calls and spam emails we get, our phone service should be free. Same for the internet.

John

 

[DixieRanger]

Once, don't know bout now, if you started call with *67 would not show your number to person you called?

 

[Truckman]

My IPhone won't even ring unless it's somebody I already know...It just goes straight to the little built in answering machine which tells them it's full and please try the call another time... ...Ben

 

[S-W4EVER]

I keep my iPhone on silent, one of perks of being retired.

 

[H Richard]

I get several a day from various text messages for "approving" the order of the whatever I bought with Pay Pal, or to pay for the software i ordered. My M'soft #11 has a "Junk/Block" feature and it often does well blocking that one, but then a different one shows up. Delete, delete, delete.

 

[Oldengineer]

My answer is "moshee moshee", Japanese for "talk talk". My wife answers in Spanish only when we feel playful.

 

[Telecaster]

If you could cuss them out in Hindu, that would be fun.

 

[Autonomous]

For SS# requests it used to be (maybe still?) Barry Soetoro's stolen SS# was easy to find on the interwebs.
Have heard of folks giving it out