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Old 11-24-2020, 03:33 PM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
15,128 posts, read 27,673,702 times
Reputation: 27204

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Quote:
Originally Posted by atlguy44 View Post
I respond to these types of calls by putting on a funny accent and saying repeatedly, "English, no english". After a while, the calls stop! If the call is a recording (which you can tell by the fact that there is no interaction from the caller), I just hang up. Blocking calls on your phone makes no difference as they use VOIP systems and new numbers every time.
That is actually defeating the purpose!! You might think it's "cute" but it's just confirming that it's a valid number. Just DON'T answer the phone!
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Old 11-24-2020, 04:00 PM
 
Location: On the wind
1,465 posts, read 1,075,520 times
Reputation: 3577
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flamingo13 View Post
That is actually defeating the purpose!! You might think it's "cute" but it's just confirming that it's a valid number. Just DON'T answer the phone!
I guess you missed the sentence where I said the calls stopped! Try and read the whole post. Thanks!
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Old 11-24-2020, 08:27 PM
KB4
 
Location: New York
1,032 posts, read 1,632,192 times
Reputation: 1328
Yes, super annoying. I don't know anyone who does not get these calls. They manage to make the phone numbers look kind of genuine, and use a different number every time. And it's a recording, so you can't really talk back.

The other type of calls I get are in Chinese, no idea what they are saying.
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Old 11-24-2020, 09:31 PM
 
Location: USA
3,070 posts, read 8,002,464 times
Reputation: 2488
Quote:
Originally Posted by emm74 View Post
definitely the best approach! I've even gotten my mother to repeat the mantra "If they are a real person calling me they will leave a message and I can call back" and she only answers the numbers she knows
Good for your Mom! That's the way to do it!
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Old 11-25-2020, 08:14 AM
 
Location: SW Florida
15,209 posts, read 10,238,419 times
Reputation: 32171
Yep, if I don't recognize the number I don't answer especially when I see they are spoofing the first three numbers of my own phone number. Then I block that number. I must have hundreds in my blocked numbers list.
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Old 11-25-2020, 09:36 AM
 
4,902 posts, read 3,006,603 times
Reputation: 6710
Telemarketing should not be a legal profession.
And donotcall.gov is joke, reporting the numbers works for about 2 weeks.
So I keep blocking, mostly political solicitations from Florida.
There's an app I found to block entire area codes, perhaps I'll try that.
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Old 11-25-2020, 11:19 AM
 
Location: U.S.A., Earth
5,511 posts, read 4,458,197 times
Reputation: 5769
Quote:
Originally Posted by emm74 View Post
definitely the best approach! I've even gotten my mother to repeat the mantra "If they are a real person calling me they will leave a message and I can call back" and she only answers the numbers she knows
My last cell phone let me customize ringtones. Everybody on my whitelist got a special ringtone. Everyone else was generally ignored, and left to voice mail. I may get calls from appointment places that use another number, or some other similar situation. Those I pick up half the time

Quote:
Originally Posted by harry chickpea View Post
*shrug* I never answer the phone. If I did, a simple "What color panties are you wearing?" would be effective at stopping the call. Either that, or alternate it with "Have you heard about GEE-sus?!?!" accompanied by a biblical phrase, intoned in an earnest and slightly manic voice.
Ugh... they're peddling the bible over robocalls now!? At least you can just hang up on them like any other spam call.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunbiz1 View Post
Telemarketing should not be a legal profession.
And donotcall.gov is joke, reporting the numbers works for about 2 weeks.
So I keep blocking, mostly political solicitations from Florida.
There's an app I found to block entire area codes, perhaps I'll try that.
Unfortunately, it works, for them It was said that those Indian scammers getting money from you ("we're from Microsoft and detected a bug on your computer", or "IRS coming to get you"), it's a large pay day even if a few calls pony up. This is faar better than any other employment opportunities there.
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Old 11-25-2020, 11:48 AM
 
Location: U.S.A., Earth
5,511 posts, read 4,458,197 times
Reputation: 5769
You generally don't want to see "hello" to these messages, as the machine picks that up as a human person answering, and marks your line as such.

Look up Jolly Roger on YouTube. Somebody created an automated answerer such that if it's a legit call, it stays out and you can answer normally. If it's spam, it picks up, and when the spam call transfers to a human to peddle their wares and services, it just runs a repeated, but convincing loop of dialog that wastes their time. Some were convinced it was real
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Old 11-25-2020, 01:55 PM
 
3,154 posts, read 2,049,746 times
Reputation: 9289
Quote:
Originally Posted by athena53 View Post
Yes! I'm very careful about giving my cell number to businesses unless they have a legitimate need. With 2-factor authentication I have validation codes e-mailed. My MagicJack landline is pretty much a "spamcatcher" phone number.

Still, I've been getting a load of auto warranty robo-calls. I've stopped answering if I don't recognize the area code. I know they can spoof local numbers but I avoid some. My landline also sends any recorded audio voicemail from the landline to my e-mail. Frequently they're 10 seconds of dead air.

I hate paying a lot for a phone and then paying ongoing monthly costs and having businesses abuse it.
I solved that by ripping out my landline, and then not giving out my cell number, I get very few nuisance calls. And I manage those by either not answering, or using Harry's suggestions, LOL.
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Old 11-25-2020, 02:49 PM
 
30,032 posts, read 11,623,237 times
Reputation: 18538
Quote:
Originally Posted by athena53 View Post
Yes! I'm very careful about giving my cell number to businesses unless they have a legitimate need. With 2-factor authentication I have validation codes e-mailed. My MagicJack landline is pretty much a "spamcatcher" phone number.

Still, I've been getting a load of auto warranty robo-calls. I've stopped answering if I don't recognize the area code. I know they can spoof local numbers but I avoid some. My landline also sends any recorded audio voicemail from the landline to my e-mail. Frequently they're 10 seconds of dead air.

I hate paying a lot for a phone and then paying ongoing monthly costs and having businesses abuse it.
They can skip dial. Essentially call every single number (777)555-0000, (777)555-0001. It does not matter if you don't give out your numbers or anything else. Once they figure out its an active number the calls will happen. But it is worse if you give out your number. I was looking for a quote on having a vehicle transported. Big mistake giving out my number to one company to get an online quote. I got bombarded by phone and text by dozens of them.

I am at the point where if I don't know the number I never pick up. Sometimes I am expecting a call back and do not know their number and I get nailed by the warranty and others like the fake social security calls. Many at least are in area codes far away and I know its a solicitation call.


I believe with an app there is a way of putting a fake disconnected number message when the phone is answered. You used to be able to do it on land lines and you get removed from the list.
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