[noslices1]

Telephone scams are so prevalent that I have a scam blocker on my IPhone. They still call, but my phone doesn’t ring. It shows the call as a “likely scam” and I physically block the number. I checked a couple of days ago and I have more than 500 blocked numbers on my phone.. most of the calls were about Medicare, car warranty or Solar panels, so my out going message goes something like this: Thank you for calling. “If you are NOT calling about Medicare, car warranty or Solar, leave a message and I will call you back.” Some of those idiots STILL leave a message..

[larbud]

I sometimes google the number,Interesting results at times..

[phansen2246]

Got the same call on landline saying $399.00 were charged to my amazon account. I don't even have an Amazon account!

[Psacc0]

Originally Posted by Boomer

A couple of times lately, my cell has rung with a recording supposedly from Amazon saying they have spotted suspicious activity of a $700+ charge for an iPhone, and I need to press buttons to talk to someone who can verify or stop the purchase.

This is the second time this has happened with a slight variation in the message. I think the first time, the recording might have said it was Apple calling. (Besides -- do people buy Apple phones on Amazon anyway or are the scammers just using the two biggest, most familiar names they can think of to try to get their targets' attention?)

Now, before anybody chastises me for picking up on an unknown number,
we have to right now because we are working on a project that involves several people who are not all programmed into my phone, and these scam numbers show up as local.

I did look at the credit card associated with Amazon and there are no pending orders. Also, we are set up to receive a text whenever a charge is made.


I cannot imagine that Amazon and Apple actually call people to try to convince them they are watching out for them. But scammers are never going to stop. It pays well.

Boomer

“If your number is not in my contact list, I don’t answer....& for a small fee, I’ll put you in my contact list!”

[WalkerLoop]

Received the same scam call from a 352 (obviously spoofed) area code. I've communicated with everyone I know to never respond to a call, email or text. You can always contact the company directly from the number, etc. you have in their account. Scamming continues to grow dramatically. It's sad so many people fall for it.

[cj1040]

Yes I have gotten at least 2 since we moved to Florida in February. First time I got name of person who ordered as it was already on my credit card bill so I called Amazon and got this info. Immediately canceled the card. Just this week I got a phone message about another large charge for electronics but decided not to respond unless I see it on my credit card bill. So annoying. Just do not play their game and ignore unless there is really a charge on your card.

[davephan]

If you have an iPhone, you can screen out the scam and telemarketers by going to “Settings”, “Phone”, and then turn on “Silence Unknown Callers”. Then the unknown callers can leave voicemail. Junk callers usually never leave voicemails.

If you have T-Mobile service, they have additional junk call blocking.

If you have an Android cellphone, then you can only block unknown callers, and they can’t leave a voicemail, which is a poorly designed way to stop junk callers, because legitimate unknown callers can’t leave a voicemail. One solution is to upgrade from an Android cellphone to an iPhone cellphone. Another solution is to use T-Mobile service that offers other junk caller blocking options.

You can also stop junk callers on your landline with a Digitone Call Blocker. You don’t have to keep putting up with the junk callers that are constantly annoying you. It’s your choice to live with the junk callers or free yourself from the junk callers.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Decadeofdave

When these hijacked numbers first started about 5 years ago, I texted back to the local looking number with the the same first 3 digits as my number. It was the actual owner of the phone number who didn't know their number was highjacked. Unfortunately it's not illegal to take someone else's number.....total BS

It's called spoofing. I've had calls from my own cell phone number - to my cell phone.

[ping]

I got a similar call yesterday....since I didn’t answer, they left a message that there was a suspicious charge to my Amazon account. They gave me a number to call...suppose to be the Fraud Control Dept for Amazon. Needless to say I didn’t call, instead I checked with Amazon customer service. I was told they do not make calls from the Fraud Dept. Nor would they just give you a number to call them back. They thanked me for notifying them. It was followed up with an email to me from Amazon regarding our conversation. Never call back to a message from amazon! That’s not how they handle it!

[Cheeks]

I also received a call telling me that someone in Ca. had just charged $695. on my Amazon acct. and it was already paid for. Which I knew it was not because I have it tied to my credit card. I asked how do I know your from Amazon they then transferred me to her supervisor and I asked him the same question (no answer), then I hung up.

[Grandma Irene]

It's a scam. Amazon will never call you.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

If only the do not call list is actually enforced.

That might work for calls that originate in the U.S. But what can they, or will they do about the calls that originate in India? I stopped blocking calls on Ooma a couple years ago. It didn't do any good. They just call from another number. Sometimes folks tell us their number is blocked and it isn't. It's frustrating. Who has the authority to do anything about it? The government or the phone companies?

[transplanted]

Yep - had this call a couple of times. I just checked our 'orders' because a couple of years ago, over the school Christmas Holiday time, someone was ordering a whole lot of movies to stream and even a new television. I found it before the tv came (sent to our address, so I suspect the two teenage hoods across the hall from our condo) and had it turned off.
I've had so many annoying calls from people wanting to buy our rental homes that I've installed RoboKiller and rarely answer non-contact calls... really only if I'm expecting something from someone is is not normally in my contacts - I just pause the Killer for a given period of time.

[davem4616]

we get these too...annoying

sometimes I wonder if we were just as annoying as kids when we would make prank phone calls asking people if their refrigerator was running and when they said yes, we'd say, well ya better go catch it

[davephan]

Originally Posted by Carla B

That might work for calls that originate in the U.S. But what can they, or will they do about the calls that originate in India? I stopped blocking calls on Ooma a couple years ago. It didn't do any good. They just call from another number. Sometimes folks tell us their number is blocked and it isn't. It's frustrating. Who has the authority to do anything about it? The government or the phone companies?

Blocking numbers is useless. There are hundreds of billions of possible telephone numbers that can call you, since the CallerID information can be fake information.

It’s very effective to set up a “white list” of telephone numbers that are allowed to “ring through”, all others will be forced to leave voicemails. The junk callers almost never leave voicemail because they know that leaving voicemail is useless. Legitimate unknown callers can leave voicemails.

You can effectively screen out junk calls to your landline using a Digitone Call Blocker, which costs about $90, a one time cost. It has a “black list”, which is useless, and a “white list”, which is extremely effective.