Robocallers

b.c.

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Of late there have been an increasing frequency of articles involving nuisance "robocallers" including one today that warned of a coming new avalanche of political text messages.

For years, Consumer Union (the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports Magazine and consumerreports.com) have been working on behalf of legislative reforms concerning the issue:

Mad About Robocalls? - Consumer Reports

CR Letter to Senate Commerce Committee on S. 151, TRACED Act

TRACED-Act-S.-151-joint-letter-to-Committee-4-2-19-FINAL.pdf

In the meantime there are various things one might try to at least minimize the frequency of these harassing calls, and various articles can be found online.

For my cellphone I use caller id and call blocking aps (for example Mr. Number, Caller Id etc.) that allow you options to block calls from unknown numbers, texts, and even set up to receive calls from your contact list only.

For landlines, hardwired and wireless (may vary depending on service, and you must have caller id) the problem is robocallers who can generate random numbers, so that as soon as you block an identified number, they call from another.

You can usually tell because when you call them back (ONLY do this with YOUR number blocked) you get a "number not in service" message.

But SENTRY makes a nifty little call blocker (in several models) that screens all calls with a message, requiring the called to enter a certain number or code, in order to send the ring through. If they don't you only hear one ring.

And as an ADDED bonus, you can white list your family and friends, allowing their calls to go straight through without the screening.
 
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b.c.

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Indeed, I got a chuckle out of this..

Yes, saw that segment.

Btw he's right about not engaging these spammers in conversation because it confirms they've reached a live person.

And I also read where the same applies to adding one's number to the so-called "do not call" registry. It makes matters worse because, again, you've confirmed they reached someone.

Nice to know our FCC is hard at work protecting everyone BUT us, eh?
 
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pdxjoe

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I use a caller ID on my landline and if I do not know the number it goes to voice mail, after a number of no human answering they stop. The latest ID showed up as a call from the number it was calling (my #). My cell is not answered if I do not know the calling number so again after a few tries the stop calling. My carrier's tech department said there is a remedy in the works to stop part of the problem down the road I hope it will work.
 
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Brian S

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On my cell, I've been getting a ton, most of which go to voicemail almost immediately, and then leave a blank, one second voicemail. Or, I'm wanted by both the CIA and the FBI - I've apparently been a VERY naughty boy!

At work, the frequency is much worse. Today alone, I've gotten 6 calls from various random numbers trying to tell me my Google listing is set to expire. I've cursed them out, I've hung up on them, I've made insane screeching noises into their ears...and sometimes I just silence the ringer. It's ridiculously annoying, but I HAVE to answer the phone at work, and I have to speak first as I do, of course. It really fucking sucks.
 
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I used to keep an airhorn by the phone back in the early internet days before robocalls, back when it was telemarketers. I didn't mind it so much if it was an occasional call, in which case, I'd politely say "not interested,"and hang up. But when they would call constantly..... out came the airhorn.

Let me tell you: it put a stop to that shit REAL fast.
 
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palakaorion

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What I find more troubling is that apparently enough people respond positively for robocalling to be cost effective for the scammers.

This wasn't an issue back when voice calls were billed by the minute instead of all you can eat for 20 bucks a month.