The scammers tricked me into answering my phone this time.

AprilSun

AprilSun

Senior Member
Off and on for days, these stupid scammers have been calling here using spoofed local numbers. The caller ID would always say, "Out of area" so I knew it was a scammer then and wouldn't answer. Today, they spoofed a friend of mine's phone number and tricked me into answering. As soon as she said, "Hey, my name is Christie with Credit card" something I hung up! These crooks make me so mad! I can't block the phone number if I want to talk with my friends and they take advantage of this by trying to trick us into answering. The dummies, don't they have enough sense to know we're not going to talk to them after they have tricked us. If we wouldn't answer the phone until we thought it was our friends calling, we sure won't talk to them after we find out it's not our friends!
 

The scammers have been taking a break with me.

Most of the annoying calls recently have been recorded messages from politicians. I'm sure that tomorrow they will be calling to see if I voted or who I voted for. Asking me who I voted for sends me into a complete tirade.

I wish I could set my phone for outgoing calls only!!!

 
That's happening to me, too, and it makes me livid. One of the numbers they use is the local hospital! Who is not going to answer a call from the hospital? Well, me, now. I hope if someone there needs me they'll talk to the answering machine.
 

I don't know if it's just another rumor, but months ago I heard there's a scam where they ask "Can you hear me?" and if you say "Yes" it somehow allows them to access your financial info etc. I fell for it once, and since then I've always responded by "Who is calling?" and it seems to irritate them to no end!! lol But as soon as they mention a prize, gift, cruise, etc., I just hang up.
However, when it's from a non-local number and not a familiar one, I don't bother answering, and Google the area code and number afterward.
 
I look at the caller ID display, if I don't see a familiar phone # I don't answer, ever.

My criteria for answering the phone: family, friends, business...nobody else gets a second of my attention.
 
Same here, I just don’t pick up the phone unless I recognise caller ID or the voice starting to leave a message
 
My late mother-in-Law, who lived alone and did not have a lot of company once kept a cold caller on the 'phone for nearly an hour.
They were trying to persuade an 88 year old pensioner that she needed a conservatory added to her house.
After showing lots of interest she eventually asked the salesperson "Does it matter that I live in a first floor flat?"
Needless to say they did not bother her again.
If your being pestered and have a little spare time why not have some fun and mess with their day after all, they don't mind wasting your time.
 
I follow the principle of only picking up when I recognize the caller's name. I figure that if I make an honest mistake and don't pick up for a "real" caller, they'll leave a message, which I'll hear them doing, and I can grab the phone. Or call them back.

I think older folks are particularly good victims for these phone scammers, as we have spent most of our lives automatically reaching for the phone as soon as it rings. I've started to train myself to think as the phone as a
purveyor of noise and mainly just a nuisance, which (once in a while) brings me a call from a real person that I want to talk to. So I'm doing much less running to grab the phone; it's usually just somebody selling something or,
even worse, trying to get a handle on all my money.
 
You don't know for sure they are scammers...but they will waste your time.
They could be legit businesses. But I don't answer these calls either.
 
I used to get 2-4 spam calls per day. Now, none! My telephone system has a service where it puts this message on when someone calls (phone doesn't ring). Message is "The number you have reached does not accept solicitations, if you are a solicitor add this to your do not call list and hang up. All other callers press 3." It works flawlessly and it is FREE.
 
My problem was, the caller ID was showing the name and number of a friend of mine. I told another friend last night that I might have to start screening all of my calls. I would let my answering machine get it and if it is someone I know and they start leaving a message, I will pick up and talk to them then.
 
AprilSun said:
Off and on for days, these stupid scammers have been calling here using spoofed local numbers. The caller ID would always say, "Out of area" so I knew it was a scammer then and wouldn't answer. Today, they spoofed a friend of mine's phone number and tricked me into answering. As soon as she said, "Hey, my name is Christie with Credit card" something I hung up! These crooks make me so mad! I can't block the phone number if I want to talk with my friends and they take advantage of this by trying to trick us into answering. The dummies, don't they have enough sense to know we're not going to talk to them after they have tricked us. If we wouldn't answer the phone until we thought it was our friends calling, we sure won't talk to them after we find out it's not our friends!
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They do the same thing to me with my land line and cell phone. I won't answer if the phone number says Unknown or a similar number to mine any more. I have used the "Do Not Call" registry to no avail. It used to work but because of these tricksters it makes it very hard. They are using numbers that are not theirs and I think it should be illegal. They bother me quite a bit but I now know not to answer. I know they must think the average person is stupid. They just annoy people. When I used to answer they would say "how are you" and then wouldn't even give me a chance to talk. They would talk right over me. So then I would hang up on them. Anyways, I don't bother to answer the phony callers any more.
 

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