What to do about scam phone calls

Sunny

Sunny

SF VIP
Location
Maryland
Somehow or other, I've gotten on the "call" list of some political group in Virginia. They have been harassing me for months now, always issuing dire warnings that the country is under some kind of threat, and I have to click on their site to try to save it. Of course, this is obviously a scam, probably the kind called phishing, where clicking on their site would open my address up to all sorts of identity theft or worse. So I never click on it or answer it in any way. I always delete their message, reporting it as scam, and click on their name or phone number (not their web site) and then click Block Number.

The trouble is, they keep calling from a different number each time. My phone never rings, but I always get a text message from them, and the last one sounded almost threatening: "This is my 3rd time sending you this today. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you took a look - I won't ask again!" and then it shows the link once again, which I blocked once again. Even though they probably are really blocked, it's annoying and seems intimidating. They just won't let up.

Any ideas how to get rid of them for good?
 

I've gone through this with Midland Credit Management (or so the caller ID indicates). Can't block the number because it's different every time they call. I've reported it to the "Do Not Call" registry and the state Attorney General. After a while they stop, but then start again in a few months. I put the numbers through Google and some say it's a legit business and some say it's a scam. Who can't you believe? I just don't answer.
 
debodun said:
I've gone through this with Midland Credit Management (or so the caller ID indicates). Can't block the number because it's different every time they call. I've reported it to the "Do Not Call" registry and the state Attorney General. After a while they stop, but then start again in a few months. I put the numbers through Google and some say it's a legit business and some say it's a scam. Who can't you believe? I just don't answer.
Click to expand...
👍 L ooks.like you've done 'all you can do'!
 
I dont get that many lately. #knock on wood

Record a fax machine tone and play it for them. This makes them think its a fax. Since there no warm body they will leave you alone.
Might try to send you a fax though. I hear people with fax machines get scam fax. :D
I have done this in the past on my house phone. Im not good with my cell but Im sure one of you knows how to do it.


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=966291188330192
 
Below are instructions for an Android phone.
I don't know if these instructions are different for an IPhone.

1. Go to DO NOT DISTURB settings
2. Choose PEOPLE
3. Choose MESSAGES
4. Choose CONTACTS
5. Turn DO NOT DISTURB ON

When you're done, you will only be receiving texts from your contacts.*

If you want to handle incoming phone calls in the same manner, then repeat the instructions, only on step 3, Choose CALLS, then proceed to step 4 and 5.

When you have completed this, only people in your contact list can text or call you.

*Unfortuntately, this restriction only lasts while DO NOT DISTURB is turned ON. If someone other than your contacts called or texted during the time it was on, any voice mails or texts they left will appear once you turn off the DO NOT DISTURB feature.

So......this does not totally accomplish what you are trying to do, but at least it prevents you from being unneccassarily disturbed at random, each time they text or call you. Instead, you will see all their unwanted comunications at once and can delete them all at once.
 
I ignor all calls from numbers not in the "contacts" list on my phone.

If the call is legit, the caller can leave a message. If they don't leave a message, then I know that they know I don't want to talk to them.
 
Macktexas, I did the same thing with my iphone (using instructions I found by googling.) It works, at least the phone doesn't ring unless it's someone on my Contacts list, but this "political" group - probably just a bunch of scam artists - aren't interested in talking to me. They want to get me to click on their web site, which I suspect would open up all my information to them.
 
They don't even answer and hang up right away because alot of those calls are test calls to see if it's a valid/used phone number. If one answers they know there's a potential customer or mark on the other end and focus their efforts.
 
Sunny said:
Macktexas, I did the same thing with my iphone (using instructions I found by googling.) It works, at least the phone doesn't ring unless it's someone on my Contacts list, but this "political" group - probably just a bunch of scam artists - aren't interested in talking to me. They want to get me to click on their web site, which I suspect would open up all my information to them.
Click to expand...
Okay. I wish I had some other thoughts for you. I've been fortunate not to be targeted by such a group.

If I had a choice, I would have texting entirely disabled on my phone, but my carrier says they cannot do it. Will not is more like it.
 
If anyone has a personalized greeting on their phone, it’s recommended to replace it with a generic one so they can’t copy your voice.
 
Sunny said:
Somehow or other, I've gotten on the "call" list of some political group in Virginia. They have been harassing me for months now, always issuing dire warnings that the country is under some kind of threat, and I have to click on their site to try to save it. Of course, this is obviously a scam, probably the kind called phishing, where clicking on their site would open my address up to all sorts of identity theft or worse. So I never click on it or answer it in any way. I always delete their message, reporting it as scam, and click on their name or phone number (not their web site) and then click Block Number.

The trouble is, they keep calling from a different number each time. My phone never rings, but I always get a text message from them, and the last one sounded almost threatening: "This is my 3rd time sending you this today. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you took a look - I won't ask again!" and then it shows the link once again, which I blocked once again. Even though they probably are really blocked, it's annoying and seems intimidating. They just won't let up.

Any ideas how to get rid of them for good?
Click to expand...
Just keep blocking them until they call less and less. We are down to about one call a week now.
 
Sunny said:
Somehow or other, I've gotten on the "call" list of some political group in Virginia. They have been harassing me for months now, always issuing dire warnings that the country is under some kind of threat, and I have to click on their site to try to save it. Of course, this is obviously a scam, probably the kind called phishing, where clicking on their site would open my address up to all sorts of identity theft or worse. So I never click on it or answer it in any way. I always delete their message, reporting it as scam, and click on their name or phone number (not their web site) and then click Block Number.

The trouble is, they keep calling from a different number each time. My phone never rings, but I always get a text message from them, and the last one sounded almost threatening: "This is my 3rd time sending you this today. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you took a look - I won't ask again!" and then it shows the link once again, which I blocked once again. Even though they probably are really blocked, it's annoying and seems intimidating. They just won't let up.

Any ideas how to get rid of them for good?
Click to expand...
Ask Google for a number to forward scams to from a Cell Phone,
over here it is 7726, I just forward them there.

If they come via email, then I forward them to reportphishing @
the government, you should have similar where you live, Sunny.

Mike.
 
I have a special ringtone for each family and friend, doc, or business. If my regular ringtone goes off
it's usually an unknown number out of my area code so I decline and block those.
 
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