Telemarketers now spoofing local phone numbers

JoeTech

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Anyone getting more calls that seem to be from a local phone number and then turn out to be a scammer/telemarketer instead? I have a call blocking app on my phone that does great when blocking calls outside my area code, but it will let every local number through. It has a warning below the number that it is potentially spoofed. I just wondering if this is a new tactic to get around call blocking software or trick more people into answering the phone thinking it is a local call from someone they might know.
 
Not yet... thanks for letting me know I have something more to look forward too.
 
Anyone getting more calls that seem to be from a local phone number and then turn out to be a scammer/telemarketer instead? I have a call blocking app on my phone that does great when blocking calls outside my area code, but it will let every local number through. It has a warning below the number that it is potentially spoofed. I just wondering if this is a new tactic to get around call blocking software or trick more people into answering the phone thinking it is a local call from someone they might know.
Yes. And they are even spoofing known phone numbers with fake caller ID. I keep getting calls from my local hospital that is one of the Jenny from account services calls. Robo interactive call. Told it to suck one of my body parts but "she" didn't understand. The story of my life...
 
Yes. And they are even spoofing known phone numbers with fake caller ID. I keep getting calls from my local hospital that is one of the Jenny from account services calls. Robo interactive call. Told it to suck one of my body parts but "she" didn't understand. The story of my life...

I have got the same calls from what looked like the local hospital as well only to be a robocall. One even spoofed my own ph# and that confused me for a second wondering how I'm calling myself.
 
Yep, been happening for a while. I get them both on my personal as well as business cell. Many show the same area code and exchange.
 
A recording of a much-to-cheery Elizabeth keeps calling to thank me for staying at some resort no matter how many times I told her to phuck off!

Public sentiment is squarely against these spammers yet our phones are never silenced. The technology is there but what do you expect when you go from lots of competition to just a handful of mega companies that control most of what we hear and see.

The telco's are not going to hurt their bottom line until they are legally forced to and that ain't ever happening with our legislative process being routinely sold to the highest bidder.
 
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We've been getting these on our cell phones for a while where they use the same area code and prefix as our cell phones. Download an app called Mr number. It allows you to block calls and sometimes auto detects and blocks scam calls.
 
... Download an app called Mr number. It allows you to block calls and sometimes auto detects and blocks scam calls.
Used to use this on my Android, but after a while didn't seem to block anything at all. Then tried Hiya and it was OK, but not as powerful as I wanted. Just installed and am trying out Truecaller and like what I see so far.

Now if I could get something like that for my home phone ...
 
I get these all the time, and I'm in an odd area code and prefix (Chicago-area, "overlay" area code).

If I was bored and had nothing else to do I'd be tempted to play along long enough to find out who the calls were on behalf of, then see what I could do to make their lives miserable/business unprofitable. I'm sure that given their advertising practices none of those businesses could have any problem with receiving a ton of calls with spoofed caller ID that looked local to them.....
 
A recording of a much-to-cheery Elizabeth keeps calling to thank me for staying at some resort no matter how many times I told her to phuck off!

Public sentiment is squarely against these spammers yet our phones are never silenced. The technology is there but what do you expect when you go from lots of competition to just a handful of mega companies that control most of what we hear and see.

The telco's are not going to hurt their bottom line until they are legally forced to and that ain't ever happening with our legislative process being routinely sold to the highest bidder.
I hate Elizabeth.
 
I got one the other day, lady named Linda - now that's an authentic "indian" name lol - who insisted that I absolutely should take advantage of the "great offer" she was going to give me on hotel accommodation.
I was in a playful mood and for my amusement, I couldn't resist trying to keep her on the phone as long as possible!
Linda wanted me to visit a website - which of course I didn't - but made out like I was having trouble getting the page to display.
So, I (lying through my teeth of course) plied her with all sorts of stupid questions like "do they have soap in the bathroom and what fragrance?, clean sheets on the beds and what colour?, windows in the rooms, pictures on the walls and of what?" which way the sun came up? Does it come in the left side or right side of the window? I even asked how much water was in the vases of flowers etc.
She couldn't answer the questions, so (sounding p'd off) I asked to speak to her supervisor. I quizzed him relentlessly with stupid questions and even berated his answers, but he still plugged on!
I finally got bored and told him to call back later. They haven't so far. I'm not sure if I wasted their time or they wasted mine now?
But I had some fun.
 
I really enjoy the power of Google Voice. At least I can block calls or make obscene responses/answer to only the numbers that have spammed me. I know it's not much be it makes me feel I can do something. Actually, I really don't get many junk calls anymore even though my phone number is on my web page for any bot to troll.
 
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I really enjoy the power of Google Voice. At least I can block calls or make obscene responses/answer to only the numbers that have spammed me. I know it's not much be it makes me feel I can do something. Actually, I really don't get many junk calls anymore even though my phone number is on my web page for any bot to troll.
Yes, unfortunately we are our own worst enemy. To get business we have to advertise our phone and email that can be easily crawled and harvested.
 
Which is precisely why I have Mr. Number installed, it hangs up on most of the scammers / marketers for me.
 
Anyone getting more calls that seem to be from a local phone number and then turn out to be a scammer/telemarketer instead? I have a call blocking app on my phone that does great when blocking calls outside my area code, but it will let every local number through. It has a warning below the number that it is potentially spoofed. I just wondering if this is a new tactic to get around call blocking software or trick more people into answering the phone thinking it is a local call from someone they might know.
This happens to me all the time! It's so frustrating. I tell them if they have to lie to me by using a local number to get me to pick up the phone, what else are they going to do to get what they want? I always end the conversation by letting them know I won't be doing business with them due to their sneeky practices.
 
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