[cwbrandt]

I have had repeated calls threatening my subsequent arrest from 360-203-1825 for days now. This one is particularly insidious. I don't answer any call that I either don't recognize the number or the caller ID. These scammers actually left a voicemail but it is so distorted that you can barely understand what they are saying. Because I have actually gotten this voicemail previously, I recognized the call and could still make out "taken into custody" "police" etc. The only part you could clearly hear was the phone number they give at the end of the message that they want you to call, the same number that appears on my caller ID. What makes this so dangerous is that I bet plenty of unsuspecting recipients of this call would assume it was just a distorted legitimate voicemail and call back the scammer because they couldn't understand what they said. That can be as bad as answering the call. I rarely even bother reporting robo calls anymore because there are so many. But this one is really so bad that I filed my complaint with the DONOTCALL registry for what that is worth. I am surprised that they are still using the same number because usually these type of scammers don't, but I thought I would warn others of this and remind everyone not to call back anyone who you don't know, especially if they leave a distorted voicemail.
I'm getting these calls on my cellphone now but I have gotten them on my home phone before. I've saved the voicemail hoping the DONOTCALL people actually might be interested.

[Gpsma]

When I have time I call Hajib back. Just play being so afraid of going to jail that they think they have a fish on the line. It’s usually the IRS wants you to pay by getting Target gift cards.

I realize some people are not aware of the scam but it amazes me that people buy into this.

[thetruth]

Originally Posted by cwbrandt

I have had repeated calls threatening my subsequent arrest from 360-203-1825 for days now. This one is particularly insidious. I don't answer any call that I either don't recognize the number or the caller ID. These scammers actually left a voicemail but it is so distorted that you can barely understand what they are saying. Because I have actually gotten this voicemail previously, I recognized the call and could still make out "taken into custody" "police" etc. The only part you could clearly hear was the phone number they give at the end of the message that they want you to call, the same number that appears on my caller ID. What makes this so dangerous is that I bet plenty of unsuspecting recipients of this call would assume it was just a distorted legitimate voicemail and call back the scammer because they couldn't understand what they said. That can be as bad as answering the call. I rarely even bother reporting robo calls anymore because there are so many. But this one is really so bad that I filed my complaint with the DONOTCALL registry for what that is worth. I am surprised that they are still using the same number because usually these type of scammers don't, but I thought I would warn others of this and remind everyone not to call back anyone who you don't know, especially if they leave a distorted voicemail.
I'm getting these calls on my cellphone now but I have gotten them on my home phone before. I've saved the voicemail hoping the DONOTCALL people actually might be
interested.

Many do not bother to report calls. THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY IT DOES NOT WORK AS WELL AS IT MIGHT OR SHOULD.

People who call receive FINES. If, you bow out on their prepared form first of all you confirm that you are that person.

As to your stated ARREST THREAT. Assuming you have done something that you will be arrested for CHANCE OF THEM CALLING TO BE SURE IT IS CONVENIENT IS ZERO.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I wouldn't call them back - sometimes these scams are coming from a masked phone number that pretends to be a different phone number. I've had calls to my house, with the caller ID saying they're - actually my own phone number. I've had calls from people who live in my town, and when I call the number back, they have no idea who I am, why I'm calling, and they never called me. It's called spoofing.

Best way to handle these calls is to hang up as SOON as you realize it's another fraud. Don't respond, don't acknowledge that you're the person they're looking for, don't negotiate, don't harrass, don't do anything. Just hang up.

"Hello, Jazuela?"
Me: "Who's calling?" (note I don't say "yes that's me.")
Them: "Oh there you are! Trying to catch up with you is like trying to catch an outfielder catching a baseball, hah hah!"
Me: HANG UP


Again, caller ID isn't helpful if it's a spoofed phone number, and you have no way of knowing for sure unless it's a phone number you recognize.

[Rango]

You can block the phone number.

[aninjamom]

I Googled the number, it's a fake IRS robocall from the west coast. Report it or ignore it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by aninjamom

I Googled the number, it's a fake IRS robocall from the west coast. Report it or ignore it.

I get these kinds of calls a couple times every month. BTW the "do not call" list has zero effect on these calls. The robo-callers use programs that generate phone numbers, and call them til they get a hit. They don't know who they're calling, and they don't care.

I got a call a few days ago also from a phone scam: the "grandson" call. Whenever it's a phone number I don't recognize, I pretend I don't speak english when I answer it. If it turns out to be someone I know I'll switch to normal again and let them know it's me. The grandson conversation went something like this:

Me: "Eh?"
Them:It's me, your grandson.
Me: Who dis?
Them: It's your grandson, it's me.
Me: Eh? Who dat? Allo, allo?
Them: Tsk, grandma, I'm so disappointed that you don't remember your own grandson!
Me: #*$Q# you stupid *#$O<< damned #$)*& I don't have any grandchildren. CLICK

(I don't have kids, or grandkids, or nieces or nephews. So that scam just flat out can't possibly work on me, even if I was gullible. Which I'm not)

[Ooper]

Why don't you just block the number? Easy peezie!

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Rango

You can block the phone number.

Originally Posted by Ooper

Why don't you just block the number? Easy peezie!

That doesn't always work. They often change the caller-id OR use the same caller-id but call from a different numbers so it slips through blockers.

You can buy 99cent apps to fake a caller ID so it is different from the number you are really calling from.

Nothing works to stop them because 99% of the calls are fake caller-id so reporting them is meaningless. The DNC list only works for LEGIT callers who get the gov't generated list sent to them but it is meaningless for these spammers especially since most are from off-shore.


Wife and I get 2-3 spam calls on a GOOD day on both our cell phones. There are days we've got 10-12 between us on one day.

[aninjamom]

The daughter of a friend of mine in Orlando almost got victimized by the worst one of all; a person called her and told her that they had kidnapped her husband and demanded a sum of money. They kept her on the phone and threatened to kill him if she contacted the police. She was panicking, but managed to contact the police anyway. They called his job - he was at work. She went through a couple of hours of terror for no reason. What total pond scum some people are.

[retiredguy123]

I understand that, if you call back a number that you do not know, you could be making an overseas call that will cost a significant amount of money. It will show up on your phone bill, and your provider will not remove it. I think it has something to do with Federal laws regarding cooperation with overseas phone systems. You made the call, and your provider expects you to pay for it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There are a lot of business and personal loan scams too. I've only had my cell phone number a handful of years. Before that, the phone number belonged to someone else, a woman named Simone Reilly. How do I know that? Here's how: I keep getting calls and text messages from loan companies alerting Simone that she has been approved for the business loan she applied for, or reminding her that she applied for the loan and needs to follow up on the application. I also know she was an uber driver, because she kept getting calls from people seeking transportation. I ALSO know she was a porn actress. That part I googled.

One day, a stranger texted me and said he wanted to "hook up." I asked who is this? He said I know who it is, and he knows me too, we had a chat on some website the other day, and we should meet and have a good time. That's when I realized it wasn't for me, it was for Simone. So I googled his phone number and found out he was a teacher in a public school in Texas. I then responded to the text message telling him he'll need to delete this number from his contact list and never call it again, or I'll call his town's board of ed and inform them that one of their teachers is hooking up with porn actresses, and wouldn't the PTA in that district be interested to discover this information.

I never heard from him again.

I still sometimes get weird texts to Simone though.

[Shimpy]

WHY doesn't our government do something about this invasion of our privacy? We are in our homes, not in public and shouldn't have to be disturbed by these calls. Our homes should be considered a private place and not assessable to all these calls. Once I'm home and close the door no one should be able to disturb me and my family.

[ColdNoMore]

"We have kidnapped your husband and demand $5,000...for his return."


Long, terrified pause.






"How much to just keep him?"

[EPutnam1863]

Originally Posted by aninjamom

I Googled the number, it's a fake IRS robocall from the west coast. Report it or ignore it.

I always google phone numbers that I do not recognize.