Spam phone calls

[Fox Mike]

Just wondering if anyone else is getting a series of SPAM calls from the NY City areas? My filter is picking them up but seems just this week I have gotten a bunch. Of course I don't answer them. I don't know if there is any correlation between the two but this started the same time I downloaded Duck Duck Go. I might dump it and see if they stop.

 

[arfmel]

I use duck duck go and haven’t had any spam calls from NY.

You might be getting lots of political calls. There’s lots going around now.

 

[Jeepnik]

I don't get spam calls. The secret is not to answer any callers you don't know. If it is someone important they will leave a message. Automated systems don't (possibly can't) leave a message.

I don't like doing it this way, but until the phone companies decide to actually shut down the spammers (not in their interest as they make money on these calls) I'll jus do what works.

 

[Ride1949]

I use duck duck go and haven’t had any spam calls from NY.

You might be getting lots of political calls. There’s lots going around now.

Yup. I've been using duckduckgo for a couple of years now. I rarely get any spam calls.

 

[KIR]

I keep getting text messages from Republicans asking for $$$. I know they are not actually from the politicians themselves, but most of them are asking for their fellow politicians who are running for office. I block each one, then delete it. I don't know why they don't ask Donny T. for the money, after all, he is the one who made millions asking for money to fight "The Big Lie" and for him to run for office. The disclaimer he had said that any monies he got would not have to be used for those purposes. In other words, he could spend the monies, anyway he wanted to. I am NOT one of those dummies that send in monies to any politician. There are always people out there willing to give away their monies for those purposes.
I don't get a lot of calls, so it amuses me.

 

[Cholo]

It sure would be nice if this Lounge thread could be kept in...The Lounge.

 

[hittman]

I get very few spam calls and have no idea where they’re from. If my cheap-o flip phone shows a number not in my contacts list, I just push the decline button and move on with my life.

They don’t leave a message cause I deleted that feature from my service.

 

[57springer]

I get very few spam calls and have no idea where they’re from. If my cheap-o flip phone shows a number not in my contacts list, I just push the decline button and move on with my life.

They don’t leave a message cause I deleted that feature from my service.

I am with you on this !

 

[cowboycopus]

Cholo, what does that meen?

 

[Fox Mike]

It sure would be nice if this Lounge thread could be kept in...The Lounge.

Exactly. Why must everyting that happens or is asked here turn in to something political. There is a section for that ... it would be appreciated if it was taken there. All I was asking was if the two might be connected. As for the advice of never answering ... I specifically stated that my spam filer was catching them, not that I ever answered any.

 

[Bob Wright]

Would someone explain to me what Duck Duck Go is? I have read of folks mentioning that but what exactly is it?

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

And..............I get a lot of calls but there is no one there when I answer. If no response, I hang up immediately.

Bob Wright

 

[Durango Dave]

Speaking of spam phone calls, remember getting those auto warranty spam calls every fricken day?
They caught the guys behind that scam.
https://www.ksl.com/article/50460337/are-just-2-men-behind-billions-of-the-auto-warranty-spam-calls

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I hate the warranty calls. I told them i have a new car. Didn't stop them. I told them im amish. It didn't work. Anymore i don't answer calls that are not on my contacts list.

 

[arfmel]

Bob-
Duck duck go is an alternative internet search engine to Google. Lots of people dislike Google for a variety of reasons.

 

[Ride1949]

They also have a browser.

https://duckduckgo.com/app

 

[jbenedetto2]

I get some spam calls. If I answer them for fun, I answer "FBI Frauds Division, how may I direct your call?" They usually quickly hang up. If they don't hang up immediately, I muffle the phone and say "Fred, trace this call." THATs when I hear CLICK.

 

[kcsteve]

Once I told them that parking security wants them to move their camel. That’s when the cuss fight started.

 

[fiasconva]

They are getting pretty sophisticated and are spoofing numbers so you can't tell who is actually calling. I've gotten several calls from myself in the last few years. :unsure:

 

[dweis]

It isn’t duck-duck-go. I started using it when it first became available. The spam I got in email and on the net dropped substantially. The app does not interact with you phone. If you are getting spam calls it because your phone number has ended up on a list of phone numbers that is being distributed on the dark web. You cannot assume the area code you are seeing for the call is legit. The phone scammers clone numbers and use them to disguise their source. I get then from 610, my AC, and from NY and AZ. I block the numbers but it does little good because the scammers have unlimited numbers they can clone. When I get a call I think is a scam/spam I answer the phone with FBI how can I help you? They disconnect fast.

 

[Jeepnik]

The failed do not call list simply shows the unwillingness of phone companies and government to act. If you recall there were several exceptions including politicians.

Folks claim that spoofing prevents identification. Not true. Every call can be “traced”. But it’s not in the financial interest of those who should do it. They also claim that calls from other countries can’t be acted on. Again it’s merely the lack of desire to act that’s that’s lacking.

 

[blammer]

I get some spam calls. If I answer them for fun, I answer "FBI Frauds Division, how may I direct your call?" They usually quickly hang up. If they don't hang up immediately, I muffle the phone and say "Fred, trace this call." THATs when I hear CLICK.

You need to get a life :) Of course, now they've verified there's a live human at that number.....

I'm very happy for spam filters like NoMoRobo. I've kept my landline for giving out as my junk phone: if anyone wants to contact me they can leave a message.

 

[jbenedetto2]

You need to get a life :) Of course, now they've verified there's a live human at that number.....

I'm very happy for spam filters like NoMoRobo. I've kept my landline for giving out as my junk phone: if anyone wants to contact me they can leave a message.

THAT stuff IS my life. I have been retired going on 41 years. The spam filters don't always work. They clone all kinds of legit phone numbers. Twice I have gotten calls, on my cell phone, from my cell phone number. Those were fun calls. The scammer didnt think it was funny. Sometimes I just enjoy breaking their chops by keeping them on the phone. My record so far is 18 minutes to an idiot answering questions. For 18 minutes he was not scamming others.

 

[Fox Mike]

If you do happen to answer because it looks legit they generally start off with "How are you today?" Now, you have them! "So nice of you to ask; I am having a terrible day ... let me tell you about it." Everything, including the goldfish dying, is fair conversation at that point.
OR
You can answer: "Southern Precinct, Detective Edwards, how may I help you?" Click.

 

[blammer]

THAT stuff IS my life. I have been retired going on 41 years. The spam filters don't always work. They clone all kinds of legit phone numbers. Twice I have gotten calls, on my cell phone, from my cell phone number. Those were fun calls. The scammer didnt think it was funny. Sometimes I just enjoy breaking their chops by keeping them on the phone. My record so far is 18 minutes to an idiot answering questions. For 18 minutes he was not scamming others.

I admit, wasting their time is time well spent. There was a computer guy who built some kind of Artificial Intelligence to answer his phone. It would react like a real human and tie them up for a while before they got to a point where they couldn't get response they wanted. He recorded conversations and had some funny ones.

I once got my own callerid on a land line. Of course it's impossible to conncect with your own phone (at least used to be).

You get a few Spam Warrior at-a-boys. Just keep safe and don't get snared by some weird gotcha like answering 'yes' to something that gets you involved with having ok'd getting sent something you're supposed to pay for, enforceable or not. And be careful that you don't actually say you are law enforcement (unless you are).

 

[bowserb]

If a caller is in my address book, the name shows on the phone screen. If a caller number is not in my address book, only the number shows, and I generally don't answer. If real, they'll leave a voice mail. The only time I'll answer a call with only a number is if I am expecting a call--auto repair, that sort of thing. I get around 15 or so spam calls a day.

 

[Fox Mike]

be careful that you don't actually say you are law enforcement (unless you are).

And why is that? Seems like I can answer my phone anyway I choose. I didn't specify any particular State, County, Parish, or town.

 

[blammer]

And why is that? Seems like I can answer my phone anyway I choose. I didn't specify any particular State, County, Parish, or town.

I'm more paranoid these days, so I wouldn't want to get caught misrepresenting myself as LEO in case someone gets a wild hair and wants to get even or some law agency gets a subpoena to review calls completely unrelated to me and stumbles on that call. These shops record these calls 'for education' or 'quality control' purposes.

But that's just me.