Great post, Slim. I wish everyone had your insight into the spoofed numbers creation. It would eliminate the DNC complaints as so many people have no clue how and why they get these calls. Thanks for your comments.
Even though it had a weird caller ID, I answered because of the area code, since I sometimes get oddly identified calls related to my mother's health situation. Interestingly, the guy asked for me by name. I'm on the do not call list, and for years that actually helped. But lately I get junk calls all the time, often not just robocalls but calls where they ask for me. I think someone sold my name and number. Grr.
Quote:. I think someone sold my name and number. Grr.
If you ever posted your name & phone number on a social site, or entered that info when ordering online, or otherwise typed it in an insecure computer, or gave it to a friend whose computer was attacked, or filled out an entry form at a fair or a supermarket, or used it on a contest entry form, or were among those whose information was hacked from some organization, or obtained a "new" phone number ... your name & number are probably known to the scammers.
There is also another, very sneaky way.
Does your phone have Caller ID + Caller Name display (CNAM)? If so, you have noted that it usually displays BOTH the phone number and the name of the person calling you. Some scammers take advantage of that, by getting a phone with a CNAM display, and then using a computer program to repeatedly call it. The computer program spoofs the calling number, and changes the calling number for each call. One of the spoofed numbers could be yours!
The result is, the receiving phone "sees" both the calling number and the name of the person who is registered with that number! The scammer harvests the name & number data, and sells it to other scammers.
Remember-
The Do Not Call List is NOT a call blocker!