Computer Crimes, Hacking Telephone scammers are making me crazy

[Liane Bianco]

Jurisdiction

Oregon

I've been getting 5-6 of those "can you hear me?" scam calls a day. Changing my phone number is not an option. Asking them to stop or remove my number from their list does nothing. Could I get into trouble if I blow their eardrums out with a police whistle?

 

[justblue]

I've been getting 5-6 of those "can you hear me?" scam calls a day. Changing my phone number is not an option. Asking them to stop or remove my number from their list does nothing. Could I get into trouble if I blow their eardrums out with a police whistle?

lol...funny idea. Just let calls from # you don't recognize go to voice mail. Eventually the calls will trickle down and then stop. This worked for me...

 

[army judge]

Could I get into trouble if I blow their eardrums out with a police whistle?

Why do anything that gives you pause before you do it?

These days you can simply BLOCK the number.

There are various apps that do that for mobile phones for FREE, or at a very small cost.

Most large cell providers even offer such services for free, as do most VoIP providers, even the landlines companies have such blocking services or there are devices one can procure via:

Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more

CPR Call Blocker V5000

6 Best Landline Call Blocker Devices to Block Robocalls | Mashtips

I am not recommending any device or app, just informing you of their existence.

I only allow callers in my contacts to call me.

All others are summarily intercepted and never get through to annoy or harass me!

 

[Liane Bianco]

I am on a fixed income and am using a government cell phone, not a smartphone, and I am not able to block numbers. In any case, it wouldn't do any good - these are scammers, and they spoof their numbers to make it appear they are in my area when in reality they are in some sleazy call center. But thanks for your reply.

 

[Zigner]

I am on a fixed income and am using a government cell phone, not a smartphone, and I am not able to block numbers.

This can often be done online instead of directly on the phone.

In any case, it wouldn't do any good - these are scammers, and they spoof their numbers to make it appear they are in my area when in reality they are in some sleazy call center. But thanks for your reply.

Then you need to fall back to not answering numbers that you don't recognize.

 

[Liane Bianco]

This can often be done online instead of directly on the phone.
Then you need to fall back to not answering numbers that you don't recognize.

[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

I appreciate the advice, but I cannot block numbers online either. Not answering my phone is not an option, as I said, and the numbers are spoofed, so they look like a local call. I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but these people target seniors because they tend to be more vulnerable to this type of thing.

My question was not about what to do about scam calls. I simply want to know if I can get into trouble if I use a police whistle on the scumbags who are trying to scam me, and who have no doubt scammed others less knowledgeable than me.

But thanks for your reply.

 

[zddoodah]

Could I get into trouble if I blow their eardrums out with a police whistle?

It is unlikely that you have the ability to do any such thing. Almost certainly, the electronics in your phone or the caller's phone will suppress the volume. You'd be more likely to break your phone. Just don't answer calls from numbers you don't recognize.

 

[Zigner]

I appreciate the advice, but I cannot block numbers online either. Not answering my phone is not an option, as I said

This is the first time you've said that.

, and the numbers are spoofed, so they look like a local call.

I understand that they look like a local number. If you don't recognize it, let it go to voice mail.

I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but these people target seniors because they tend to be more vulnerable to this type of thing.

They don't target seniors. They hit every phone they can. I'm not a senior, nor is my wife, and we both get tons of those types of calls, both on our cell phones and on our landline.

My question was not about what to do about scam calls. I simply want to know if I can get into trouble if I use a police whistle on the scumbags who are trying to scam me, and who have no doubt scammed others less knowledgeable than me.

But thanks for your reply.

90% of the calls are automated. The computer on the other end doesn't care if you blow a whistle.

 

[adjusterjack]

Not answering my phone is not an option,

Why not? I ignore my cell phone all the time. I don't even have voice mail set up on it. I check the missed calls list. If I don't recognize the number I delete it. If I recognize the number I call back. Easy Peasy.

 

[army judge]

I am on a fixed income and am using a government cell phone, not a smartphone, and I am not able to block numbers. In any case, it wouldn't do any good - these are scammers, and they spoof their numbers to make it appear they are in my area when in reality they are in some sleazy call center. But thanks for your reply.

It would cost you NOTHING to simply reject callers who present a number that you don't know.

Most cell phone providers offer FREE call blocking services, call yours and inquire.

As suggested by others, simply don't answer or reject numbers you don't know.

There are many FREE solutions, such as turn the phone OFF when you aren't calling.

Turn the phone on when you wish to call someone.

That said, if you're getting something for which YOU aren't paying, you have to abide by the rules or limitations that your benefactor sets; in this case the US Gubmint and the taxpayers who fund your FREE for you device.

 

[army judge]

90% of the calls are automated. The computer on the other end doesn't care if you blow a whistle.

Such a simple concept, yet easily overlooked by 90% of the adults inhabiting what we know as the USA today.

I simply want to know if I can get into trouble if I use a police whistle on the scumbags who are trying to scam me

If you feel FROGGY jump, then let us know if it worked without the intervention of law enforcement.

Whatever others do has NO impact on my life.

 

[Liane Bianco]

Why not? I ignore my cell phone all the time. I don't even have voice mail set up on it. I check the missed calls list. If I don't recognize the number I delete it. If I recognize the number I call back. Easy Peasy.

Because I have to make a living, and I cannot simply ignore calls. Not all of my clients call me every time from the same number. But thanks for your reply.

 

[Liane Bianco]

It would cost you NOTHING to simply reject callers who present a number that you don't know.

Most cell phone providers offer FREE call blocking services, call yours and inquire.

As suggested by others, simply don't answer or reject numbers you don't know.

There are many FREE solutions, such as turn the phone OFF when you aren't calling.

Turn the phone on when you wish to call someone.

That said, if you're getting something for which YOU aren't paying, you have to abide by the rules or limitations that your benefactor sets; in this case the US Gubmint and the taxpayers who fund your FREE for you device.

Not answering my phone is not an option. I am trying to build a business, and when a potential or existing client calls, I don't want it going to voice mail. But thanks for your reply.

 

[army judge]

I am trying to build a business, and when a potential or existing client calls, I don't want it going to voice mail.

The inappropriately named "free phone" or "Obama phone" is meant to be used for PERSONAL communications, NOT business communications.

 

[cbg]

Blow a whistle if it will make you feel better, but it won't change anything. It won't cause them to stop calling you, because they're robo calls that just dials every number in rotation. They haven't singled your number out; it was just the next number on the computer-generated list, and it will be the next number on another computer-generated list whether you blow a whistle or not. So do whatever floats your boat; just don't expect anything to be different once the boat has floated.

 

[Disabled Vet]

Drug dealer.... Nice

 

[flyingron]

These days you can simply BLOCK the number.

HAR! No, the numbers are spoofed. Often they appear to come from the same exchange as my cell phone. I just don't answer these. I don't answer pretty much anything I don't recognize. Voice mail works fine.

NOMOROBO worked for a while, but now since they spoof the incoming it's near impossibe.

What does work is my phone now has a "Press 1 for Flying Ron" prompt. Most of the robospammers won't hear that nor press 1

 

[Zigner]

NOMOROBO worked for a while, but now since they spoof the incoming it's near impossibe.

It's still working for me - the number of calls getting through dropped significantly when I started using it (both on my cell and on my landline), and continues to remain lower, although a few more get through now than when I started using it.

How do you get the "Press 1 for..." prompt? Feel free to message me directly about it if you'd like.

 

[justblue]

It's still working for me - the number of calls getting through dropped significantly when I started using it (both on my cell and on my landline), and continues to remain lower, although a few more get through now than when I started using it.

How do you get the "Press 1 for..." prompt? Feel free to message me directly about it if you'd like.

I'd like that info as well...but the powers that be haven't seen fit to give me Convo Super Powers...sigh...

 

[Zigner]

I'd like that info as well...but the powers that be haven't seen fit to give me Convo Super Powers...sigh...

Perhaps flyingron will let us know elsewhere