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Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

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Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#51

Post by catman99 »

afo wrote: post #46
catman99 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I noticed that under "new robocall recordings" the recordings are all from October 25, 2017. Not sure if this is a bug or you stopped updating them on that date or something.

Right now, we only grab one recording per phone number so that's the date that we recorded it. But, the response to our sampling system has been really strong so we're expanding that to grab one recording per day per number. That way you can also go back in time and see the different scams that have been sent from the same number. We're also building some deeper analytics so that you can see call volume by robocaller…

I am confused. It is titled as "New robocaller recordings". The newest ones under that section are from October 25, 2017. However, the "Most active robocallers (Past 24 hours)" has records from later than October 25, 2017.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#52

Post by radford-neal »

This problem would stop instantly if you could press a button during a call and have 25 cents added to the caller's phone bill and perhaps get a 25 cent credit on your own bill. Anyone know why this rather obvious solution hasn't been implemented?

At a minimum, one could switch cell phone billing so that only the caller pays, not the recipient.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#53

Post by miranda_rights »

greenyoda wrote: post #16
farnsworthy wrote: post #2

https://www.npr.org/2017/07/31/540515367/familiar-looking-nu...

I get a lot of these calls, and I figured out the pattern very quickly. Since I don't happen to know anyone with the same areacode/prefix as my cellphone, I just let all these calls go to voicemail, and none of them ever leave a message. (My area code is an overlay area code that has mostly mobile numbers.)

I do too! It's very frustrating, to the point that I've considered just getting a new phone number. The problem being I've had this number for >10 years and like the idea of an old high school friend being able to reach me without Facebook. Someone online suggested I make a complaint to the FCC but it went nowhere. I never pick up anymore but it's still annoying.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#54

Post by DKnoll »

afo wrote: post #25

Founder of Nomorobo here. We put a stop to all of those annoying robocalls, telemarketers, and spam/scam calls and texts. It's about the only thing that works nowadays. It's not your imagination - these types of calls are out of control. According to our data, 40% of all calls made in the US are illegal, unwanted spam/scam robocalls. And those "neighbor" spoofed calls (same area code and extension) are especially pre…

Sounds interesting. I was hoping to try it out but your app isn't in the Canadian Android app store.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#55

Post by runjake »

afo wrote: post #25

Founder of Nomorobo here. We put a stop to all of those annoying robocalls, telemarketers, and spam/scam calls and texts. It's about the only thing that works nowadays. It's not your imagination - these types of calls are out of control. According to our data, 40% of all calls made in the US are illegal, unwanted spam/scam robocalls. And those "neighbor" spoofed calls (same area code and extension) are especially pre…

No questions, just a thanks for making Nomorobo.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#56

Post by viraptor »

jfitzpa22 wrote: post #41

Make note of the telephone number and add it to the Project Mayhem page. This effort uses code sent from VOIP phones to flood these numbers: https://www.patreon.com/ProjectMayhem

Or not. Many of those calls use spoofed caller IDs. Not only are you not punishing the spammer, you're adding the number of a random person who have no idea this happened.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#57

Post by bkdonline »

radford-neal wrote: post #52

This problem would stop instantly if you could press a button during a call and have 25 cents added to the caller's phone bill and perhaps get a 25 cent credit on your own bill. Anyone know why this rather obvious solution hasn't been implemented? At a minimum, one could switch cell phone billing so that only the caller pays, not the recipient.

Because there are people who would press that button on non-spam calls as well. And then litigation hell will break loose.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#58

Post by radford-neal »

bkdonline wrote: post #57
radford-neal wrote: post #52

This problem would stop instantly if you could press a button during a call and have 25 cents added to the caller's phone bill and perhaps get a 25 cent credit on your own bill. Anyone know why this rather obvious solution hasn't been implemented? At a minimum, one could switch cell phone billing so that only the caller pays, not the recipient.

Because there are people who would press that button on non-spam calls as well. And then litigation hell will break loose.

Really? You'd press the button when your friends call?

Or, if you phoned a store to ask whether they stocked an item you want to buy, do you think the store would press the button?

At any rate, people already (often) pay to make phone calls. By dealing a number, you're implicitly agreeing to pay. Just think of it as a charge (often waived) for the time of the person answering it.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#59

Post by closeparen »

ipython wrote: post #14

Track them down and sue them in small claims court. I’ve collected nearly $10,000 doing this. Short story: calling your cell phone with automated dialing equipment and automated messaging (“press 1 to talk to someone”) is illegal per the TCPA. I’m not a lawyer but it’s fun to be amateur attorney for a day. Definitely a time suck though...

Why would anyone ever do this from within the US? I guess I assumed all scammers would be on international VoIP.

Re: Ask HN: How can I stop receiving spam phone calls?

#60

Post by afo »

catman99 wrote: post #51
afo wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right now, we only grab one recording per phone number so that's the date that we recorded it. But, the response to our sampling system has been really strong so we're expanding that to grab one recording per day per number. That way you can also go back in time and see the different scams that have been sent from the same number. We're also building some deeper analytics so that you can see call volume by robocaller…

I am confused. It is titled as "New robocaller recordings". The newest ones under that section are from October 25, 2017. However, the "Most active robocallers (Past 24 hours)" has records from later than October 25, 2017.

Good catch. I think I know what’s going on and what needs to get fixed. Thanks!
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