Another scam?

[question everything]

These days when we answer the phone (no, no caller iD) there is a complete silence. Not even the background of the robocalls waiting for a phone pickup. Just silence. One time I decided to stay on the line until the recording: if you want to make a call.. etc.

What is the purpose? To confirm it is a live number? If so, how often do "they" have to do this? Appears now to be every other day and the last two - really pissed us off - at 8:00 am. We are retired, we are not awake at 8:00 am unless there is an appointment.

Anyone?

[kimbutgar]

1. I get those phone calls all the time

Now when I get them I put the call blocker on the number. Some days I never get them and then it’ll be crazy one day and I get several. Lot of them are the same three prefix of my number.

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

3. Blocking Does Not Work

They call from a phone bank, so the next time they call back, it will be from a different rotary line. You block 454-2954, the next call is from 454-2961.

[tymorial]

7. Sadly this is correct.

Most of the calls are voip spoofs so blocking isnt going to stop them. You can continue to block and it may help to a point. Eventually the calls will stop until your number is resold or stolen from another database and then it begins all over again. FTC and State AG complaints are largely useless because that only works if you can actually find out who is calling.

The DNC list only works for reputable telemarketers. Those who harass us are not among those groups. So long as spoofing is a viable technology, we will have to deal with this.

[demosincebirth]

18. I moved a year ago l had to change my number which

I’v had for 40 years and many robo calls a day. Piece and quite for a year, now. No unwanted calls - just wrong numbers every now and then

[tymorial]

20. I just moved too but I am getting calls for the previous owner of this number

Its the same damn person everytime and the numbers just rotate between private caller and a spoof. Its irritating.

[demosincebirth]

24. IF you couldn't keep your old number, they should have given you a new number.

I'd try "nomorobo.com."

[guillaumeb]

2. We received 19 such calls Friday.

Not one left a message on our machine. Most presented as a local number as well.

[Frustratedlady]

8. If it is a local number...they even use names and city names, now...

I let it ring the usual 4 times and when they are disconnected, I hit the call button and call them right back. With the exception of 1 or 2, they have been numbers no longer in operation.

[CurtEastPoint]

4. I've gotten to where unless I see the name and I know it, I don't answer.

They never leave messages. Waste of their time and I haven't wasted mine.

[Silver Gaia]

5. Yep. Same here.

There's also NoMoRobo. We did that, and it seems to help a lot.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. NoMoRobo is great! The phone rings only once and then the call is transferred

to NoMoRobo's message that the number isn't accepting the call.

[Silver Gaia]

17. Yeah, I love it!

No more weird phone calls!

[kimbutgar]

6. I'm the same way

Until I hear my recording machine with a message from a real person. I don’t pick up my phone.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Last week these suckers were using WalMarts Regional Call

Centers number in Watertown South Dakota. 605 area code. Bet the WalMart did not like it when people called back.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Lots of different sources and reasons for the phone calls.

I always answer my phone by saying, "Hello. This is Poindexter." If someone then asks to speak to Poindexter, my usual response is to say, "Apparently you weren't listening when I answered the phone. I'll hang up now, you can call back, and listen to how I answer."

I actually understand that a lot of these calls are computer generated, and don't patch the real person through until it determines that a live person, no an answering machine, has picked up. I don't care. I find that to be offensive and demeaning.

Much of the time I don't answer, especially if caller ID works (which it only does about a third of the time) and I don't recognize the number.

[question everything]

13. Yes, but at least someone is on the line

We get many of those from "Rachel" or "Veronica" or the caller - always a woman - starts talking about our credit cards. Last week I actually got a call from the IRS... The worse, aimed at seniors, is "responding to an inquiry" when seniors may not remember whether they made any inquiries.

All these are scams to get money. What I don't understand is the purpose of these empty calls.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. I also get the IRS phone calls, although for me

it's always a man on the line.

I do get my share of "responding to an inquiry" when I know perfectly well I made no inquiry. Oh, and then there's the ubiquitous person with a strong Indian accent telling me there's a problem with my computer.

I am likewise a senior, but still sufficiently cognizant that I don't I don't fall for such crap.

I don't get the empty calls, so I'm as puzzled as you are to their purpose. Unless you happen to be someone that potential robbers are calling to see if someone is home before they break in. If that's the case, good thing you're home. Otherwise, I hope someone else here can offer some insight.

[Fla Dem]

11. It's probably automated phone dialing.

A computer program automatically calls numbers as a phone becomes available, multiple numbers at a time. Once a number is answered, it disconnects the ones not answered. That’s my guess.

[SeattleVet]

26. Bingo! That's exactly what's happening.

Telemarketers are supposed to fall under a certain percentage of 'dropped' calls, but these scammers are all breaking at least one or two laws anyway, so why would one more bother them?

[NJCher]

12. look at the number of people on this thread

who say they no longer answer the phone (and I don't blame them). These kinds of calls have led to the "death" of the phone as a useful tool in getting things done. I have certain people I need to get a hold of, yet I know I don't stand a chance of reaching them and that my call will only be one step toward possibly talking to them. That's because they, too are so sick of bogus phone calls that they no longer answer.

Frankly, I prefer email, but sometimes the immediacy of the phone is helpful. And no, I don't text, so that is not an option.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. Would texting help?

I learned some years back that my sons were highly unlikely to answer a call from me, but would respond to a text.

[CurtEastPoint]

21. I get junk texts from number like 140011123 about f'ing mortgage rates, etc.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. I thought cell phones were not supposed to

get junk stuff like that.

Lucky me, the only texts I get are from real people or when my cell phone provider is telling me I've just paid my bill.

[SeattleVet]

27. They are not supposed to, but remember - these are criminals we are talking about.

Mostly out of the country, using spoofed Caller ID over VOIP connections. What do they care about breaking several more laws, as long as they get a few suckers to fall for their scams?

[demosincebirth]

25. If I was paying for their phones they would surely answer, or no phone,

[Rhiannon12866]

19. I always said I'd never text, either, but it seems like everyone does and it is efficient

Not for long conversations, but it's great for short timely messages like "I'm on my way..."

And you're right, often I don't even look at the land line. There's caller ID and it's usually from a place I've never been - or even heard of.

[Fla Dem]

22. I have caller ID and an answering machine. If I don't recognize the caller, I don't answer.

If it's important enough, they can leave a message, cell or landline. If they don't, no skin off my nose.

[demosincebirth]

28. I was getting tons of robo calls on my cell every day - then I lost my phone, got a new one

( same number). I haven't had an unwanted call since. Very strange.

[sakabatou]

29. If I don't know the number, I don't pick it up