Anyone else getting numerous phone calls...when there is nobody on the other end?

[FenceFurniture]

1. For some time now (many months) I have been getting phone calls from a number that has the same first 7 digits as mine, and when I answer it just hangs up – never anyone there. A few weeks ago I finally called it back and some guy got $hitty when I said he'd been calling me. "I haven't called anyone for weeks" he said. "I'm not surprised" I said. I blocked that number but it still manages to call me.

Now I am getting calls from all different numbers, but all with the same first 7 digits as mine, and never anyone on the other end. Probably 10-12 calls a week.

What can they possibly hope to gain or scam when there is nobody trying to suck me in with some spiel? Trying to determine if it's a live number? Well the very fact that it rings should tell them that, plus they have called me probably a 100 times now, so they would absolutely know there's a body on the other end. And what can they do with that anyway?




2. At the same time I am getting absolutely hammered by Indians (or some sub-continent accented people) trying to scam me about my Amazon Prime membership. "$99.99 will be charged but press 1 to talk to someone about cancelling"
Amazon calling me from ten different mobile numbers. Anyhoo, sometimes if I'm bored I play along. Yesterday, on my 4th or 5th call in as many days, I pressed 1, yadda yadda, Me: "I'm really concerned about this because it's the fourth time I have been charged this in a week".
Him: "Fourth time sir?"
Me: "Yes, it's the fourth time you f'wits have called me in the last week"
Him: "Ahh, so you're a effing a'hole?"
Me: "Yep".
Him: beep-beep-beep.

I have no idea why they keep calling back - surely they would put me on a "He knows the scam is on" list and not waste their time?




3. Apex Investments are also constantly calling every 2 weeks or so for months on end trying to scam me into investing in Solar Energy. Always Filipinas. I had missed the calls until 6 weeks ago, when I finally was able to answer one. Told them to bugger off too, and have had to do so about 3-4 times since. Once more they don't seem to have a "timewaster" list.


What gives with these twats?

[Chris Parks]

The joys of owning a mobile phone unfortunately. Mrs P. went through something similar so a new number sorted it out.

[Pete57]

Unfortunately it is possible to make phone calls appear to come from a different number (caller ID). In my view the telcos should be downing more to stop this.

I rarely answer a phone call from a number I don’t know - unless I an expecting a call. Figure if it is important, they will leave a message & I can decide if I need to call back.
I block numbers that call more than once & don’t leave a message.

I also get text message asking to to click on links to organise a parcel delivery or some other scam. Never click on them. I either block the sender of these a well.

over time I am getting less of these calls or text messages. A couple of years ago I would get multiple a day. Guess blocking number may have helped. Also think I may have been targeted at one stage as I was working in IT networks with access to critical IT infrastructure.

good luck.

[pippin88]

Interesting.

I had thought that some of the phone ringing and no one on the other end might be due to auto dealers - machine dials a bunch of numbers, not knowing what will be valid. If valid number and telemarketing operator available - match up. If valid number answered but no telemarketer/ scammer available - line is empty.

In the early days of internet SMS, I had great fun sending prank texts with spoofed IDs to mates. All harmless and never impersonated anyone. Always thought there is massive potential for abuse.
The system has the ability to put in whatever you want as the sender field.

[Simplicity]

Unfortunately it is possible to make phone calls appear to come from a different number (caller ID). In my view the telcos should be downing more to stop this.

I rarely answer a phone call from a number I don’t know - unless I an expecting a call. Figure if it is important, they will leave a message & I can decide if I need to call back.
I block numbers that call more than once & don’t leave a message.

I also get text message asking to to click on links to organise a parcel delivery or some other scam. Never click on them. I either block the sender of these a well.

over time I am getting less of these calls or text messages. A couple of years ago I would get multiple a day. Guess blocking number may have helped. Also think I may have been targeted at one stage as I was working in IT networks with access to critical IT infrastructure.

good luck.

Agree about Telcos doing more, but i would love too see the Government getting really Tuff on the Telcos not doing enough.

It’s not getting any better it’s getting a lot worst an really really scary especially for the elderly.

Cheers Matt.

[FenceFurniture]

Agree about Telcos doing more, but i would love too see the Government getting really Tuff on the Telcos not doing enough.

It’s not getting any better it’s getting a lot worst an really really scary especially for the elderly.

Cheers Matt.

Indeed Matt, on all counts.

[China]

My answering machine answers my calls for me with a American voice if If I ever answer a call be it Land line or Mobile I never answer first unless I know the number, If I am greeted with silence I just disconnect.

[Mobyturns]

I never answer first unless I know the number, If I am greeted with silence I just disconnect.

Spoofing calling line ID is rampant.

[FenceFurniture]

What happened to Woodpixel's post? It seemed to shed the most light on the nobody at the other end situation. So with reference to that (trying to make a voice print of my voice):
If I let those calls go through to Voicemail then surely that is going to give them what they want - my speech patterns and sounds (even though my msg is pretty brief), so that would appear to be useless for me wouldn't it? In that case I would have to have a Voicemail recording that is either by another voice or a mechanised voice (very unfriendly).

I'm starting to think the only solution may be getting a new number, which is a pain in the neck, and I'd have to speak to the phone retailer (TPG) about the safety of having the old number diverted to the voicemail.

[jezstinger]

I get so many spam calls these days.... If I dont know the number my voicemail essentially filters everything out

[Bushmiller]

And people are surprised I don't have a mobile phone!



Funny thing is SWMBO, who does have a mobile phone, rarely gets these calls. Our landline, however, does get these calls, although not with the same frequency as outlined by people above. If a call is interstate and we don't recognise the number, the phone is lifted for a couple of seconds and then replaced. There is no immediate repeat call. There is normally no animosity on my behalf unless I have walked a distance to answer or I broke off what I was doing: In those circumstances the phone is merely replaced into the holder more forcefully and free of profanities.

Regards
Paul

[Chief Tiff]

I have a mobile but rarely use it for calls; it’s more of a glorified pager. I absolutely never answer it unless I know the caller or I am expecting a call from a particular stranger. My landline is also never answered; it rings six times then hits voicemail and 9/10 callers hang up before the “beep”.

Something else I avoid is giving out my email or mobile number. The requestor has to have a REALLY good reason for either; when they ask for my “best contact number” I simply tell them there is no such thing; happy to give them my postal address…

[wood spirit]

Some dodgy calls can be blocked. Others rotate different numbers. Others can't be blocked because the "apparent" number doesn't exist. I rarely answer my phone anymore for unknown numbers.