Robo/unknown/fake name calls on the increase.

[billethkid]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?

[Dana1963]

My Cell phone service is set not to ring if number is not in my contacts. I do receive notification of call and if important they can leave message. Option on iPhone turn on Silence Unknown Callers, go to settings, phone turn option on bottom of list.

[Stu from NYC]

About the same

I ask where they are located and if not given a quick answer I will waste their time.

Like to ask them questions about silly things while I get some exercise.And than I block the number which sometimes slows them down

Did get one last week who said they were from the SS administration and my payments were blocked. Even gave me a badge number.

When I told them that I also worked there and didnt realize they were using that sequence of numbers he hung up real fast

[asianthree]

Landline and cell has block on any non contact number.
Phone never rings unless it’s someone we know

[retiredguy123]

My question is, who is the bigger scammer, the telemarketers who keep calling people, or the Federal Government who keeps telling the public that they are going to stop the telemarketers?

[Stu from NYC]

My question is, who is the bigger scammer, the telemarketers who keep calling people, or the Federal Government who keeps telling the public that they are going to stop the telemarketers?

Suspect the telemarketers buy enough congressman so nobody wants to fix the do not call list.

[New Englander]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?

Yes, I am. I get calls and texts.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'm getting more texts - most of them are for [null] from "Amazon" about a delivery waiting for my authorization. Every time I get one I block their number. The numbers are different each time.
I'm also getting more texts for Simone, who is the name of the person who had my phone number before I did. She moved, got a new phone and new phone number, her old number was recycled and I got stuck with it when I got my new phone service.

Simone was - or still is - some manner of "adult entertainer." I don't know if she's a full-fledge prostitute, or just a phone-sex gal but I got a text from one guy who "met" her on meetup.com or hookup.com saying I know why he was calling and he wanted to date me and he knew I was Simone. I reverse-looked up his phone number while he was texting me and found out who HE was - and told him if he ever called this number again, I'd call the Dallas Department of Public Education and let them know that one of their elementary school teachers was soliciting for porn. He never called again.

I still get texts and calls for Simone, but most of them are approving her non-existent loans, and offering her non-existent money-making schemes. I just block them when they come in.

[Mikey Osmond]

Getting slightly more.

[manaboutown]

Mine have picked back up to 4-5 per day. They had reached 10-12 per day before the China virus pandemic. Mostly landline but a few on my cell phone

[davephan]

Another posting string about robo junk callers! Is this with your landline or cellphone? If it’s your cellphone, iPhone or Android? Would you like to permanently stop the robo junk callers? It’s your choice to live with the robo junk callers, or immediately and permanently end the robo junk callers.

If you have a landline, buy a Digitone Call Blocker box for $90, one time cost. Program the call blocker box with the telephone numbers that normally call you. After that point in time, your landline will only ring when it’s one of those programmed telephone numbers. All other numbers will not ring your landline, but they can leave a voicemail. Junk callers almost never leave voicemail. When a legitimate caller leaves a voicemail, add that telephone number to your list. That list is called a “white list”. Blocking numbers, or “black lists” are useless, since there are hundreds of billions of possible numbers to block.

If it’s your cellphone with the junk caller problem, and an iPhone, turn on “Silence Unknown Callers”. The Android cellphones have an equivalent way to block junk callers. If you have T-Mobile service, they have another method to stop junk callers.

The choice is yours! You can keep complaining about the robo junk callers, and keep living with the annoying problem, or you can immediately and permanently end the annoying robo junk calls.

[retiredguy123]

Another posting string about robo junk callers! Is this with your landline or cellphone? If it’s your cellphone, iPhone or Android? Would you like to permanently stop the robo junk callers? It’s your choice to live with the robo junk callers, or immediately and permanently end the robo junk callers.

If you have a landline, buy a Digitone Call Blocker box for $90, one time cost. Program the call blocker box with the telephone numbers that normally call you. After that point in time, your landline will only ring when it’s one of those programmed telephone numbers. All other numbers will not ring your landline, but they can leave a voicemail. Junk callers almost never leave voicemail. When a legitimate caller leaves a voicemail, add that telephone number to your list. That list is called a “white list”. Blocking numbers, or “black lists” are useless, since there are hundreds of billions of possible numbers to block.

If it’s your cellphone with the junk caller problem, and an iPhone, turn on “Silence Unknown Callers”. The Android cellphones have an equivalent way to block junk callers. If you have T-Mobile service, they have another method to stop junk callers.

The choice is yours! You can keep complaining about the robo junk callers, and keep living with the annoying problem, or you can immediately and permanently end the annoying robo junk calls.
The system you describe will work as you say, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Some people don't want to block calls from unknown numbers. They may miss calls from people they know, but don't have them listed on their white list for several reasons. The caller may be calling from another number, or it may be a doctor's office or a new friend or business associate, or maybe someone gave away your contact number without telling you. And, a lot of people do not leave voicemail messages. They expect the person they called to return the call because their phone will show a missed call. Or, if somenoe leaves a voicemail, often when you try to return the call, the business is closed or you can't reach the person. I rarely leave voicemails, and I would not feel comfortable using a white list to screen my calls.

[Skunky1]

I have had a scammer call me using my phone number. When I called the phone company about it they said there’s nothing they could do.

[La lamy]

I've had a lot more scam calls, texts and emails lately. The "spoofing" (disguising a communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source) has also turned into them phoning me with a number that's almost identical to mine. Confusing. Also the typical ones about me owing the government money. My least favorite is emails that say they know my password (they showed me the right one), sure made me change them ASAP.

[DeanFL]

.
.
Re many of these calls, I appreciate the reminders that my warranty is expiring. I must have some memory issues, but this helps.
.
.

[HelenLCSW]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?

Yes
If no one ever responded they would go out of business. They don’t need many people to fall for their schemes to make it worthwhile.

[DeanFL]

.
.
We SCREEN EVERYTHING!>

- Cell phones, NEVER answer unknown #s

- Home/landline, same

- Email, never open links unless we know the sender

-We are so careful now, that when the doorbell rings - we slide our SCREEN door closed before we look and talk to the person. Better safe> sorry.
.
.

[chrissy2231]

I have 2 responses. I keep a whistle by the phone. Hopefully, I blow out their ear drums. Best advice is never answer the phone or open your door to unknown people. Unless I know you're visiting, I haven't opened my front door since 1991 when I was robbed.

[dewilson58]

My cell software has been doing well ID'g fake calls.


But............now I'm getting texts.

[Morgkell]

Get
The app Nomorobo. It will block those calls. And I agree, the number of those calls has increased exponentially!!

[retiredguy123]

I have 2 responses. I keep a whistle by the phone. Hopefully, I blow out their ear drums. Best advice is never answer the phone or open your door to unknown people. Unless I know you're visiting, I haven't opened my front door since 1991 when I was robbed.
I would not use a whistle because the caller has your number and can do the same thing to you.

[stan the man]

Suspect the telemarketers buy enough congressman so nobody wants to fix the do not call list.

Stu from Brooklyn -- once again another great post

[Pila0431]

A way I’ve stopped this is to set up my phone to only accept calls in my contact list. All other calls go to voice mail and don’t even ring. The voice message tells them if they get voice mail, they are not in my contacts list and leave a detailed message if they want a call back. Literally stopped all calls that were a nuisance.

[Travelingal702]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?
I am in a position where I expect calls from unknown numbers, HOWEVER, I have an answering machine. If I do not recognize the caller or number, I DO NOT pick up. If they start to leave a message pertinent to me, I WILL pick up and explain my position. They always understand. Simple. I will never get rid of my landline.

[Carla B]

We have Ooma, set to the next highest security level short of blocking all calls. Last week on Wednesday, we got 21 spam calls. Wednesday and Friday seem to be the days that are the worst. It does no good to use call blocking. Ooma claims they use NoMoRobo but if so, why are they letting all these calls go through? Would the Digitone gadget mentioned above work on VOIP calling like Ooma?

[greenflash245]

the gov't is useless in this instance.

[PugMom]

"Are you experiencing this as well? " yes, yes & yes. they all seem to hit @ once. Ones from SS-also 'stolen' numbers, supposed car warranties expiring (where none exist) , & grandkids needing $$ for some emergency matter. I got upset @ 1st, but since being bored with covid, i will now play along with them & have a bit of fun before hanging them out to dry. :popcorn:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We have Ooma, set to the next highest security level short of blocking all calls. Laast week on Wednesday, we got 21 spam calls. Wednesday and Friday seem to be the days that are the worst. It does no good to use call blocking. Ooma claims they use NoMoRobo but if so, why are they letting all these calls go through? Would the Digitone gadget mentioned above work on VOIP calling like Ooma?

NoMoRobo does what it claims to do: eliminates automated/digital dialing calls (robo calls) from getting through. It doesn't eliminate actual people calling you on the phone, no matter what the reason.

So if there's a real person on the other end of the phone punching in the phone number manually, then it's not a robocall, and NoMoRobo will allow it to get through.

[Qmsp@aol.com]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?
Absolutely.
They say they are on a recorded line

[davem4616]

I look forward to my daily phone call informing me that this is the final call regarding my ability to take out an extended warranty on my auto before they close my file...been going on for months now....we can set our watch by it...comes a little after 4pm.

[Ele201]

I’m glad you mentioned fake and robo text messages as I’m also having this issue. Up until the last few months, texts only came from friends and family. But now I’m getting texts stating “you have a package from USPS” or Amazon, etc. Also I get texts about diet pills. I block and delete them, but they keep showing up. I'm getting more texts - most of them are for [null] from "Amazon" about a delivery waiting for my authorization. Every time I get one I block their number. The numbers are different each time.
I'm also getting more texts for Simone, who is the name of the person who had my phone number before I did. She moved, got a new phone and new phone number, her old number was recycled and I got stuck with it when I got my new phone service.

Simone was - or still is - some manner of "adult entertainer." I don't know if she's a full-fledge prostitute, or just a phone-sex gal but I got a text from one guy who "met" her on meetup.com or hookup.com saying I know why he was calling and he wanted to date me and he knew I was Simone. I reverse-looked up his phone number while he was texting me and found out who HE was - and told him if he ever called this number again, I'd call the Dallas Department of Public Education and let them know that one of their elementary school teachers was soliciting for porn. He never called again.

I still get texts and calls for Simone, but most of them are approving her non-existent loans, and offering her non-existent money-making schemes. I just block them when they come in.

[Huskies]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?
Yes, it’s all day long. I get calls at 8am !!!! I changed my recording on my machine and said if you are a solicitor please take us off your list. It seems to be working as I am not getting repeat calls.

[Dilligas]

The system you describe will work as you say, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Some people don't want to block calls from unknown numbers. They may miss calls from people they know, but don't have them listed on their white list for several reasons. The caller may be calling from another number, or it may be a doctor's office or a new friend or business associate, or maybe someone gave away your contact number without telling you. And, a lot of people do not leave voicemail messages. They expect the person they called to return the call because their phone will show a missed call. Or, if somenoe leaves a voicemail, often when you try to return the call, the business is closed or you can't reach the person. I rarely leave voicemails, and I would not feel comfortable using a white list to screen my calls.
Unless you enjoy robocalls and spam calls, you need to develop a thorough contact list in you mobile phone....including friends, neighbors, relatives, doctors, pharmacies, contract workers (lawn, pool, cleaning, etc). Then you have a 'white list' to cut out most. If someone you know has a new number and didn't notify you, they can leave a message and you can add it to your contacts. The government and phone companies will not resolve the problem until they step up. The govt is too busy with politics, and the phone companies with 5G installation. Anything done by the phone companies to stop all will be useless until there is a law by the govt to allow prosecution.

[larcha]

It seems the last couple of weeks the telemarketing calls have increased significantly.

Especially utilizing the new tactic of using fake names. And now they even employ repeat calls from the same name and number.

Are you experiencing this as well?

I received a call the other day from a man who asked if I had called him. I had not. He said the call was from my number and showed my name as the caller. The call was a Social Security scam call saying his Social Security number had been compromised and asking for personal information. I called my carrier, T-Mobile, but they said that since the call had not originated on their system there was nothing they could do. It's getting scary out there.

[KRM0614]

Yes they are call centers that get paid to confirm phone numbers and persons. I always say you have the wrong number ! An accent works good too!

[Stu from NYC]

Absolutely.
They say they are on a recorded line

As soon as they say why recorded line, they say for my protection.

So I hang up for my protection

[Stu from NYC]

Unless you enjoy robocalls and spam calls, you need to develop a thorough contact list in you mobile phone....including friends, neighbors, relatives, doctors, pharmacies, contract workers (lawn, pool, cleaning, etc). Then you have a 'white list' to cut out most. If someone you know has a new number and didn't notify you, they can leave a message and you can add it to your contacts. The government and phone companies will not resolve the problem until they step up. The govt is too busy with politics, and the phone companies with 5G installation. Anything done by the phone companies to stop all will be useless until there is a law by the govt to allow prosecution.

The problem is we keep getting calls from this area code that are new to us and we want to take. For example last week one from our DR office asking about our health.

[Curtisbwp]

Yes and it is annoying. I block them but they use many many different numbers. Some times i answer and play with them.

[retiredguy123]

The problem is we keep getting calls from this area code that are new to us and we want to take. For example last week one from our DR office asking about our health.
Yes, and the doctor is not always going to call from the same number. And, some doctors will block the incoming caller ID.

[Stu from NYC]

Yes, and the doctor is not always going to call from the same number. And, some doctors will block the incoming caller ID.

So just something else we have to deal with these days, as our daughter would say First World Problem.

[rmd2]

Landline and cell has block on any non contact number.
Phone never rings unless it’s someone we know

How do you put a block on a landline? I would like to do that.

[rmd2]

Get
The app Nomorobo. It will block those calls. And I agree, the number of those calls has increased exponentially!!

I used nomorobo and it did not stop the telemarketers,

[Paper1]

Landlines have become useless and cellular is on it's way. The junk mail folder on my computer gets countless messages daily but I skim them as occasionally a legit one gets directed to this folder by AOL filter. As I daily watch our elected leadership skillfully handle the issues facing our country (sarcasm) I think how well they have managed the do not call law they passed a few years back.

[retiredguy123]

How do you put a block on a landline? I would like to do that.
I have the Xfinity voice landline. I can log into my account on a computer or tablet, go to settings, and enter up to 25 numbers to block.

[Nucky]

I am waiting for a phone call from a Dog Breeder for a friend in N.J. They asked for me to give them a recommendation which I agreed to. It is coming up on 4 weeks that I've been waiting for the call. These people are worth the inconvenience.

I had to hit the switch inside my iPhone that allows every clown to get through and at the same time, the Text's started. It has been brutal. The new pup has one more week to go and then all security measures will be activated on my Cell Phone.

Under normal circumstances, I use the switch inside the iPhone to limit calls from only my contacts and HIYA as added protection, and still on occasion an unwanted call slips through.

For Text Messages, I make myself open the Text and write down the phone number and I have a contact or two or three that I add that number too. It stops the next Text Message I guess because I've never got a repeat Text from the same number. Many of the Texts are Political. Can't they all just leave us all alone? Isn't it a real PIP when you are just getting in the shower and rush for the phone for one of these Pinheads? I've been putting then on hold because I tell them my doorbell just rang. Some of them wait for the entire length of the shower. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[pyg122250@gmail.com]

Thursday night around 11:30 I received a call with no caller ID so I dismissed the call. Received the call 2 more times and I dismissed them. The 4 time I decided to answer it thinking maybe it could be a family member. The person on the line ask for me by name and said he was with the fraud prevention department. He gave me an address to verify - it was an address that I sold 4 years ago. When I told him it was incorrect he made an excuse that his computer had not been updated. I ask several times why he was calling so late and he said he was trying to help me as my credit card had just been used at a gas station on 466. He needed to know if I had just used my credit card. Before he could say another word I ask what bank he was working for. He hesitated and said Citizens. I told him that I didn’t have an account with them and he said he must have the wrong person and hung up.

[TooColdNJ]

I have 2 responses. I keep a whistle by the phone. Hopefully, I blow out their ear drums. Best advice is never answer the phone or open your door to unknown people. Unless I know you're visiting, I haven't opened my front door since 1991 when I was robbed.

That’s a great solution that’s been around for a while, but it scares the hell out of my dog, and my husband’s hearing aids explode!

Seriously— many, if not most, are recorded calls these days. Other than for those that just digit dial, if your telephone number is required when shopping online just put random numbers in... or you can always add the number of a person you really dislike! ;)

[rmagee]

I get a minimum of 3 of these calls per day. They are mostly recordings. That takes away my usual initial comment. I answer and immediately say "You are on a recorded line, please state your business".....If it is a live person the hangup occurs within 4 seconds. It's my newest hobby.

[davephan]

The system you describe will work as you say, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Some people don't want to block calls from unknown numbers. They may miss calls from people they know, but don't have them listed on their white list for several reasons. The caller may be calling from another number, or it may be a doctor's office or a new friend or business associate, or maybe someone gave away your contact number without telling you. And, a lot of people do not leave voicemail messages. They expect the person they called to return the call because their phone will show a missed call. Or, if somenoe leaves a voicemail, often when you try to return the call, the business is closed or you can't reach the person. I rarely leave voicemails, and I would not feel comfortable using a white list to screen my calls.

That’s a trade off. There could be stubborn people that refuse to leave a voicemail. But is it reasonable for you to put up with all the junk calls just because a couple stubborn people refuse to leave a voicemail?

You could include in your outgoing voicemail message that all unknown telephone numbers are screened, and it is mandatory to leave a voicemail, if they want to contact you.

The CenturyLink landline provider has a service called “No Solicitation”. If the telephone callers number isn’t on your “white list”, then the system doesn’t ring your telephone until the unknown caller hits “1”.

Years ago, Digitone had a call screener like that, which simply played an outgoing message to all callers. Then all callers had to hit “1” to ring your telephones.

A normal answering machine could be used like that, but then you’d hear the ringing sound from all the unknown callers.

If you we’re running a business where you got a lot of unknown callers, then screening the calls with a “white list” isn’t going to work. You’d simply have to live with more and more junk callers.

I think it’s unreasonable for myself to put up with hearing the telephone ringing with unknown callers because a couple people are too stubborn to leave voicemail. If those stubborn people get desperate enough to contact me, they’ll leave a voicemail.

[MacScuba]

It’s on the rise.

[TooColdNJ]

If you answer the call it verifies that it’s a working number. I think sometimes the calls continue for that reason. Every single call that comes in from a number with the same area code as mine (out of state), I block it on my iPhone immediately. I’ve gotten less and less calls. If anyone from my past life isn’t in my contact list anymore, I don’t want to talk to them anyway. You can also block unknown texts the same way.

[davephan]

Thursday night around 11:30 I received a call with no caller ID so I dismissed the call. Received the call 2 more times and I dismissed them. The 4 time I decided to answer it thinking maybe it could be a family member. The person on the line ask for me by name and said he was with the fraud prevention department. He gave me an address to verify - it was an address that I sold 4 years ago. When I told him it was incorrect he made an excuse that his computer had not been updated. I ask several times why he was calling so late and he said he was trying to help me as my credit card had just been used at a gas station on 466. He needed to know if I had just used my credit card. Before he could say another word I ask what bank he was working for. He hesitated and said Citizens. I told him that I didn’t have an account with them and he said he must have the wrong person and hung up.

That’s part of the scam, calling you late at night! The scammer wants to wake up people and catch them when they are disoriented, waking up, and are more vulnerable to giving out information.

That’s a variation of the old scam where someone calls you hotel room late at night, waking you up, pretending to be from the front desk of the hotel, wanting you to tell them your credit card number over the telephone, to “verify” your credit card number.

Some people are disoriented when waking up, and are not thinking clearly, and give the scammer the credit card number to the scammer that’s pretending to be from the front desk of the hotel.

[TooColdNJ]

I've had a lot more scam calls, texts and emails lately. The "spoofing" (disguising a communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source) has also turned into them phoning me with a number that's almost identical to mine. Confusing. Also the typical ones about me owing the government money. My least favorite is emails that say they know my password (they showed me the right one), sure made me change them ASAP.

I received the same email! The password was one I never use anymore, from a website I obviously never go to. I just ignored the fact that they threatened to post nude pictures. Thank God i destroyed them years ago! NOT 😅😉

[Stu from NYC]

I get a minimum of 3 of these calls per day. They are mostly recordings. That takes away my usual initial comment. I answer and immediately say "You are on a recorded line, please state your business".....If it is a live person the hangup occurs within 4 seconds. It's my newest hobby.

Interesting idea will give that a try but most are recordings until you get transferred to a real person

[retiredguy123]

Sometimes the caller is a fake computer voice that can actually answer questions. For some strange reason, I can usually tell the difference between a fake and a real person. If I suspect a fake, I will ask them if they are real and they will say "yes". Then, I say, "what is 11 minus 8"? They never get that one correct.

[Stu from NYC]

Sometimes the caller is a fake computer voice that can actually answer questions. For some strange reason, I can usually tell the difference between a fake and a real person. If I suspect a fake, I will ask them if they are real and they will say "yes". Then, I say, "what is 11 minus 8"? They never get that one correct.

The trick is to ask a question they do not suspect.

Color of underwear is usually a good one

[LianneMigiano]

The ones I hate the most are when I get a call with MY OWN NAME in caller ID! How stupid do they think we are? Even with adding our line to DO NOT CALL registries we are still getting 6-8 a day on the land line. I have taken to not answering any number that I do not recognize and any without a name showing.

[Art cov]

I have had a scammer call me using my phone number. When I called the phone company about it they said there’s nothing they could do.

I had the same. I looked and my number was calling me! What’s the deal? Didn’t answer. When I do it’s a warranty call about a vehicle I no longer own. Annoying

[Schaumburger]

I used nomorobo and it did not stop the telemarketers,

I have used nomorobo for a couple of years now on my landline. It worked better at first. With nomorobo, my landline phone will still ring once, then stops if it is a robocall. When I was working from home daily from mid-March through early June, my landline would ring 3 to 4 times daily with robocalls. This still seems to be the case.

I also get usually 2 or 3 spam/telemarketing calls daily on my cell phone. I block those numbers, but doesn't seems to help much as these calls originate from every area code and state imaginable. :(