If I recall another FReeper posted about this.
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Didn’t open article but I do know that number spoofing appears to be possible now.
For the last 6 months or so, most spam calls that I get come from numbers in the same area code and prefix as mine. The spammers use this spoofing technique to get you to think it’s a local call and you’ll be more likely to answer. If you try to call that number, you’ll get someone else (not the spammer/solicitor).
It happens to me all the time. It’s called “neighbor spoofing.”
The number that shows up on your phone for Caller ID is not generated by the phone company, it’s generated by the phone that’s calling you. It can be spoofed.
A recent trend in spam has been to call your phone and “spoof” your caller ID display with a local number, on the theory that you’ll be more likely to answer a call from an unknown local caller than from a caller in another area code.
It appears that a recent update to the Apple iPhone software
sends out a text message when you send a call to voice mail, in addition to recording audio from the caller. That text message goes to the Caller ID number in your phone, so the person who’s number was used (the “spoofee”) gets a message from you, that you didn’t actually type in.
As I said, it happens to me all the time, sometimes more than once per day. It’s very annoying. I’ve tried to turn off the text-message feature but I haven’t been able to do it.
Maybe you drunk dialed them. Where were you last night?
Why is your link taking me to the Apple website?
This started happening a few months ago here in WV.
It’s gotten so bad I don’t answer the phone unless I recognize the number. I never have voicemail because they’re all scams.
I’d almost be OK with all the government surveillance if they’d use that to go after these freaks.
What's really cute is when they spoof your number while calling you. ;-)
Falsifying the number that they transmit to your caller id. Very easy to do, with software and a PC.
Caller id is useless. The “do not call” list is useless. Blocking the number is useless, because the caller has used that number as well as many other numbers - it is not his real number.
No easy solution, except public execution of offenders.
What probably happened is that a spammer used your cell phone number as the caller ID to call another number. Instead of answering, they responded with a text, which went to your phone.
This was your mistake....
“Me: Sorry, who is this”
I only point this out so that others do not respond to obvious phishing calls texts.
Ignore ‘em.
Happens to me all the time. I’m on ATT.
Most have the same prefix as my phone number.
There are multiple free apps on the Apple Store site for assisting in identifying spam phone calls, including: Hiya, TrueCaller, Mr. Number and RobotKiller.
On a somewhat related note, I got these texts recently sent to the guy that had this # several years ago:
Hey Xxxxxx! I'm Amy a volunteer with NC Dems. 👋 Early voting has started, and our records indicate you haven't voted yet. You can vote at any of Xxxxxxxx County's early vote sites. Can we count on you to vote?
Hi, Xxxxxx! I'm Desmond, a MoveOn volunteer. With just 8 days until Election Day, we're campaigning to build the Blue Wave in North Carolina! By uniting we can end Republican control of Congress-will you pledge to vote blue on Nov 6? Reply YES & we'll share periodic texts from MoveOn's 668366 number about how you can make a difference. (Message/data rates may apply)
On election evening 2016 I texted several friends in Hollywood asking them to text me, right after Trump won. (they were in the WeHo to celebrate Hillary winning....)
I explained I thought something may be wrong with my phone.
Didn’t hear from anyone for two days.
When finally did text me back I responded “Thanks! I figured out. I forgot to hit the Trump button...)
FWIW, Verizon told me they are awaiting FCC approval to issue and APP to stop ‘spoofing’.