Verizon and Robocall Annoyances

[mr__ed]

For quite a while I've been deluged with scam callers accessing my cell phone. It's become so pervasive that I often don't even answer, and sure enough, when I check missed calls they're not from any of my contacts. So that means that virtually all calls received by my phone are illegitimate and unwanted. I contacted Verizon tech service to see if they could help. The tech recommended changing my number, but I refused that because I knew the scammers would eventually find me. He agreed and then mentioned an app that could be installed that could minimize these calls.


The main problem is I would need to dump my flip phone and get a smart phone in order to use the app. I really prefer my flip phone and have no other reason to own a smart phone. Unfortunately, these scammer criminals may force the issue. But I'm going to hold out as long as I can! 😉

[chuckbear]

T18skyguy wrote:
I use Truecaller, which has the largest database of spammers. I got the paid version. Well worth it, and it also blocks spam sms, text, all of them. Money well spent to avoid all the aggravation.

I am also using Truecaller and find it does a great job of blocking annoying callers. IF I don't recognize a number, I don't answer. Check the number later and block it. Truecaller will either automatically block it or tell me it's a spammer and let me block it. It also allows you to report spam number so they can add them to their database. Chuck

[2012Coleman]

ljr wrote:
I’ve been using RoboKiller. It doesn’t just block, based on a huge database. It redirects calls to amazingly creative recordings designed to waste the caller’s time. I’ve come to look forward to telemarking calls so I can later listen to the recorded conversation. Some of them are hysterical.

I also installed RoboKiller - it does nothing against the recorded spam calls that you normally get. I got one live caller that was duped by the robot conversation, but over 50 spam calls that only play recordings. Uninstalled before the trial period ended.

[ljr]

rk911 wrote:
disagree. the technology exists to block the vast majority of these calls. we and several other posters on this thread are living proof.

X2

[rk911]

i hear ya and understand.

i retired as a 9-1-1 call center administrator back in '05. in the years before i retired we...the 9-1-1 "community"...and AT&T were in discussions on how number portability would affect 9-1-1's selective routing. the the thought was that Joe and Mary from Albuquerque would be able to keep that number, area code and all, when they moved to Chicago. but how could a 9-1-1 call orignating in say the 312 area code but with a different area code attached to that number could be routed to the correct call center.

when VOIP lines (Voice Over Internet Protocol) became a reality the problem of routing increased. VOIP services were vastly less expensive than tradtional copper lines. my first recollction with VOIPs was a gentleman on vacation in San Fran got ill in a hotel. rather than use his room phone he called 9-1-1 on his VOIP phone and unstead of getting the SF call center he was routed to the 9-1-1 call center in his hometown hundreds of miles away.

spoofing numbers...what i think you're really talking about is nothingbmore than a hack. on our Xfinity "landline" (VOIP) we've been getting daily calls labeled as coming from Greenpeace but each call seems to have a different number attached to it. our NoMoRoBo has intercepted all of them.

back in the day i recall a proposition floated by "someone" that a PIN would be assigned to everyone at birth and that would serve multiple uses including that person's "phone number". glad that didn't go anywhere...yet

[AsheGuy]

rk911 wrote:
disagree. the technology exists to block the vast majority of these calls. we and several other posters on this thread are living proof.

I agree to an extent, I can block numbers and report numbers that are spam on my cell phone.

But, it's too bad with all the capabilities of today's technology that a phone number can't be tied to an owner and an address. It should not be possible to make a phone call seeming to be coming from a fictitious (but real to someone) phone number. All the communications companies are too busy making money to fix their technology.

I don't get much spam due to my blocking, but those that I do get usually come from a number with my phone number prefix. Like others, I never answer a call if it is not in my contacts. If the call matters, I will get a phone message.

[rk911]

disagree. the technology exists to block the vast majority of these calls. we and several other posters on this thread are living proof.

[accsys]

In my opinion, the only way to stop the robocalls is for the phone service providers to go back to the old, old system of charging a significant amount per call, say $10/call, except to only charge if they exceed a certain number per day, say 100. Normal users would not ever be charged but the robocallers wouldn't to be in business if they had to pay for all calls over 100. They make their money by finding those .1 percent that get taken and that requires making 1,000s and 1,000s of calls per day. even telemarketers would go out of business. And this should apply to charities and politicians as well who are currently exempt from the do not call list.

Realistically I don't expect that to ever happen but it would stop the problem.

[T18skyguy]

I use Truecaller, which has the largest database of spammers. I got the paid version. Well worth it, and it also blocks spam sms, text, all of them. Money well spent to avoid all the aggravation.

[SAR_Tracker]

I don't answer any calls that are not from one of my contacts.

My number is one digit off from an insurance agent in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Changed my recording to reflect that.

Years ago, my office phone was one digit off from the barber shop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. Used to take reservations from all sorts of people.... Ha!

[2oldman]

wgriswold wrote:
Here are the directions from Verizon to do this:

Follow these instructions to limit all incoming calls to people on your Contacts list:
Navigate to Settings -> Do Not Disturb..

Interesting. My SP was set to accept only calls from contacts, and texts from no one. Right. Doesn't seem to affect anything.

[wgriswold]

I have set my land line and cell phone to accept only calls from my contact list. I haven't received a spam call in six months.

For this to work you must have a good contact list. I had one on my PC that had about 600 contacts developed over 20 years. I transferred it to my cell phone and from there to OOMA which I use for my landline. Then I set both to accept calls only from contacts and send the unwanted calls to voicemail. That way if I get a call I want that is not on my contact list I can add the number.

Here are the directions from Verizon to do this:

Follow these instructions to limit all incoming calls to people on your Contacts list:
Navigate to Settings -> Do Not Disturb.
Toggle Manual ON (green slider) to enable Do Not Disturb (DND), or schedule a time for DND to automatically switch on.
Tap Allow Calls From.
Select All Contacts.

[mr__ed]

enblethen wrote:
Have you put your cell on the "donotcall.gov"?

Did that years ago. It's a useless website. Doesn't affect robocallers at all.

[2oldman]

blownstang01 wrote:
Probably close to 85% of my daily cell phone calls are spam. What's worse is it's a company phone and I get legitimate calls from all over the country, so I basically need to answer it even if it appears fishy.

If they are repeat calls, which most are, perhaps you can block them. I would find that exceedingly annoying unless your business could be done via text or email.

[blownstang01]

Probably close to 85% of my daily cell phone calls are spam. What's worse is it's a company phone and I get legitimate calls from all over the country, so I basically need to answer it even if it appears fishy. There is a do not call list for cell phones, but it's worthless. The ones that really tick me off are the calls that disguise the number to look local, or someone you know, once I had the "Your Vehicle Warranty is Expired" **** from my boss's phone number.

[Jay_Pat]

rk911 wrote:
a smart phone is pretty much your only option. i installed the NoMoRoBo app on my iPhone 7 and spam calls dropped to near zero. that app runs a couple of $ per month but there are others.

I use a different app and I am happy with it.
I don't answer any calls that are not from one of my contacts.

Pat