Reason to hope for an end to the robocall plague

[Common]

Everyone hates them — those annoying, never-ending, often fraudulent robocalls from scammers and telemarketers. Striking day and night, they can drive you nuts no matter how carefully you screen your calls.

Yet this year, Americans may get some relief. On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to crack down on robocalls. And Congress may pass its own measures.

Under the FCC plan, phone companies would get permission — and encouragement — to block unwanted calls using new “authentication protocol” technology. Telecoms have been hesitant to do that because existing rules oblige them to ensure all calls go through, and they fear accidentally blocking important, wanted calls.

But if companies keep resisting, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told lawmakers, the agency is looking at making them use the new technology.
New York’s own Sen. Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, says Congress has its “best chance” yet of passing bipartisan legislation to squelch robocallers.

Introduced by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and John Thune (R-SD), the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act) would boost fines, give prosecutors more time to track callers and require phone companies to use the authentication protocol to filter calls.


House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) is also pushing a bill to let consumers stop calls they previously authorized and to require incoming calls to display verified caller IDs.


https://nypost.com/2019/05/18/reason...bocall-plague/

[Peter1469]

I no longer answer the phone unless I know who is calling, and often have the volume off anyway. I have an app that lets me report numbers as spam; it probably doesn't help, but it makes me feel good.

[Common]

Me either my home phone has a built in blocker, hit one button and its blocked, I also have the block my phone provider.

Same with my cell phone, the blocking has really slowed it down but they are still relentless changing numbers etc

[Standing Wolf]

The last few years, a new device has become more popular with the robocallers; it puts a false number on your caller ID, often one with the same prefix as your number, so that at a glance it looks familiar to you and you'll be more likely to answer the call. Before I heard about this device, I actually called the displayed number back a couple of times, and got ahold of people who had no idea what I was talking about. Once someone called me because my number had come up on their caller ID in connection with a robocall, and I had to explain to them what had happened.

This is good news, but I would be surprised if these measures by the FCC and Congress did not contain at least some of the exemptions that previous rules have had - namely, an exemption for robocalling in connection with political campaigns. You really wouldn't expect politicians to do anything that cramped their own styles in that realm, would you?

[Common]

Thats called Caller ID spoofing and we get a series of calls that start with V then the number, they have dozens of numbers and its always the same auto extended warranty scam.

Its really gotten out of hand and the govt is way behind stopping robo calls

[Chris]

I no longer answer the phone unless I know who is calling, and often have the volume off anyway. I have an app that lets me report numbers as spam; it probably doesn't help, but it makes me feel good.

Same here. If it's important, they can leave a message and if I think it important I can call them back.

My Google Pixel cellphone has call blocking and reporting built in, so I report them too. I think the way it works is if enough report the number as spam, then when the call comes in it's flagged as suspected spam. That way you know.

[Common]

Same here. If it's important, they can leave a message and if I think it important I can call them back.

My Google Pixel cellphone has call blocking and reporting built in, so I report them too. I think the way it works is if enough report the number as spam, then when the call comes in it's flagged as suspected spam. That way you know.

If you have a Pixel3 it also has built in call screening, when the phone rings and I dont identify the caller I hit call screening and it sends a message to state what you want. Most all hangup and I block them

[BenjaminO]

When and if I do answer by mistake I always ask the person to give me their personal home number so I can call them back later to talk about their offer. I've never been given one yet but it sure gets their attention.
I've also found that the person you talk to if you answer has no idea the company they are working for used a spoofed number.

[Chris]

If you have a Pixel3 it also has built in call screening, when the phone rings and I dont identify the caller I hit call screening and it sends a message to state what you want. Most all hangup and I block them

Still paying off my Pixel 2.

Actually, I think it's available for Pixel 2, I'll have to check it out.

[Common]

Still paying off my Pixel 2.

Actually, I think it's available for Pixel 2, I'll have to check it out.

Yeah thats another ripoff the cost of these damn cell phones. The new samsung over 2 grand because it folds.

I had a paid off Motorola for years, it died on me, my wifes phone was paid and verizon had a deal buy one get the other for half so I bought one for each of us.