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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?

#11

Post by jimmies »

I don't receive any spam call at all, but many scam calls.

I once got an Indian Dell "virus" guy to be mad at me after 1+ hour when I got him to my VMWare Windows XP with a super inappropriate wallpaper -- before that I just told him to hold because I need to get my laptop from another building, need to poop, asking stupid questions, etc, and went back to work and pick up the phone after 25-30 minutes as a break. But the lower-tier guys often don't understand many references and attempts that you trick them, so it's not as fun as you thought. After a while, I got kinda bored, because they actually fell for my bait too easily. Tier-1 guys are garbage, if you want to have fun you have to bait them to give you tier-2.

I got a fun call last time.

I have been receiving calls from the FBI lately. A guy with Indian accent was demanding to speak to Mister so-and-so, and I was teasing him (pretending to be dumb, can't hear, fart, etc) to the point he got mad.

Then I was just listening to him going at me. After a while trying to eff my mom, he actually transferred me to another guy (tier-2) who speaks really good English. The conversation went something like this:

- Well, see, I know too well you're not FBI. What you're gonna do?

- Sorry man, I was just doing my job.

- I know I can't know where you're calling from. So tell me, your English is good, and you seem pretty calm and collected, why do you have to stay up at 12 AM to do this shitty job?

- No, I'm not in India. I'm in Texas.

- For real?

- Yeah, I'm a student. Someone asked me if I want to make some extra bucks over the break. It pays pretty well, better than normal jobs in here.

- Oh, interesting.

- Do you want to do it too? I can refer you.

- No thanks, I have a job that pays me OK, but good luck with your ''''job.''''

- OK, nice talking to you.

- Nice talking to you.

Take it for what it's worth, but that seems to be the most successful scam call that I have ever received. I actually don't receive any more calls after that.

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

#12

Post by dv_dt »

Blocking is pointless, the spam origination systems seem to be able to use multiple numbers on a rolling basis. I guess iPhone IOS added a incoming call filter api. I had been receiving so many calls on my cell that I tried some filtering apps. The HiYa app I've currently settled at seems to identify most incoming spam numbers and you can decline the calls. I think the volume of my spam calls as gone down too.

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

#13

Post by mikestew »

T-Mobile claims to block scam calls now. I just turned it on a few days ago, so it’s too soon to tell, but I haven’t gotten any unwanted calls, where I usually get at least one a day. https://explore.t-mobile.com/callprotection

From what I’ve read, without trying it, nomorobo seems to be recommended. I was going to give it a whirl before I found t-mo will blocks the calls now.

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

#14

Post by ipython »

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...

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

#15

Post by ipython »

jimmies wrote: post #11

I don't receive any spam call at all, but many scam calls. I once got an Indian Dell "virus" guy to be mad at me after 1+ hour when I got him to my VMWare Windows XP with a super inappropriate wallpaper -- before that I just told him to hold because I need to get my laptop from another building, need to poop, asking stupid questions, etc, and went back to work and pick up the phone after 25-30 minutes as a break. But…

Those guys get seriously ticked off when you string them along long enough... nice job befriending that guy. Next time accept his offer to get an introduction - great intel to identify the offending party and sue them for TCPA violations.

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

#16

Post by greenyoda »

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.)

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

#17

Post by sjg007 »

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...

How do you figure out who they are?

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

#18

Post by cosmie »

mikestew wrote: post #13

T-Mobile claims to block scam calls now. I just turned it on a few days ago, so it’s too soon to tell, but I haven’t gotten any unwanted calls, where I usually get at least one a day. https://explore.t-mobile.com/callprotection From what I’ve read, without trying it, nomorobo seems to be recommended. I was going to give it a whirl before I found t-mo will blocks the calls now.

I'd suggest turning on Scam ID for a bit before turning on Scam Block. It still rings, but has a "Scam Likely" caller id name.

So far it's had three false positives: the robocalls from my kid's school related to snow days and bus delays, the reminder calls from my doctor, and a fraud alert from Capital One to confirm or deny a flagged charge.

I only caught those ones because the numbers were already saved in my phone as contacts. I would have never even known about these call attempts with the Block on, whereas with Scam ID they have the option to leave a voicemail when I deny the call, plus I can look up the number later if I feel like it.

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