A lot of posters here complain they get many calls from scammers.
A few posters state they get hardly any.
Why the difference? Here are possible reasons:
The most common mistakes made by people who receive calls from unknown numbers:
Answering the phone.
Instead of answering, let the call go to voicemail or answering machine. Legitimate callers will usually leave a message.
Pressing a number "to be taken off the list"
That works for legitimate telemarketers, but legitimate telemarketers would not have called you in the first place, if you were on the DNC list. Pressing a number on a call from a telespammer merely confirms you answered the phone.
Returning the call.
At best, returning a scammer's call merely confirms your phone is "live", and your number will be added to a list that will be used by even more scammers. At worst, the call will cost you additional fees, if it is from a foreign country, such as Jamaica (876 area code). Also, scammers are now spoofing Caller IDs, so the number you see may not really be the number that called you. It might belong to an innocent, third party.
Arguing with the caller:
Call center employees have probably heard your argument many times. They may either continue to try to scam you, or they will hang up ... but will also make sure some other scammer calls your number, later.
Blowing a horn or whistle into the phone: ◄- ◄- ◄- ◄- ◄-
Will irritate the scammer. The scammer may then add your number as a "spoofed Caller ID", so others think YOU are calling them, and YOU may hear retaliatory horns or whistles if the irritated called person calls YOU back!
Forwarding the call to a government office.
Not too swift. All that does is tie up a line at the govt office, and record YOUR number as the forwarding number! Realize that your congress person knows phone scams are a problem, and also knows the FCC and FTC have been assigned the task of upholding the laws concerning this problem. Instead, you should report the problem via normal channels to the FTC or FCC.
Giving or forwarding the supposed scammer's phone number to other scammers.
May not be a good idea. The 1st scammer might have used a spoofed phone number, and, if you give it to other scammers, all you are doing is causing more calls to and problems for an innocent person.
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Eventually, after getting many scam calls, some people think their only recourse is getting a new number. That is not true. The "new number" is probably somebody else's "old number", and will come accompanied with its own baggage (and calls).
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What you SHOULD do:
If you are disturbed by frequent calls from scammers / spammers. obtain a call blocker app, device, phone, or service. Google is your friend. Remember, the Do Not Call list is effective to prevent calls from registered telemarketers, but scammers / spammers ignore that policy.
Very good advice. Hopefully, people will follow your suggestions and save themselves a lot of aggravation and money too. I don't understand why people continue to answer a caller when they hang up on them and the caller just keeps calling back.
I unplugged my answering machine, installed a call blocker device, do not answer any calls if I am home and hear the phone ring (usually a new scam number or a person or business I actually know). I then google the suspicious numbers and take appropriate action, usually blocking them manually and filing complaints.
The donotcall representative also advised not to call them back, do not answer if it not a recognized number and not to press any number they tell to you to be removed. She also agreed it just confirms a working line.
Since I unplugged my answering machine, I do get calls but after about four rings, the caller hangs up. I then block it and have noticed they do not seem to call back. Once in a while, a number will try again but then it gets cut off after one ring on their end with no ring in my home and after maybe one more try, they stop calling. However, there are two persistent charities, both of which have pages of complaints on 800notes, who obviously do not understand the concept of a blocked call and try continually, one using several different numbers, all blocked. They can call as many times as they want, I file complaints as many times as I want and now going to the attorney generals in both states.
We have the power to control much of what we receive. We should use that to our advantage and at least try the best we can.