Spam/ROBO calls

[saturated]

This probably doesn't belong here feel free of course to delete or move

But I'm getting flat out blown up by these calls they put a fake number with a local area code

I finally quit answering if I don't recognize it but it's too late

I briefly looked and it says the FCC is responsible
Then I saw I can register my number for do not call but some people said it only got worse

 

[Klondike Mike]

... and it says the FCC is responsible

If able, one needs to take responsibility as much as they can, in this case you can. Set yourself up with a VOIP telephone setup. You can set up block lists, change numbers at will, save many dollars on your monthly bill, etc. There will be a learning curve to this if you want to go full in but once setup, you will be sitting in the catbird seat. There are many VOIP vendors out there, I use VOIP.MS in my setup.

 

[BC Coyote]

I have reached the point where I simply DON'T pick up unless I'm 100% certain I know who's calling. I have voice mail, and I figure anyone who really needs to reach me and who I don't know can leave a voice mail. If they can't be bothered to leave a voice mail then the call probably isn't very important. Only about 10% of calls I don't answer leave voicemail, which means at least 90% of those calls are spam or robocalls!!

 

[TM86]

I usually answer and feed their automation bogus data, just to waste their time. If you ever decide to go this route, and you shouldn't, never say the word "Yes."

I guess I'm just starved for entertainment.

 

[dave457]

National do not call list doesn't work... at least for me it doesn't. I got over 1k blocked calls on my list
and I add more daily

 

[VMC]

Continent wide issue.
I get half dozen per day. These numbers are "repeaters" setup using stolen SIM cards. Valid numbers but if you call them back, you almost always get, "The number you are calling is unassigned."
Watched a documentary on them. Massive international crime rings run the stations (look like server rooms). Big bust a couple weeks ago bagging bad guys six countries saw my Vancouver area spam drop to nada.
The VoIP suggestions and blocklists are fairly effective, and if your cell carrier allows it, opt for "Call Control" (unknown numbers have to press a code to get through... blocks bots solid!)

Good luck!

 

[W4KVW]

I have reached the point where I simply DON'T pick up unless I'm 100% certain I know who's calling. I have voice mail, and I figure anyone who really needs to reach me and who I don't know can leave a voice mail. If they can't be bothered to leave a voice mail then the call probably isn't very important. Only about 10% of calls I don't answer leave voicemail, which means at least 90% of those calls are spam or robocalls!!

Having voice mail lets them know it's a valid number so they will just keep calling & sharing your number. I stopped them by simply hanging up while it's still ringing & Block the number before it can answer. It then appears like it's a dead number to their system & they stopped calling.

 

[BC Coyote]

Big bust a couple weeks ago bagging bad guys six countries saw my Vancouver area spam drop to nada.

Welcome to WWDX! From a fellow British Columbian.........

 

[TM86]

Continent wide issue.
I get half dozen per day. These numbers are "repeaters" setup using stolen SIM cards. Valid numbers but if you call them back, you almost always get, "The number you are calling is unassigned."

Another trick they use is to set up an outbound VOIP system, because they can set the caller ID to anything they want. A whole operation could be set up on as little as a raspberry pi 3 if you wanted to, but I doubt any of these turds are using anything so modest. The more horsepower the more people you can scam simultaneously.

 

[saturated]

Thanks guys man what's REALLY ANNOYING IS MY PHONE ASKS ME DO YOU WANT TO REPORT THIS NUMBER AS SPAM

I thought at one time Greg Abbott had cracked down on this fake caller ID number crap because it was supposed to be "serious"