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Spam phone calls... GRR!

post #1 of 41
10/26/11 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 
I am about ready to throw my phone out the window, I swear! They start at 8AM (and I'm one of the lucky ones- some people start around 3 or 4), and continue all day long. Always different numbers. I'm kind of leery of using call-blocking apps- I have an Android phone running Froyo- unless someone else that I know has used one and says it's legit.

So, wonderful cat-site-ers... any of you ever successfully gotten rid of a phone spammer (or several)?
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post #2 of 41
10/26/11 at 12:56pm
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

You can register your cell number. Makes it illegal for telemarketers to call you.
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post #3 of 41
10/26/11 at 12:58pm
Yes!
Register all of your phones with the Do Not Call Registry, it's fast and it's free and it works.

It actually makes it illegal for a telemarketer to call a phone number that is registered.
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post #4 of 41
10/26/11 at 1:06pm
They aren't supposed to call cell phones either. Check with your provider and see how to report spammers.
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post #5 of 41
10/26/11 at 1:23pm
We have our cell numbers on the do not call registry!

My problem is bill-collectors calling my home number for the people that had this number before I did. They come in spurts every few months. A friend let me in on some info. Basically collection companies sell off the accounts they can't collect on after a certain time, to other collection companies. Then they call all the numbers associated with the account and "play dumb."
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post #6 of 41
10/26/11 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 
Unfortunately, the spam phone callers tend to spoof numbers- they aren't telemarketers in the sense that they care about the Do Not Call registry. I'm already on it.

I'll drop by T-Mobile later today, I think, and ask in person... just to know I'm being heard.
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post #7 of 41
10/26/11 at 4:41pm
I never get spam calls on my cell phone luckily. On my landline when we had it, we'd get calls multiple times a day from the local school saying our kids (which we have NONE) didn't show up for school. They were calling for a different family, but wouldn't change our number in their system - even when my MIL who worked for the district asked them. They said the person they were trying to reach had to call them and tell them their number changed. So one night when they decided to call at 9:30pm (automated messaging), Rob ripped the cord out of the wall and that was the end of our landline usage


Also had a few calls from creditors looking for other people, and repo people looking for someone.
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post #8 of 41
10/26/11 at 8:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by orangeishcat View Post
Unfortunately, the spam phone callers tend to spoof numbers- they aren't telemarketers in the sense that they care about the Do Not Call registry. I'm already on it.

I'll drop by T-Mobile later today, I think, and ask in person... just to know I'm being heard.
I've been having the same problem. I am hoping to talk to a lawyer next week and see about pressing charges against them because they are not following the laws.
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post #9 of 41
10/26/11 at 9:12pm
I have a Samsung Prevail which is an Android (also a froyo) phone too. See if you can save the number and send them to voicemail. I know mine can. After you save it go to where you can change the ringtone for the number you just saved and mine at least has a button you can click that say send straight to voicemail or something like that.

It's annoying to have to save the number to do it but less annoying than being bothered all the time.
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post #10 of 41
10/26/11 at 11:05pm
I would pick up on every call for a day or two and let them know they are calling a cell phone and that you are going to report them for illegal activity. That should cut down on a lot of the calls. Also I would remove your number from all online sites as it could be someone selling your number to companies.
Then I would install this app which allows you to block unknown numbers: http://tinyurl.com/3mqjewb Alternatively you can add the numbers to a contact called 'Jerks' or '*******' and chose Send to Voicemail so your phone will never ring.
As a final resort you could just change your phone number.
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post #11 of 41
10/27/11 at 2:03am
Do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waHJhb2wxo

Or another fun trick is to just keep saying yes. No matter what they ask, just say yes. They will get so angry and hang up on you. Or just tell them you are so lonely and your kids never call you anymore, so its nice to hear a friendly voice, and just start asking them a whole bunch of personal questions and keep driving the conversation off topic. Its especially fun to tell them you think they sound sexy, especially if they are the same gender as you.
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post #12 of 41
10/27/11 at 3:58am
I get collection calls for the person who had this number before me and its been about 3+ yrs that Ive had this number and I tell them everytime seriously this is ____'s number not ______. The calls stop for a while then they start back up again. I have even gotten texts from this ladies boyfriends mother, friends etc I think her boyfriend at one point and its like really people...not her number not even close so STOP CALLING ME! Drives me loopy!
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post #13 of 41
10/27/11 at 4:33am
That would be frustrating!

Thank goodness I have never had them call my cell!
A few yrs ago VISA called here looking for "Mr Corbin *******" who was my 5 yr old son at the time....I told them he wasn't available and they asked when would be a better time to call. I said "HE IS 5....I don't think he needs a VISA" well they were soooooooo sorry and blah blah blah. They have never called again BUT the only thing he has in his name is medicare....

Makes you wonder sometimes where these people are really getting the info.

Then we had a do not call # here....it worked for a few mths then that company SOLD the do not call list to a telemarketer, it was insane for a few weeks, we were all getting soooooomany calls.
I've won so many trips now I can barely keep up
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post #14 of 41
10/27/11 at 4:54am
If they call on your cell phone, interupt them immediately and tell them that it is illegal to make solicitation calls where the person called is responsible for paying for the call. Then demand that they give you their company name, a way to contact their upper management, and let them know that you will file a formal complaint with the states regulatory agency. You'll get on their no call list immediately.

I play games with most of them when they call me on my home phone. Even though I am on a no call list, I still get a lot of calls from questionable places that claim to be non-profit (law enforcement agencies are the worst offenders here). Depending on my mood, I will either tell them the person died (that freaks them out), that I've been unemployed for 2 years and can they spare a dime for me (draws sympathy from them), or I'll yell at them about all the harassing calls they make (that confuses them and they usually hang up). Or I just hang up on them.
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post #15 of 41
10/27/11 at 4:58am
Although we're on the Do Not Call list, we keep getting phone calls of all kinds.

"Congratulations on behalf of Royal Caribbean!" *click*

"Do you like leather???" *click* (I'm totally serious....I've been getting phone calls like that. WTH?)

"I'm calling about your time share" *click* (haven't had a time share in over 20 years, but the company says that since we did business with a time share company at that time, they still have the right to call us. Fine. I have the right to hang up.)

"I'm calling to tell you how to reduce your mortgage interest rate!!!!!" *click* (House is going to be paid off at the end of the year...leave me alone) This is a frequent call I'm getting on my cell. Which really annoys me as I'm paying for that darn call.

And so on.
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post #16 of 41
10/27/11 at 6:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
Do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waHJhb2wxo

Or another fun trick is to just keep saying yes. No matter what they ask, just say yes.
I would not recommend this. They could start charging a monthly payment to your number (landline and cell) through your carrier saying that you agreed. Trying to get it stopped is very difficult as the carriers are not as responsive as credit card issuers.
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post #17 of 41
10/27/11 at 7:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by katachtig View Post
I would not recommend this. They could start charging a monthly payment to your number (landline and cell) through your carrier saying that you agreed. Trying to get it stopped is very difficult as the carriers are not as responsive as credit card issuers.
Nope, they can't. Not only is that nearly impossible, but saying yes and nothing else they are unable to verify your identity, and thus if you are the land/cell owner or even if you are over 18. If they charged a child picking up the home phone for example, they would get their pants sued off. Plus, I'm sure if it got to the extremely unlikely point where they asked if they could charge your landline (unheard of), I'm sure forum members have sufficient intelligence to mess with them another way.
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post #18 of 41
10/27/11 at 7:31am
Thread Starter 
So far, for the ones I've been available to see, I just hit "ignore"... I'll have to do some pawing through my phone's settings to figure out if I can make a block list for those numbers.

The big issue is that the numbers are often different... for example, the one that prompted me to make this post is 416-123-4567 (and they left me a voicemail- I saved it, it's very weird). That's OBVIOUSLY not a legit number. After that, though, I've gotten repeated calls from other numbers who unfortunately haven't left me anything. -.-; Some people have said to call it back, but I'm not going to risk it- if it's an international number, I'll be on the hook for the fees.

Usually what happens is that it's a recording, anyway, not a real person- next time I may wait and then tear into them. I really don't like doing that, as I'm assuming this person is doing their job just like any of us, but... on the other side, it's ILLEGAL.
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post #19 of 41
10/27/11 at 7:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by orangeishcat View Post
I really don't like doing that, as I'm assuming this person is doing their job just like any of us
Telemarketers are not real people, you shouldn't empathise with them. They know they are evil, and they know people do not want to be harassed with unsolicited sales. Like door-to-door salesman and magazine subscription sellers (exception if they are underage pawns), you're allowed to treat them like subhumans and still go to heaven. Pretty sure that clause is in the bible somewhere.
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post #20 of 41
10/27/11 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
Nope, they can't. Not only is that nearly impossible, but saying yes and nothing else they are unable to verify your identity, and thus if you are the land/cell owner or even if you are over 18. If they charged a child picking up the home phone for example, they would get their pants sued off. Plus, I'm sure if it got to the extremely unlikely point where they asked if they could charge your landline (unheard of), I'm sure forum members have sufficient intelligence to mess with them another way.
I was talking about both spam on landlines and cell phones. And it is legal for third parties to charge your phone. If they have your cell phone and a recording of you saying yes to a question where someone asks "do you authorize it?" then you have an even harder time getting these charges reversed.

http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/fami...s-bills-22687/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ell-bills.html
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post #21 of 41
10/27/11 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
Do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waHJhb2wxo

Or another fun trick is to just keep saying yes. No matter what they ask, just say yes. They will get so angry and hang up on you. Or just tell them you are so lonely and your kids never call you anymore, so its nice to hear a friendly voice, and just start asking them a whole bunch of personal questions and keep driving the conversation off topic. Its especially fun to tell them you think they sound sexy, especially if they are the same gender as you.
This.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katachtig View Post
I was talking about both spam on landlines and cell phones. And it is legal for third parties to charge your phone. If they have your cell phone and a recording of you saying yes to a question where someone asks "do you authorize it?" then you have an even harder time getting these charges reversed.

http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/fami...s-bills-22687/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ell-bills.html
Like Ducman said, I'm pretty sure everyone here is smart enough to not continue saying yes if the person asks 'Would you like a text message sent to you every hour on the hour?' 'And you authorize this?'.....
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post #22 of 41
10/27/11 at 10:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minka View Post
This.


Like Ducman said, I'm pretty sure everyone here is smart enough to not continue saying yes if the person asks 'Would you like a text message sent to you every hour on the hour?' 'And you authorize this?'.....
But if you aren't paying close attention? or the question is worded in a way that is confusing and you aren't sure what they asked?
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post #23 of 41
10/27/11 at 2:37pm
IMO the do not call list is a joke. I've been on it since the beginning and still get calls. I've re-registered and checked my numbers and it still says that I am on it but I still get calls.

I got one today from the same 800 number that I have been ignoring for days. My phone has an ignore feature but it will only ignore 30 numbers and I've exceeded that.

So I just ignore the calls from 800 numbers and out of state/country area codes. If it's from somebody legit they will leave a message.
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post #24 of 41
10/27/11 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winchester View Post
Although we're on the Do Not Call list, we keep getting phone calls of all kinds.
Ditto!

In fact I just got one about 1/2 hour ago.

It was an automated one congratulating me on being one of the few selected for debt mediation.

Interesting considering I don't have any debt other than my rent and utilities!

I guess I was supposed to listen to the whole message and then remain on the line. I hung up after the first sentence.

Yesterday I got a call from some insurance company. AIC I think it was. I didn't answer the phone. I only know who it was because the number appeared on the call display on my television while I was watching tv.
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post #25 of 41
10/27/11 at 5:12pm
I block spam numbers on my cell phone, which seems to help, at least for a few months. It's illegal for someone to spam your cell phone. The worst part, it's sometimes my carrier!

The Do Not Call list usually works very well. Not 100% (I don't think you can really do that), but about 90%+.

To deter would-be thieves who could be calling to see if we're home: I recorded an upbeat, cheerful answering machine message, "Hi! We can't come to the phone right now. We're probably getting roughed up [ruffed up? LOL] by our big, goofy Rottweilers, so please leave a message, and, when they're done mauling us, we'll call you back! Have a GREAT day!" As if on cue, my neighbor's BIG dogs outside barked, and it actually got on the message! I had virtually NO messages, just a few hang-up clicks...wonder why?
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post #26 of 41
10/27/11 at 5:36pm
All day long... and no, I've never gotten rid of them.
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post #27 of 41
10/27/11 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katachtig View Post
But if you aren't paying close attention? or the question is worded in a way that is confusing and you aren't sure what they asked?
If this happens to you it would explain why you are getting spam calls in the first place...
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post #28 of 41
10/27/11 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minka View Post
If this happens to you it would explain why you are getting spam calls in the first place...
Spammers use automated dialing. What you do has little to do with how many calls you get.

And in case you are interested, I get very few spam calls and report every one to my carrier.
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post #29 of 41
10/27/11 at 7:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minka View Post
If this happens to you it would explain why you are getting spam calls in the first place...
Spammers use automated dialing. What you do has little to do with how many calls you get.

And in case you are interested, I get very few spam calls and report every one to my carrier.
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post #30 of 41
10/27/11 at 8:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katachtig View Post
Spammers use automated dialing. What you do has little to do with how many calls you get.

And in case you are interested, I get very few spam calls and report every one to my carrier.
Then why has my dad gotten NO spam calls in the past ten years except one meant for my mom? Because he's smart about who he gives his info to.
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