here we go again...a new spoof every day now using local area codes and states familiar to the recipient hoping they will answer the call. However, if Caller ID displays *only* some city/area & the state, 90% of the time it will be a spoofed number generated by a scammer, often overseas. However, I checked anyway and blocked my number then called back, was instantly connected to an outgoing message, a looped, robo recording saying only this "Hello, if you would like to be placed on our do not call list, press 1 now". Eventually, after I ws silent and pressed nothing, the computer on their end "Thank you for calling" & disconnected the call. Spoofed number = scam. Next, So, I immediately pressed *57, a service which traces the call and reports it to a central security agency. This is a landline telephone service which an associate who has National Security clearance shared with me recently . He has special security clearance as a retired Delta employee of 30 years he now leads international tours for other, retired, Delta employees. when one presses *57 after a call, the call is traced which includes the phone number of the caller, the date and time of the call, *your* phone number and this information is submitted to a central security agency. This service was originally created to track down the scammers bilking millions of dollars out of seniors every year through landline schemes and scams. the government had to step in and protect senior citizens from the inordinate amount of scams being perpetrated against them by the sleazy national and international scammers and it's been quite effective. So don't get any ideas about misusing the number to irritate your friends or to track down your ex who's not paying child support which will be considered fraud and misuse of the system and *you* will be caught. Do use *57 for reporting these types of calls.
Yep another round of people with nothing but time on their hands putting it to good use. Losers. Today we must have gotten 10 calls one was a robo from the "IRS" which was fake. This number is supposedly from Waltham Ma. As long as I live and breathe I wont understant the point of calling and when someone answers, no response from the scammers. Whats the point? Pinheads.
You have a business? Then you MUST have a caller id that says more than the town you are in. Maybe if I knew someone in Waltham I might pickup. But, I don't and once I come here and see the # already has a bunch of complaints, I never will
Two caveats to using *57:
(1) It will place a charge of $5-8 (with taxes) PER USE on your phone bill
(2) It takes TWO such uses/successfuly traces, tracing back to the SAME EXACT Caller's NUMBER (must match exactly, # for #) WITHIN 30 consecutive DAYS in order to trigger a criminal/law enforcement investigation, and that starts at the LOCAL level, not state nor feds. Its up the your LOCAL police station to decide whether to take this seriously and use their precious time/resources to investigate or pass on up - or pass completely. Chances are, they will consider these 'nuisance' calls and drop the matter. YOU, however will still owe $12-$16 extra - or more - on your phone bill, regardless.
This service is NOT FREE and is more intended to entrap people who harass or threaten an individual, criminally, usually within their own community or state. Essentially, it must be within your own COUNTRY. I used it to entrap a former tenant who was unhappy I threw his drug-dealing butt out on the street. HE went to jail.
Don't expect scammers in India, Paksistan, Russia, Nigeria, etc. to be affected by this method.
You are far better off using your money to invest in a Call Blocking System (for landlines) with the capacity to block 1000 numbers or more. They start at about $40-50 and up, depending on what features you want. Can find online or at retailers like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc.
BTW, I'm on this site today, because i just got another annoying spam call from this number; a 'new' number to my call blocking system. Just curious as to WHAT scam they are running today, although if I had to guess, I'd say the "Alternative Energy" scams: "Switch Electric Providers" Scam or the "Buy Solar Panels Sight/SITE UNseen, UNmeasured, Unevaluated for solar (as is required!) From a COMPLETE FOREIGN STRANGER over the phone with a Credit Card" PHISHING Scam.