persistent new scammers

[cmore]

I have gotten 3 phone calls just this morning
saying I should call about a problem
with my Apple cloud acct. That one is easy.
I don't have any apple products.
I checked the number on google and it said it was a scam.

beware

 

[coltle6920]

All the technology available out there to screen or reject calls and yet you continue to answer the phone.

 

[Absalom]

All the technology available out there to screen or reject calls and yet you continue to answer the phone.

Indeed. You may not be in any danger of falling for any such scam, but every time a live person picks up such a call, which is dialed in the millions by computers generally from random-generated lists, you validate the number and get moved to other lists that mark you as a more promising target for more calls, since a real person answers at this number. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Just get caller ID and resist the urge to pick up!

 

[hoosierone]

I've just started using "call block" on my phone. Time will tell if it cuts down on calls. Unfortunately I get calls from "unlisted caller" that sometimes are from people I know. Same with callbacks from doctors office, not Id'd so I have to pick up to be sure.

 

[Faulkner]

We recently had a scam that hit us locally with the scammers saying they were from the Sheriff's Department and were calling people advising them there was a warrant for their arrest on file because they failed to show up for jury duty. Seemed very real to some people because the scammers had done their research and were using actual names of employees from the Sheriff's Department. The scammers advised they would accept payment for the fine over the phone and clear all this up.

Unfortunately, one of them made the mistake of calling my 74 year old mother. Mom called me immediately after the call and gave me the number from her caller ID, to which I immediately called back on a department phone so we could trace it. I had a grand time scamming the scammer and after a long time on the phone advised the scammer that I would gladly pay the fine and since I worked a couple of blocks from the sheriff's office I'd just walk a check or cash right over and give it to him. He hung up at that point.

The phone trace took a while (it's not like it is on TV cop shows), but even though the number looked local it was actually coming out of California.

 

[Wprovence]

Well supposedly I have a relative who has way more money than they need. All I have to do is send him my account number. I didn't know I had relatives in Nigeria.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Alpo]

I've just started using "call block" on my phone. Time will tell if it cuts down on calls. Unfortunately I get calls from "unlisted caller" that sometimes are from people I know. Same with callbacks from doctors office, not Id'd so I have to pick up to be sure.

If it's not a number on my phone list, I won't answer it.

If it's important - doctor's office, my friend Bob that somehow is not on my list - they will leave a message.

If the reason someone called is NOT important enough to leave a message, it is certainly not important enough to talk to them.

 

[vytoland]

HINT = dont engage with crazies.....

 

[Gaffer]

What was once the best telephone system in the world has now fallen to just about the worst. What was once a system that had quality and a friendly operator to report or difficulties to has now become an nightmare of scam callers, poor quality and customer service that could care less. Some telephone companies don't even have repair service on weekends to report you problem to.

Sure you may be able to get cell service cheaply but it is of such poor quality you are guessing at what bis being said. You add in the lost time spent answering scam calls and trying to determine what is legit and what is not and I for one long for the telephone service the eighties.

It is our own fault, we bought into the divestiture because we were told that deregulation would make the service so much better. Oh yeah! Just look a all the deregulation government has forced on us. Is flying better, is you electricity better? Get with it folks, what ever government touches turns into rich brown excrement.

 

[Absalom]

...... Oh yeah! Just look a all the deregulation government has forced on us. Is flying better, is you electricity better? Get with it folks, what ever government touches turns into rich brown excrement.

Just making sure everybody appreciates the (hopefully intentional) irony in your rant.

Regulation is government in the economy.

Deregulation was and is the idea of getting government out of business and the economy, the theory being that nothing but great things will result. Hasn't always worked out quite that way.

 

[cmore]

I don't answer them. I screen all calls thru the answering machine.
I have for years.
Thanks for assuming I don't and hammering me for it.
I was just trying to be helpful.

All the technology available out there to screen or reject calls and yet you continue to answer the phone.

 

[doublesharp]

Nomorobo is a call blocking service offered by my cable co, TWC/Spectrum and it dumps scam calls into file 13 after 1 ring. It's damn near worth what my cable bill costs.

 

[lhump1961]

Just making sure everybody appreciates the (hopefully intentional) irony in your rant.

Regulation is government in the economy.

Deregulation was and is the idea of getting government out of business and the economy, the theory being that nothing but great things will result. Hasn't always worked out quite that way.

The problem with each approach is GREED! Deregulate and companies do what's most profitable to them regardless of impact on consumer and have no problem lying about it. Regulate with government intervention and favor falls on the highest campaign contributor and the lies continue. I haven't figured out which is worse...

 

[BC38]

Interesting perspective on deregulation.

I remember the days before deregulation and the breakup of Ma Bell. In adjusted dollars the cost for the basic phone service wasn't much less than it is today, but EVERY call that was outside your local area was a TOLL call.

Now we have unlimited free long distance and you can call about anywhere in North America without paying a dime extra - all for the cost of your basic phone service. Was the service better? Probably - but that's because you PAID for it in more ways (and paid more - relatively speaking) than you do today.

I also remember when flying was something only rich people did - because in adjusted dollars it was about 3-5 times more expensive than it is today. In relative terms EVERY ticket cost about what a full-fare first-class ticket costs today. These days, just about anyone can afford to fly. Was the service better back in the old days? SURE - IF you could afford it!

IMO, what it boils down to is reduced quality of service = reduced cost, OR reduced cost = reduced quality of service. Whichever way you want to look at it, all the old sayings apply - there ain't no free lunch and ya' get what ya' pay for...

 

[shouldazagged]

Faulkner, your story (post #5) reminded me of an old newspaperman's story from the 1940's. The city room of a paper got a tip there had been a murder at such-and-such an address. The only reporter available was tied up, so he called the address. When the call was answered he said, "This is Dr. Smith with the coroner's office,"

They guy on the ther end said, "That's funny, so is this."

I don't answer unfamiliar numbers, Especially toll-free calls. The only times I get caught are when I don't have my glasses on--I'm just about legally blind without them--and am expecting a call.

That's when I get "James" or "Gloria", with a ripe Mumbai accent, saying, "Sir, I am calling from the Windows, and it is about your compu.." <click>

 

[Marshwheeling]

What was once the best telephone system in the world has now fallen to just about the worst. What was once a system that had quality and a friendly operator to report or difficulties to has now become an nightmare of scam callers, poor quality and customer service that could care less. Some telephone companies don't even have repair service on weekends to report you problem to.

Sure you may be able to get cell service cheaply but it is of such poor quality you are guessing at what bis being said. You add in the lost time spent answering scam calls and trying to determine what is legit and what is not and I for one long for the telephone service the eighties.

It is our own fault, we bought into the divestiture because we were told that deregulation would make the service so much better. Oh yeah! Just look a all the deregulation government has forced on us. Is flying better, is you electricity better? Get with it folks, what ever government touches turns into rich brown excrement.

I have heard the government blamed for over-regulation, but this is the first time I have heard them blamed for deregulation.

 

[cndrdk]

But....they're getting smarter. When they call us in Texas they use the name "Beeley Bahb"

 

[Arik]

I don't even pick up my home phone anymore. If my phone/tv/internet didn't come as a bundle i wouldn't even have a home phone

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[cougar14]

I too have gotten this same call several times a day for the last week. What's funny, my phone has a little screen displaying the caller ID. This one says"APFEL, Inc".

 

[KKECK5]

My comment of these scams is simple......... If they could track down and kill Bin Laden .......why can't they find Rachael and Sarah from Card Services..........

 

[fiasconva]

Sometimes it's fun messing with the callers. The next time one calls I'm going to do what I saw on another forum: " You sound sexy. What are you wearing?"

 

[BearBio]

We only give out the land-line (everything is bundled, so we save money by keeping it). If Caller ID doesn't identify it or we don't recognize the number, we don't answer. Friends know to call us on our cells.

Wife donated to Red Cross ONCE=we get calls every single day, or maybe two. We've asked them not to call. We've told them that, because of the obnoxious calls, we have crossed them off of our donation list but nothing works!

 

[BC38]

We only give out the land-line (everything is bundled, so we save money by keeping it). If Caller ID doesn't identify it or we don't recognize the number, we don't answer. Friends know to call us on our cells.

Wife donated to Red Cross ONCE=we get calls every single day, or maybe two. We've asked them not to call. We've told them that, because of the obnoxious calls, we have crossed them off of our donation list but nothing works!

If they know they are "off your donation list" they have nothing to loose. If you tell them that they are GOING to be taken off the list if they keep it up, maybe they'll stop.

Just a thought...

 

[GaryS]

If it's a live caller, you can try this.

Get a whistle. Once you are certain it's the Red Cross on the phone, blow the whistle into the mouth piece. I expect you won't be bothered again.

Just kidding, but it is tempting sometimes.

I got a pretty realistic email from "Bank of America" today telling me that I needed to verify my debit card because of suspicious activity. As I always do, I read the email as plain text, not HTML. Which showed that the return address was not BoA and that the website was definitely NOT BoA. I just deleted the email.

We only give out the land-line (everything is bundled, so we save money by keeping it). If Caller ID doesn't identify it or we don't recognize the number, we don't answer. Friends know to call us on our cells.

Wife donated to Red Cross ONCE=we get calls every single day, or maybe two. We've asked them not to call. We've told them that, because of the obnoxious calls, we have crossed them off of our donation list but nothing works!

 

[GaryS]

If I don't recognize the number, I don't answer the call. If it's legit AND important, they'll leave a message. If it's someone I know, chances are they have my cell phone number and are in my contacts list.

All the technology available out there to screen or reject calls and yet you continue to answer the phone.

 

[GaryS]

I remember those days as well. You could only buy your equipment (actually I think you leased it) from the phone company. If you had more than one number and didn't know how to disconnect the ringer, you paid for each phone. You also had to pay to have a new phone jack put in. Which you also had to buy from the phone company.

You got repair service when they felt like sending a guy out.

Touch tone dialing was another extra feature. For which my father refused to pay.

Don't want your name in the phone book? There was a charge for an unlisted number.

Your local area was based on some phone company logic. At one time, I could call my folks house for "free", but if they wanted to call me, it was a "toll" call. We developed a system where they would call and let the phone ring once. That was the signal. Of course my wife had the same situation, so her parents let the phone ring twice. That was their signal.

Call waiting? Caller ID? Call blocking? No such thing.

Interesting perspective on deregulation.

I remember the days before deregulation and the breakup of Ma Bell. In adjusted dollars the cost for the basic phone service wasn't much less than it is today, but EVERY call that was outside your local area was a TOLL call.

Now we have unlimited free long distance and you can call about anywhere in North America without paying a dime extra - all for the cost of your basic phone service. Was the service better? Probably - but that's because you PAID for it in more ways (and paid more - relatively speaking) than you do today.

I also remember when flying was something only rich people did - because in adjusted dollars it was about 3-5 times more expensive than it is today. In relative terms EVERY ticket cost about what a full-fare first-class ticket costs today. These days, just about anyone can afford to fly. Was the service better back in the old days? SURE - IF you could afford it!

IMO, what it boils down to is reduced quality of service = reduced cost, OR reduced cost = reduced quality of service. Whichever way you want to look at it, all the old sayings apply - there ain't no free lunch and ya' get what ya' pay for...