Nuisance Calls

[gemma10]

Am getting pi**ed off with these computer automated telephone calls that are are basically scammers, ringing you once then waiting to see if you ring them back at a huge cost. Now I understand those that have iphones can block them all, but what about android phones? I have an app called Call Control but will only block three numbers. The majority of them are 0843, 0161 and sometimes +44843 numbers and this is now happening 6-8 times a day, and now I turn off at night. Is there no legislation against this. Just had another one as I type this. Anyone with info on how to block all numbers on an Android. :ugh:

[spannersatcx]

sorry I can't remember exact details but there is a website where you register your number to be removed from these cold calling databases.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I wouldn't hold out much hope of being removed from some of the databases. The reason being that your (our) details have been sold/given/stolen and the miscreant chancers of the planet have them and they work their way through them with computer calls and manual calls. Their fail rate must be huge, but obviously enough people 'bite' for it to be worth their while. They operate outside of the law for the most part and call from offshore centres to circumvent the TPS in the UK, for example. You might also find that some of them have been allowed to contact you by your supplier, and your consent is hidden in the depths of the contract that you signed. It's a huge problem and blights the private lives of too many people. I feel most sympathy for the elderly who are bombarded with these wasteful calls on their home phone.


SHJ

[OFSO]

Big problem here in Spain. People call using your whole name or your Christian name, obviously from some list they have bought. I put phone down after first call and swear at them in arabic for the second. Never get a third !

As has been said, they use call-centres in Spanish-speaking countries in S. America so can't be blocked.

A damn nuisance when you are in the middle of something else.

[CISTRS]

My home phone is used purely as a data line, so if it rings I only respond when I want to enjoy a little fun.

I answer my mobile selectively if I do not recognise the caller. My phone is switched off unless I am available to answer it. Calls will divert to voicemail, and I can return the call as necessary.

[jimtherev]

Another variant here concerning the 'you've got something wrong with your Windows' scam. Today I decided to ask them what department of M$oft they belonged to, as I work for M$ and knew there was no such. (Nearly true; my son works for 'em.)
Angry respondent: 'Yes there is, and where do you work, anyway' Me: 'Don't waste my time with lies.'
Most unusually, he rang back, again demanding where I work. Hung up. Phone rings again, but SWMBO answered this time.
"Where does your husband work?" "What?" "PUT YOUR F'ING C' OF A HUSBAND ON" Laughter from this end. It then sounded as tho' the caller was having a heart attack.
Phone put down.
No further calls.
Yet.

[IBMJunkman]

Sorry to see this is not only a USA problem. My home phone is digital using Verizon FIOS (fiber). I can block up to 10 numbers. The number of an incoming call is displayed on my TV. I can use the TV remote to add the number to the list. The digital system also has another feature. I can have 2nd phone number ring when my primary number is called. There is a web site you register on with your phone number. They give you a phone number that you use as your 2nd ring number. When a call comes in the 2nd number gets the calling information. If the number is in their database the call is terminated. If a garbage call gets through you go to their website and report the number. They add it to their database.

I also have a device attached to my phone line that captures incoming numbers. I can have it block a whole area code, a specific exchange or a specific number. A blocked call only rings once.

I also track calls with an Excel spreadsheet. There are numbers that call in the morning and then in the evening. For many days in a row. Luckily the website kills many of those calls.

[KelvinD]

My nearest and dearest tend to use mobiles these days. My landline phone has the ringer switched off so these calls never bother me. I can see missed calls on the phone, with the calling number. I have become rather adept at recognising bogus calls but if I see one I am not sure about, I will first Google the number. Well known spammer numbers will usually show up there.
Whenever I have forgotten to have the ringer switched off and get caught by one of these nuisances, tell them to hang on a moment when they ask for me (or whoever), lay the phone down on the table and go back to watching the telly. After half an hour or so, I might replace the phone and switch the ringer off again.

[SpringHeeledJack]

It seems that they're somewhat systematic with their strategy and don't give up until they've reached you in some fashion. I had one last night at bang on 8pm, which is typical as they try to catch the unsuspecting relaxing for the evening. Mornings around 10am and lunchtimes also seem to be popular. No doubt there's an algorithm to guide their cursed business :*


SHJ

[gemma10]

Since I posted yesterday I have had another eight calls. All on my my mobile and very seldom on the landline. Perhaps no-one has sold them my number. You would think these morons would give up after never getting through but no, they still persist, same old 0843 numbers. Have searched high and low for another android blocker without success. :yuk:

[Sirikit]

I unplugged my landline a long time ago because of nuisance calls.

[ExGrunt]

Hi,

Not sure what to do about mobiles, but for land lines there is a UK product called truecall which has had very good reviews. A friend of mine was receiving thousands of calls per year and he swears by it as the solution.

It can be found at: www dot truecall dot co dot uk

HTH

EG

[Gizmo1]

I registered mt home telephone number with the "telephone preference service" a couple of years ago and that seems to have got rid of the majority of UK nuisance calls. Unfortunately the majority of scammers now use I nternational or witheld numbers to get round the legislation. Recently purchased a BT6500 phone which allows you to block Int'l, witheld, and upto
20 individual numbers. Calls are diverted to the answerphone so only legitimate contacts leave a message. I've now managed to reduce my scam calls from 3-4 a day to to almost nil. Worth a look!

[vulcanised]

I recently purchased a Call Saint number blocker.

It doesn't have all the features of Truecall, but at £25 it does the important bits.

[mixture]

I recently purchased a Call Saint number blocker.

Number blockers are a waste of time and money.

Its easy for them to change numbers and/or withhold numbers.

Its about as effective as blocking the "from" address of an email spammer !

[Keef]

My number blocker works extremely well. It reduced the junk calls from several a day to effectively nil. Mostly, the callers don't know to change the number they present, and some generic blocks (anything Nigerian, for example) takes care of the rest.

[Comms Boy]

Get a BT nuisance call blocker cordless phone system.
BT7610 is excellent and blocks most unwanted calls.
You can block international, Payphone, withheld or number specific.
Since getting one my nuisance call problem is virtually gone.

Phone spammers can now spoof the cli data so this problem is never going to stop, but you can reduce the amount you get.

Robert Dyas usually have them on special offer.

[mixture]

My number blocker works extremely well. It reduced the junk calls from several a day to effectively nil.

Well you could equally wave a dead chicken over your phone and it might have the same effect.

I don't have a number blocker and get exactly zero junk calls. :E

[SpringHeeledJack]

I don't have a number blocker and get exactly zero junk calls.

That's either because you've put some of your computer juju on the line OR you've alienated all the scammers/chancers and miscellaneous miscreants previously. ;)



SHJ

[Codger]

"Mr Codger, this is Nabil from Microsoft and it's come to our attention that your computer is infected with malware."
"Really?"
"Yes sir, and we can resolve the issue for you now"
"You must have a very high level of expertise to be able to do that."
"Yes Mr Codger, I have blahbity blahbity certification"
"I wasn't aware that Microsoft has a time travel division"
" long pause... I can repair the problem with your computer quite easily"
" I'm very impressed since I have't purchased a computer yet but you are going to repair a problem on a computer that I don't even have. Can you tell me what problem it is that I'll have when I do buy a computer?"

[Keef]

I wish you'd told me that waving a dead chicken over the phone would stop junk calls! I could have saved all that cash.

But where would the dead chicken log the calls it blocked?

My number is "in the public domain" because people need to be able to call me. Maybe if I'd started out Ex-D and kept it secret things might have been different.

[ericlday]

Using a Chicken is definitely Foul play !

[Blues&twos]

Dead chickens are a waste of time and money.

[dindan]

Hi everyone , just a bit of advice on how to stop nuicance phone calls which I have found to be very effective as I'm Fed up with receiving so many calls and wish to help others. First sign yourself up to the tps service which is free, but will only be effective for about a third of incoming calls. Second, (most effective way) I have found a site callblockerservices.co.uk which sells call blockers that can stop cold calls and international calls. If anyone else has any other advice or ideas then please reply with them.

[airpolice]

I still need to get international calls, and I don't know the number of everyone that I might want to get a call from.

I do block Withheld numbers through the BT system as I don't need to hear from anyone or any company hiding their number.

On my iPhone I'm happy to answer withhelds if I have the time to indulge in some mischief making.

There's no end of fun you can have with them, and not just by lying.

We have a phone line here which we renumber every few months. We don't give it out to anyone so if it rings, it's not for us. Normally the first few weeks are the best. We get calls looking for the person who previously had that number.... mostly it seems to be from debt collection or marketing firms. After a few calls we can usually ascertain the name and address of where they think they are calling.

If it's debt, we say the person won the lottery and moved to Florida. If it's sales we ask them to come round with a demo.

One day I got a call from a very rude guy demanding to speak to Bob. I said Bob doesn't live here any more and when pressed, rudely, for details I told the caller that Bob's wife caught him shagging a bird from work and put all of his stuff in bin bags out in the garden two weeks ago. The caller asked who I was, so I said I'm her new boyfriend, at which point he hung up. I can only imagine how that played out in the pub or at work, when the rude guy meets Bob.

[cdtaylor_nats]

Truecall has two options you could use to intercept INTERNATIONAL calls - if you know who is calling you can give them a code to use which will get through or you can have it ask them their name, most hang up at that point, ones that do give a name are told to wait while truecall asks you to accept or reject the call.

[chulmleigh]

The latest home answer-phone from BT ( BT 8500 ) does the same thing. If the caller is not in your phonebook memory or not on your "allowed list" it intercepts the call and asks the caller to give their name followed by # key. The phone then rings you and asks if you want to accept, reject or ban the call now or permanently. I've had it for 2 weeks & touch-wood I've gone from 2 to 4 a day to nil. It's about £60 from places like Argos.

[Warmtoast]

Airpolice

I do block Withheld numbers through the BT system as I don't need to hear from anyone or any company hiding their number.

Take care with withheld numbers. Calls from our GP's surgery and local hospital show up on the caller display as "withheld"; so if expecting calls from such sources answer the phone - a PITA, but better than not receiving a possible vital call.

When I receive the "we've detected your computers at fault" call, my standard reply is to ask "which one" which normally flummoxes the caller, so much so that on one occasion the caller with the Indian accent told ME to stop wasting HIS time!