Just got a call from this number and they wanted to help me with my computer. It was an African accent. Upon further questioning, they wanted to help me with my Outlook. I have a Mac.
repeated calls twice a day minimum! When I answer there is no response! Is this one that they are hoping you will call the number to check and then charge you a fortune?
They call my aging parents at least twice a day. Claim to be Microsoft computer support. Bilked them out of $400, which I got refunded, but refuse to stop calling. Dad has a terminal illness and 80 year old mom is trying to care for him at home. We have respectfully begged them to stop, as it really upsets mom. They just talk over us. I finally got mom a loud wistle. Every time this number comes up, she blows it as loud as she can. They still call, but hang up as soon as she answers. Gives her some emotional relief to this intrusion. Just a suggestion..,
>> I finally got mom a loud wistle. Every time this number comes up, she blows it as loud as she can. <<
That may make your mom feel better, but it will not stop the calls.
In fact, there is increasing evidence that even more scammers will call her!
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.
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Please reply to this post, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable and effective actions to protect yourself and your parents.
I have placed my father's land line on the DNC list, but of course the Scammer keep calling. Thank Goodness my father doesn't answer, but at All Hours & I know they aren't calling from the United States cause they can't even speak English well !! Anyway, the calls are Annoying & then all different #s will start to appear...It's a Living Nightmare...
Been calling many times and never left a message/ So I decided to be curious and picked up this time. Person with an Indian accent calling himself as Mr. Wilson (lol) called about my Microsoft PC. Too bad I know my way around PCs and Microsoft OS. Bunch of scammer and idiots. Our government needs to take action.