Got call today at 5:30. Used call blocking to return call (see if an actual person answers or if number is disconnected, etc.) and got same type of answer as from other reported scam phone numbers in DC area...202-595-3059 and 202-570-7778. When called back, there's a brief noise and then a plain vanilla "hello?" that repeats twice after which the call is disconnected without any sound of someone actually hanging up a receiver. I believe this may be a type of program designed to get you to say something when you call back, thereby validating that your number actually has a real person behind it. That then makes your number more valuable to sell to others who buy lists of phone numbers for various purposes, legal or otherwise. Your phone number would show up on the list as being "validated" (or something like that) telling the list user that your number is a real phone number with a real person that will answer the phone when it rings.
Got call today at 5:30. Used call blocking to return call (see if an actual person answers or if number is disconnected, etc.) and got same type of answer as from other reported scam phone numbers in DC area...202-595-3059 and 202-570-7778. When called back, there's a brief noise and then a plain vanilla "hello?" that repeats twice after which the call is disconnected without any sound of someone actually hanging up a receiver. I believe this may be a type of program designed to get you to say something when you call back, thereby validating that your number actually has a real person behind it. That then makes your number more valuable to sell to others who buy lists of phone numbers for various purposes, legal or otherwise. Your phone number would show up on the list as being "validated" (or something like that) telling the list user that your number is a real phone number with a real person that will answer the phone when it rings.
In my previous post, by call blocking I meant using *67 to hide my called ID from the party I was calling so they wouldn't be able to use it.
I have learned through reading many posts on this website that call blocking does not always work when you're calling any toll free prefix (800, 844, 855,866, 877, 888) because the owner of the toll free number is paying for the call, not the caller. Therefore, I was able to use *67 to block my caller ID from the above number in the 202 area code.
A call blocker won't block your outgoing calls, it will only block incoming calls.
Returning calls is always a bad idea that will most likely result in more calls coming in. If the number is unknown, CID is blocked and no message given, the most reasonable assumption is it's from a con-man intent on robbing you blind. The con-man's #1 trick is to get you to come to him. Calling back is running a con on yourself.
Pet stray dogs, run with scissors, play in traffic, take candy from perverts, but NEVER return these calls.
Read your customer information pages in the front of your local white pages phone book from your local phone company, or read the advice on the FTC's pages...*67 blocks YOUR number from being sent to the person YOU are calling on a per call basis. I.E. it only works if you dial *67 and then dial a phone number. The number you dial immediately after dialing *67 will not be given your phone number on their caller ID. *67 only works if you dial it right before dialing a number.
Dial *67, wait to heat a "stutter" dial tone, then dial the number you want to call. They will NOT be given your phone number for THAT CALL ONLY. If you dial them again without dialing *67, they WILL get your phone number.
*67 will block your phone number on outgoing calls except, as I noted in my first post, to toll free numbers because WE are not paying for the call, THEY are.