ROBO CALLS HIT A NEW LOW LAST NIGHT !

[SC_Mike]

"The only reason I keep our landline now is mainly because of our alarm system (Central Station calling) and for when our Cell Phones don't work "

I would unplug the land line phones until you need them. The alarm should still connect. Tell family and friends to call your cell only. Just a thought.

 

[ameridaddy]

While we get our share of scammers obviously from overseas, I can tell by the accents many of the dirtbags are American, and they are using robocall machines with number spoofing capability, which makes the calls look like they are originating locally. I have called back many of these numbers, and mostly find there is no such number, or occasionally get some poor soul whose phone number has been hijacked by the scum.

While I realize there isn't much we can do about calls from outside USA, I'd like to see the importation, possession and manufacturing of robocalling and number spoofing machines made a felony in the USA.

Politicians won't go along; they need the robodialers you say - I disagree.
I don't know anybody who will listen to a cold call pitch from a talking machine - I don't even listen to the ones from my doctors, but insist they send me emails to confirm appointments, so I don't think it should hurt political campaigns much if robocall machines are outlawed.

 

[Bkreutz]

My landline number is what I put on any form that I have to fill out that requires a phone #, or if I'm ordering something online. I have all the phone ringers on that line disconnected. If whoever is calling wants to get in touch with me, they'll leave a message, the robots never do. Every week or so I go through my messages and delete just about all of them. Everyone who I care about getting in touch with me will call or text my cell phone. I agree, these companies must think the people they are calling are incredibly stupid if they think their calls will sell anything after the inconvenience.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

For the life of me I can not understand why no one sells a telephone that requires the caller to enter a few numbers to allow the phone to ring. It could be done in a way that would block 100% of robo calls - each"Please enter the number that is equal to 100 minus 50", something like that, and would use a different question for call, and give two chances at the right answer then hangs up on them. I'd pay $200 for one of those phones, and someone could sell millions of them.

You know a large % or the population could not answer that
question without some device to calculate the answer.

 

[DWalt]

"Nomorobo" won't work on my landline (AT&T) unless something has changed since I last tried. I just let all incoming calls go to the answering machine. If it is a live telemarketer (not so common these days as they used to be) I will sometimes pick up and have some fun with them. I especially like to get female callers. They usually hang up very quickly when I start asking them some highly personal questions and probably resign the next day. Most of the time I get nothing but blank air after my answering machine answers but there are some die-hards who will say "hello...hello...hello..." or start into their spiel before they give up.

I like to get robocalls from the scammers - those guys from Microsoft telling me that my Windows license is about to expire, the IRS agents and bill collectors who are going to send the police to arrest me if I don't pay up, and my personal favorite, the process server who is going to serve legal papers on me unless I call him back immediately. Sometimes they are fairly clever and convincing and I can see how some people could be taken in.

I have concluded that being on the "Do Not Call" list means nothing.

 

[Redbert31]

My husband likes to drive the cold callers crazy by pretending he's an idiot or whistling into the phone or saying he's got to get his nurse on the phone. Some play along, some hang up, but he enjoys a little fun at their"expense"

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[armadillo]

Now they are spoofing my number on scam calls to other people. 3-4 times a week, I get a call from someone who says they got a robocall that showed my number on their caller id.

I wish they would put Jack Bauer on the case to hunt these animals down and eliminate them.

 

[mtgianni]

They spoof numbers from lots of different sources. It is better to never answer your phone, just listen to messages.

 

[crankyoldlady]

For several years we have used PhoneTray. It's a caller ID program that runs on our computer. Has worked out very well at our house.

PhoneTray - Block telemarketing calls, stop robocalls, zap telemarketers

 

[BigBoy99]

I have concluded that being on the "Do Not Call" list means nothing.

I think it's name has been changed to: the "Call List!"

 

[GaryS]

Unless I see a name I recognize on the caller ID, I just let it go to voice mail. If they think it's important, they can leave a message. If I think it's important, I'll call them back.

I think many of you are letting your land line rule your lives.

They spoof numbers from lots of different sources. It is better to never answer your phone, just listen to messages.

 

[500SNW]

Mujibar was trying to get a job in India.

The Personnel Manager said, "Mujibar, you have passed all the tests except one. Unless you pass it you cannot qualify for this job."

Mujibar said, "I am ready."

The Manager said, "Make a sentence using the words Yellow, Pink and Green."

Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said, "Mister Manager, I am ready."

The Manager said, "Go ahead."

Mujibar said, "The telephone goes green, green, green, and I pink it up, and say, 'Yellow, this is Mujibar.'"

Mujibar now works as a technician at a call center for computer problems. No doubt you have spoken to him.

 

[Salty RI]

He has now changed his name to Joe.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

 

[Dutchboy901]

After reading some of the post on here, I've decided to change my message on my answering machine. I currently use the standard or basic robotic message that comes with the system, which said's the following: "Hello please leave a message after the tone".

My new message will now say: "Hello, you've reached my home phone that I never answer because of all the BS calls that I get here. However, if you would still like to waste your time and leave a message, please do so at the sound of the beep".

This recording will come on after two rings!

 

[Beemer-mark]

My cable / phone company allows me to block any number that doesn't have an identified person names or originates from a toll free number. As someone else stated though the phone still rings once. I can't believe how many times it rings once every day.

The new one is spoof calling on my cell phone. Never used to get robo calls on my cell until spoof calling started. Looks like a local number but it isn't. For the most part it isn't scams but legit robo calls. Marriot and Spectrum are the worse (did i say spectrum was my cable co.?).

The only thing you can do is not answer the phone if there is no caller ID. I even turn my cell phone ringer off most of the time. People really want to talk to me will leave a voicemail.

 

[andy52]

Heck I'm retired I've got all the time in the world to wait until a live person on the other end picks up that's when the harassment gets reversed, political calls which are abundant right now get the same treatment. I had a political call a couple of days ago that the person on the end hung up on me...….I loved it.

 

[500SNW]

This recording will come on after two rings!

Make it 5 or 6 rings. Waste their time and tie up their phone line. That's one thing that has always bothered me about junk calls. After the call is ended on a landline, and you hang up, there is an almost 30 second period where you cannot pick your own phone up and call out...even if you have an emergency. Each time you pick up the phone prematurely, you "reset" the delay. Do an experiment and have a friend call you. Then, after you two hang up, try to immediately make a call out on your phone. It usually doesn't work right away. At least that's how mine has always been.

 

[chief38]

So I left a message for my Congressman to call me back and today he actually did! He did tell me that President Trump is seeking to get foreign Govt's. to crack down on the scam rings within their Countries (mostly India) but it is quite difficult since many of the Police are part of the scam rings and warn them when raids are eminent. I suggested that the USA hold back foreign aid on Country's that do not severely crack down and he said he agreed with me - however it is only a few weeks away from election day and he is running again! Even though my conversation was just that - a conversation...... at least I did what I could and gave him what was on my mind.