Phone spam

[CACTUSWENDY]

Wasn't sure just where to put this question...so if it is wrong for here ...please move.

What is the site address you go to to stop the spam phone calls on your home number? I think it use to be good for a year. This phone is getting like 25 of them a day.

Thanks ahead of time for any info you can pass on.

[sassandgroove]

here you go Wendy. :)

https://www.donotcall.gov/

[CACTUSWENDY]

Thank you sooooooooo much.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Our state has it's own No Call List also. Doesn't appear the Arizona does though.

[Williebee]

Don't forget to do any cell phones and fax lines you might have. :)

[Matera the Mad]

And it doesn't work for non-profits or illegal scammers :(
Or wrong numbers :rant:

But it sure does help. Holy crumbs, 25 a day. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/matera/omg.gif

One of the things I love about my dial-up internet connection is the extra privacy :D

[benbradley]

Georgia set up such a registry before the national one was in place, it was something like $5 on your phone bill to register a number for five years, but they dropped it after the national registry came online. Do any other states still have such a registry?
And it doesn't work for non-profits or illegal scammers :(
It's a little surprising there are "legal" telemarketers still around...
Or wrong numbers :rant:

Nor POLITICAL calls. If you've registered to vote in recent years, then ... well, I was rather surprised to hear phone messages left for me by (among lesser-known local politicians) former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. It was nice to know he cared enough to call...

Next time I'll register as a Democrat to see who else calls me.

[MaryMumsy]

Those who can still call you: political parties, survey companies, non-profits, companies you already do business with AND their affiliates. Some companies have their own internal do not call list. We were getting spammed with calls about insurance from some outfit to do with Wells Fargo Bank. I complained to one of the callers, and he said he would put us on their internal list. Haven't had a call from them since and that was several months ago. IMO, people trying to sell you something should not be allowed to make unsolicited calls. And I don't want to hear about the poor person who is just trying to make a living as a telemarketer. I pay for my phone for my convenience and the convenience of the people I have chosen to give the number to.

MM

[groovyville]

Yeah, if you tell a company to take your number off their lists (out of their computer or whatever) they shouldn't call you anymore. My mom tells the tellemarketers that and it works pretty well

[Daveh]

To deal with the illegals phone spammers, we usually do something like:
"Hi! How much do you spend on your phone bill each month?"
"None of your business."
"But you have to tell me so I can tell you how much I can save!"
"I don't have to tell you anything. If you have some good tariffs, please send them to me by post."
"We don't have literature on our tariffs..."
"If you don't have written tariffs then you must be a bunch of cowboys & I won't do business with you."
"But... but..."
"Goodbye. <click>"

It takes a few of these but eventually you get marked as a nutter & you start to be deleted from the spam lists :) Obviously the exact strategy needs to be tailored to what they're selling but most people here probably have the imagination to adapt the technique. As MaryMumsy said: You pay for your phone service. So show no quarter!

[Bufty]

Deleted from spammers' or even commercial lists in the UK because you talk back?

Dream on....they couldn't care less if we talk back.

If it's a private number best bet is to let the phone ring without answering. If it's a spammer they'll hang up. If it's a friend they'll leave a message.

I think in many cases the outgoing calls are put out by computer dialling in batches of ten and only the first person to pick up is the lucky one to get the speel - the other nine (if they pick up) will get nothing but a dead line, and that's damned annoying too.

I've talked back for years and it makes no difference at all -simply gives me a fun few minutes till the poor guy on the other end twigs what's going on. Then we part with a friendly chuckle -usually some poor student trying to make ends meet.

But if the call's from Mumbai or is a Florida Holiday or that old Sky Insurance renewal nutmeg they will keep coming back no matter what you say.

Them: blah blah blah -so our records show the warranty on your Sky equipment is expiring next month and the insurance is due for renewal. blah blah blah

Me: That sounds fine. Just proceed.

Them: Great. We'll renew that for you. Now, if you just confirm the Bank details we hold.

Me: What details do you hold?

Them: I'm sorry, sir, we can't reveal the details for security reasons, I'm afraid, but if you confirm them we'll proceed with the renewal.

Me: They're unchanged. Just process the debits as usual.

Them: But we need the details confirmed before we can proceed, sir. Just to keep our records up to date. Which bank was it?

Me: Noddy's Bank in Scamsville.

Them: I beg your pardon, sir?

Me: You heard. Noddy's Bank in Scamsville.

Them: click as receiver hangs up

[Shakesbear]

Deleted from spammers' or even commercial lists in the UK because you talk back?

Dream on....they couldn't care less if we talk back.



Yes they do! Reason is they are in a target driven job and have to make a specific number of calls per hour and if they don't meet their targets they are out of a job. The very last thing they need is some one talking back to them - unless they are going to get a positive result.

[Bufty]

But they just move on - doesn't get you deleted off any basic list.

Yes they do! Reason is they are in a target driven job and have to make a specific number of calls per hour and if they don't meet their targets they are out of a job. The very last thing they need is some one talking back to them - unless they are going to get a positive result.

[Shakesbear]

I suppose different call centres have different methods of working - but some do delete 'time wasters' from their lists.

[Chase]

Thread hi-jack: Since I'm deaf, my phone is text only, so I get an occasional wrong number but no scam. In person is another thing. The deaf-person card scam:

A person with a pathetic expression and lips clamped shut hands me a card with tiny, blurry representations of the fingerspelled alphabet. On the other side in English is DEAF and some variation of NOT A SOCIAL SECURITY HANDICAP -- NO BENEFITS -- PLEASE DONATE LOOSE CHANGE.

I pocket the card and answer with the single ASL sign meaning, "I will help you." Then I sign my deaf name and ask the begger's name.

Usually, the expression is "Oh, God, what do I do now?" Most walk away. One bluffed my sister (also deaf) and I with meaningless hand flutters, and we both cracked up on the spot.

One kept showing thumbs up (the number ten in sign language) and a circled thumb and forefinger with the remaining fingers sticking up (the hand form for "F") while he retreated. It only impressed the mall cop walking by.

I fully intend to assist the first card bearer who answers with his or her sign name, traditionally given by another deaf person, or even if someone fingerspells a name. But so far, no luck.

[Williebee]

Nice, Chase. That's outstanding.

I'm kind of like that with other panhandlers. I've had folks looking for "gas money to get home" or "a couple of bucks to eat". My usual response is, "Come on, I'll buy you some gas" or "Let's hit the burger place, I'm buying."

In... 20 years? I've had two takers out of I don't know how many.

[Nivarion]

yeah willibee, in my experience most of those people are out for some booze money.

Anyways, I thought yall might like to see these.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124232907674020647.html

(I lol about this every time. Bastards had it coming.)

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/truthaboutcellphones.html

This one was a big relief.