Posted on 01/21/2023 5:30:06 AM PST by owainG31
Yesterday I broke the current household record for war dialer phone scammer calls at 61, the previous record was Thanksgiving Day 2022 with 60. All of these calls are using forged caller IDs and basically unblockable because the numbers change every call. While I originally just ignored them, I went through the usual Lenny Bruce phases of coping, from talking to the callers (almost exclusively from India but with names like George, Ralph, Gladys and Candi) to pretending I myself was Indian or Chinese, to telling them I was going to give their call history to IBI. All that happened is they've recycled my number over and over again to the point I had to install a call sentry system and turn off all my ringers.
But now the game is different. I want to know why the phone companies aren't puting in a callerID validation system to stop all calls coming from a forged number. I could care less about phone-based advertisers starving. The insurance brokers who hired these ass clowns to sell upgrades to Medicare should be arrested for telecommunications fraud and castrated.
All the phone companies have to do is this: set up a verification process which blocks the incoming call until an encrypted cookie is sent back to the source number and returned to the destination number. The whole process takes maybe one nanosecond. Numbers which don't return the cookie are deemd to be fraudulent and the call is dropped.
But apparently the phone companies don't care what their account holders are being subjected to, and meanwhile the little monkeys running these operations, which have called me anywhere from 6am to 1030pm with repeated calls if I dare answer, are just happy as clams. They're even claiming their from the US Government.
My strongest possible suggestion is this: pass the law barring forged caller IDs, make the phone companies take action, and hunt down these insurance brokers and throw them in jail for perpetrating a denial fo service attack on telecomm infrastructure. I spend about $700 a month on combined services, cell, home and internet access, and now it's become more of an annoyance than an inconvenience.
They already have a process for this, but it’s an opt-in system and specific to VOIP/SIP.
“I will answer, remain silent, then let the caller hang up.”
That’s my method. I’ve noticed that answering and saying “Hello” keys something on the other end to, itself, pickup and start their spiel. My picking up the phone and not saying a word doesn’t activate the other end, and they hang up.
A “regular” person calling me will say “Hello? Hello?”, when I don’t say anything, and I’ll know generally, it’s a real call. Doesn’t work all the time, but most of the time.
> The truth is, if the federal government wanted to shut down the scammers it could within a matter of a few days. <
Bingo. If a group of thieves were snatching purses on the street the cops would quickly set up a task force to stop it (at least that’s the way it used to work).
Yet these scammers steal millions and ruin lives, and the Feds take no action.
Precisely why all calls to my phone that are not from my contacts list go directly to voice mail. If the call is important, they will leave a message. Telemarketers won’t take the time to do that.
BTW, I’m getting a lot of calls selling extended car warranties. Some even on a car I disposed of over two years ago.
What you really meant. If not, it's still a great idea.
"Also, public execution of those who make phone calls from bogus caller id numbers."
Still laughing over your post. (I'm also in favor of capital punishment for people who dress their dogs too.)
I block the numbers but they just use another one to call from.
I get several (5-10) each day.
My question is why do they keep calling when your number is
listed on the DO NOT CALL LIST? They pay no attention to
that list.
We have phone service through the cable company - I’ve noticed for quite a while now, when a number shows up, it often has “Scam?” before the number.
The cable company aside, we use a “Smart Call Blocker” system phone. A lightning strike knocked out our phones and we had to get new ones - bought some wireless phones from AT & T that came with “Smart Call Blocker”. Since most calls are computer dialed, they cannot respond when the SCB instructs them to press the # sign if they are an invited family, friend or business. The phone does NOT ring until the # sign is used. Very occasionally, a real (scam) person will be on the line & will use the # sign ... I would say, at most, we maybe get 6 of those a year, if that, & they go to the answering machine when we don’t recognize the number.
If we are leaving a message for someone to call us back (like a doctor’s office), I will tell them that if they get the SCB, just press # to get through and they don’t have any trouble reaching us.
If a number is in your address book or on an “allowed” list, it rings right through, no # needed. We can also block up to 1,000 numbers - have rarely used it since scammers change numbers constantly.
This is a VERY effective system - we are not bothered by scam calls.
“Sometimes they haven’t a clue they’re being pwned and it goes on for minutes.”
If I have time and am in the mood I’ll do the same thing. It’s fun. If it has to do with my computer and they’re going to help me fix it I play along and say I’m doing all the keystrokes they walk me through.
When I’ve had enough I say I see the Virgin Mary on my monitor. Usually they hang up. One guy, “Peggy”, shouted, “You see the Wurjun Mary?!”. LOL!
A number of years ago, I created a voice mail greeting using a video such as this...
...the tone would automatically tell the robo dialer computer that the number wasn’t valid and removed you from their call list. Used it for about two weeks and the spam ended.
The boss wasn’t delighted the first time he called from an unknown number, but upon explanation, understood the plan.
Have similar for landline..every once in awhile a scammer will punch the button to get through..but I don’t answer if I don’t recognize
Do you have an Amazon link?
See comment 28 - we use the same thing and it WORKS. We just use the option of pressing # and don’t add the additional step of saying the name - we still have virtually 100% blocking of scam calls. It’s a great system - very easy.
For VoIP/SIP calls, it is up to the phone service provider due to new regulations which I beleive need to be in place by June of 2023 (the date keeps changing). Search for more info on Stir/Shaken. And while this regulation will not specically stop those calls, it should identify them in the caller ID as ‘spoofed’ or ‘spam’ or something similar. A ‘spoofed’ call is a legitimate number hijacked by the robo caller and often changes. Where the ‘spam’ is usually the same number or origination point used repeatedly for robo calling. Robo callers purchase a list of numbers to use so that is also why the numbers change for the same spam call as they purchase them in bulk. The gov has now said the phone service providers must address these calls going out of their system via subscribing to a 3rd party gov entity to recieve a ‘token’ which identifies the service providers calls as being legit. It is now up to the service provider to verify the usage of their numbers. IMO, it’s a bassackwards way of combatting spam and robo calls, but that’s the government for ya.
Like the barrages I get from the RNC.
1. On Federal Do Not Call List, just get more calls.
2. AT&T wants money for an app to reduce robocalls. Requires AT&T ActiveArmor Advanced for $3.99 per month!
3. Phone companies sell phone numbers lists to telemarketers. I have called small telephone companies and spoke to them about buying numbers to use.
So apparently Robocalls are not the only Scam in the process..... Federal and Phone companies also are in on the problem. Feds get another department funded, Phone Companies another source of revenue. Almost makes you wonder who really is behind this?
I agree 100%.
You will shortly be hearing the libertarian argument that these are private companies, and that you have been given a number to call by an overactive government to get on a “don’t call” list, and if that doesn’t work, take the time to write a complaint letter to the FCC.
Stopping this piecemeal destruction of the US interpersonal communication system is ABSOLUTELY within the scope of the national government. That the Congress will not act to control this is, I presume, that they are being bribed.
Good post.
It could be stopped overnight by legislation and phone company technology.
Why isn’t it?
Because then it would also block robocalls from politicians and charities.
Not answering your phone works - but you have a phone so you can answer it.
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