Preponderance of scam phone calls

[jaycee]

Is anyone else here experiencing an unusual number of scam, soliciting, unwanted phone call lately?
Our phone number is unlisted and lately we have been receiving numerous unwanted calls, this has also been happening also on our cell phones, both mine and my wife's, a lot of times when we answer the phone there is no one there, what the ^*%# is going on?

[trimmer21]

They're computer-generated random numbers. It doesn't matter if your number is unlisted. It also doesn't matter if you put your number on the "do not call" list,the computer calls are untraceable,usually from US or off-shore spam banks. Once you answer even one,the computer remembers your number and recycles it to every other computer on their spam network. That's why ,at first,there appears to be nobody there when you initially answer. If you stay on the line saying "Hello,hello?",the computer detects an answer waiting and directs your call to a telemarketer. They just gotcha. The only way to stop it is to immediately hang up if you don't get an immediate reply. The spam computer then disengages and goes on to the next random number. So much for the fed's Do Not Call list.

[Wahoo]

I dumped my landline because there was no way to deal with the unwanted calls. And it was getting so bad with my cell phone that I had to block all callers except those on my contact list. Sure it sends the odd, legitimate caller to my voice mail but if their call was important, they'll leave a message. And if I'm expecting an important call, I unblock the phone until the call comes in and then quickly change back.

[topher]

I dumped my landline because there was no way to deal with the unwanted calls. And it was getting so bad with my cell phone that I had to block all callers except those on my contact list. Sure it sends the odd, legitimate caller to my voice mail but if their call was important, they'll leave a message. And if I'm expecting an important call, I unblock the phone until the call comes in and then quickly change back.

I just don't answer... or hang up right away. . Easier than blocking and unblocking. checking voice mail.. (people still use that? )

[BIG MAC]

I dumped my landline because there was no way to deal with the unwanted calls. And it was getting so bad with my cell phone that I had to block all callers except those on my contact list. Sure it sends the odd, legitimate caller to my voice mail but if their call was important, they'll leave a message. And if I'm expecting an important call, I unblock the phone until the call comes in and then quickly change back.

did the same thing about 2 months ago, and nice to have quiet at supper time now, looked at it and think in the last 2 years we had 3 people we know call us at home, rest call or text our cell phones. funny how I had forgot about it already until this came up.


but something the wife was doing at the end was the same as Topher said, when you do pick up the phone don't say hello, just wait and then the phone hangs up.

we got tired of the duct cleaning companies calling us and the paving companies, good one is we live on a dead end street, about 10 homes on each side and we'd get the call from the paving company that they where working on our street and would we like our driveway done, I say let me check where on a dead end street and phone would go Click.

[Wahoo]

I just don't answer... or hang up right away. . Easier than blocking and unblocking. checking voice mail.. (people still use that? )

Yeah, people still use voice mail, works great. The problem with not answering is the constant ringing. When you get 5 or 6 calls a day, it gets to be too much. But you're right. blocking and unblocking is a lot of work though. - a swipe of the phone and a touch of a button. Takes all of about 3 seconds!

[topher]

Yeah, people still use voice mail, works great. The problem with not answering is the constant ringing. When you get 5 or 6 calls a day, it gets to be too much. But you're right. blocking and unblocking is a lot of work though. - a swipe of the phone and a touch of a button. Takes all of about 3 seconds!

5-6 a day is alot. . I get that in a month... so I guess blocking makes sense than.

[trappermatt]

My home line is also my business number and I get these calls daily

[jaycee]

I have spent some time on the phone with Bell Canada[land line] Bell Mobility[cell phone] have gotten absolutely no where.
Called the Office of The Privacy Commissioner of Ontario-result nothing .
Called the Office of The Privacy Commissioner of Canada with the same result , there is nothing they can do, all I was told is that unfortunately "technology is much farther ahead than legislation" they have had many complaints re this matter , scams of all sorts , telemarketers and unwanted phone calls of all types, and presently there is nothing that the Gov. can do, other than advise not to answer calls from unknown sources.

[Marker]

From what I am told... the 'do not call list' is accessed by people outside of Canada and used as a call list for their telemarketing purposes.

A few years ago I had a new unlisted number, when looking for a new car I left my brand new unlisted phone number at a dealership to set up an appointment, not long after I received a telemarketing call. I called the dealership on the suspicion they were behind it and after a brief time discovered that the salesman was selling phone numbers to marketing companies.