Posted on 03/13/2019 1:08:05 PM PDT by Vendome
I hate these Spammers, Scammers, Liars and Cheats who constantly call me.
I use an App called "Hiya" and works very well blocking many of these jerks.
But, I received a call last week from the NRA to renew my membership. Legitimate call? Sure but, they spoofed their number and it was close enough to customers number so, I took the call.
The NPA was 415 and this guy was calling from Virginia.
Tried to politely get him off the phone and eventually did.
However, I am still hacked about the spoofing even if I am an NRA member.
So, this morning I get a call from some company who wants to discuss they mailed me regarding a car warranty.
Uhmmmm....Boo Chit.
I have received no mail about that and never requested it.
I know how it happened though.
One of my headlights went out and though I will probably change it myself I googled "What does it cost to replace a headlight bulb"
Google saw that and forwarded it as part of purchase package to these scam artists.
I use DuckDuckgo but, am on Android so, they see it anyway.
On to my solution to these A-holes, who have essentially turned my phone into an answering machine unless someone is on my "Whitelist".
From what I can tell, Indians have a better command of English than do Pakis.
I have called them back using their caller I.D. number. The number is disconnected. I have no idea how they use a disconnected number, unless it is a relay system using a phone in America that has already been disconnected. They have learned some kind of hack to get the bogus phone to work with the old phone number. Any ideas, anyone?
“I don’t get any junk mail. Weird...”
Do you want some? I could sign you up for the ‘plate of the month club’./sarc
I like to answer the phone and make some kind of sound until I hear the “buip” sound and it patches through from the robo-dialler to a telemarketer, then I leave the line open and listen as they say “hello?” about 5 or 6 times before they get frustrated and disconnect.
Younger kid has taken to answering the phone with “Thank you for calling Jimmy John’s. How may I take your order?” It has made more than a few telemarketers either hang up cold or start stammering and apologizing.
I’ve removed my intro and replaced it with 3 minutes of pure silence. If callers hang on long enough, they’ll get “We’re sorry, this person’s voicemail is full.”
I’m retired so I don’t get many calls anymore...mostly garbage calls now. Family knows to text me. Plus, I keep the phone close to answer if necessary.
Robo callers have lobbyist.
An outfit named CPL sells a list of active numbers.
For less than 5k you can buy a list of verified #.
It is valuable because your pad and Google account has a number
CPL has lobbyist, nothing is going to change.
Recently, though, I get sometimes back-to-back calls (which I don't answer) with my name and number in the caller ID.
I don't know how they do that, but there's much I don't know about the current phone system, and much I don't like.
Block your own number? Only as a last resort.
I just this minute got a spam call from a breathless young lady named Angela. Angela was excitedly telling me that my warranty (product not specified!) was expired. Before I could expire also, from boredom and being annoyed, I just pressed my faithful BLOCK CALL button and poof! Angela disappeared. Yay!
Tell the Paki’s that India is better at cricket and they rage.
I have my contact list set to one ringtone and everything else to another.
That way depending on the ring, I know if I want to answer it.
I have started mailing back mostly empty credit card envelopes.
I shred the application and just mail back the boilerplate disclosure statement.
Sometimes I make the mistake of picking up the business phone. When I hear the pause I just hang up but sometimes when the voice is from some foreign sounding place, I simply say give me your credit card number and you can talk to the boss. Cost is $50 a minute. Catches them off guard and I continue repeating over anything they say “Give me your credit card number”. Pretty soon they give up.
ML/NJ
You can’t. Most are spoofing other “real” numbers for caller ID and blocked calls now. Pisses me off when someone calls me to complain about my number calling them for marketing. It a giant under 80 IQ announcement. Oh well.
I know that it feels good to mess with them and waste their time, but can anyone tell me if it reduces the number of calls you get?
Probably not because they’re working off an automated dialer that is actually making the call. If someone answers then the call is forwarded to the telemarketer person. That’s why there is a delay sometimes after you answer.
Believe me, if only 1 million of us did this regularly, they would be screwed.
I work for the military and move around. My cell phone area code has not been local for years. Very useful. If the call is from the old area code and isn’t in my contact list, it is a wrong number or a telemarketer. Haven’t picked up a telemarketer call on my personal phone in ages. They still leave voice mails but anyone that knows me knows I’m not going to listen to a voice mail.
My duty phone is another matter. I have to answer it. Really aggravates me. I tell them it is a military line and they are not authorized to call it, they are breaking federal law and will be prosecuted. Total bluster but I’ve decreased telemarketer calls to about once a week instead of multiple times per day. Maybe it would work for you.
I’ll try it.
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