Stopping robo calls

[Captdon]

If they aren't in my contacts I don't answer. I put all the local hospitals in so I don't miss an emergency.

[jigglepete]

Last week I got my first robocall in Chinese. I was so surprised I actually sat there and listened to it for a couple of minutes.

Before I learned about the spoofing caller ID thing, I called a couple of numbers back and spoke with private parties who had no idea what I was talking about. And once a guy called me and said he'd just received a robocall from my number, and I had to explain it to him.

@Standing Wolf within the last week we got two angry/confused calls from two different people (one about a Walmart gift card, the other regarding cancellation of their social security payments) they called us back at the callback number, that being my company's 800# (1(800) 42 HYDRO, you know if you have any gardening questions ).

[BenjaminO]

On my return drive back from Ft Meade this morning I had an incoming call with the ID of "Potential Spam".
That's the first time I've gotten a call that had that ID attached to it.
FYI...the actual number appears in the info as +1 (1) (757) 901-4368.
This one I didn't answer as the location only said United States.
I looked up the area code and it appears to be from Southeastern Virginia.

As a side note, this is the first call of this type I've gotten in more than 2 weeks. After I began asking the name and the city the calls ceased until today.

[BenjaminO]

I'd also like to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread.
Has anyone had any luck with any apps that block robocalls?
When searching for the number I got a call from earlier today I encountered something called "nomorobo".
Any experience with this?

[BenjaminO]

Im on the national do not call list, which is basically worthless. I am on my home phone providers block list.

Heres how I combat it, I bought panasonic phones that have a block button for my home phone. After I block a number if they call me again the phone rings once and flashs the word blocked.

On my smartphone I have a screen call button, when I get a call from a number I dont know I hit screen a recording tells them Im using a call screening service and to state what the want and Ill recieve it. If they hang up I perma block them, If they respond with robo call I block them

They arent stopped totally but ive minimized it, this time of year is the worst. I get calls from all over the country trying to get me to switch my medicare advantage plan or to get a totally new health plan.

Is that capability specific to the Panasonic phone or the phone company you subscribe to?
I can block numbers from my iphone but the robocalls keep changing the spoofed phone number.

[Standing Wolf]

@Standing Wolf within the last week we got two angry/confused calls from two different people (one about a Walmart gift card, the other regarding cancellation of their social security payments) they called us back at the callback number, that being my company's 800# (1(800) 42 HYDRO, you know if you have any gardening questions ).

I've heard that those phony number generators, or whatever they're called, can actually mimic the area code AND prefix of your own number. Which is actually pretty clever, if you think about it; with more and more people relying on the push of a button rather than dialing the number, people are actually forgetting other people's numbers. You see a number that looks very familiar - it should...the area code and prefix are your own - and you answer it without thinking.

[BenjaminO]

]I've heard that those phony number generators, or whatever they're called, can actually mimic the area code AND prefix of your own number.[/U] Which is actually pretty clever, if you think about it; with more and more people relying on the push of a button rather than dialing the number, people are actually forgetting other people's numbers. You see a number that looks very familiar - it should...the area code and prefix are your own - and you answer it without thinking.

They do. I have experienced this in the past. The area code was startling enough but when they advanced to the prefix it was not a good thing.

The bigger question is who or whom is selling or revealing that information to the robocallers.

[BenjaminO]

Update.
Just got another call supposedly from 276 Area Code and specifically Norton, VA.
This one was for extended car warranty.
The guy came on and said his name was Bruce and asked me for make, model and year of my vehicle.
I asked him to please repeat his name.
Then I asked him what city and state he was calling from.
He only offered Arlington.
I asked what state.
He said Virginia.
I noted to him my caller ID placed him in Norton, VA and to please explain.
Instant dial tone. He hung up.

First call I've had in quite a while. (2 weeks)
I was getting two calls or more every day.

[Chris]

...According to a 2018 report by global communications platform First Orion, spam phone calls accounted for 29.2 percent of all mobile phone calls in the U.S. in 2018, up from just 3.7 percent in 2017, and the trend is continuing. Because the calls are often spoofed (meaning the information on your caller ID is changed), the same group can call you multiple times. Another issue is that plenty of these calls are placed using VoIP (voice over IP), so it’s difficult for anti-fraud groups and telecom regulatory boards to know exactly where they’re coming from. Essentially, the only way to protect yourself is to just pick up your phone and hope for the best, or to just stop picking up your phone at all....

Scams Are Killing the Phone Call

[Chris]

If you have the time...