Called me 3 times so I finally looked it up and end here.
Added to my block filter
For those of you with Android and IPhones, look up call blocker apps.I use CallFilter by Telemarks but there a dozens out there (I like callfilter since it can block whole area codes)
This number calls repeatedly and does not leave a message. When I called the number it rang many times before a recording answers and states that the number belongs to a "marketing agency" and gives you the option of pressing "1" if you don't want to receive calls. I did press 1 and they are still calling. Since I am registered with the "do not call registry", I have reported my complaint to them, but who knows if they'll do anything. This type of harassment should be illegal and punishable by law.
I am trying to organize a way to stop these unscrupulous people from calling our "do not call" registered phones day and night. It costs us money, time, and energy at a time that we as a nation have little or none of to spare. We have to raise awareness of what's going on and stop them.
1) The reason that these people can call you while you're on the DO NOT CALL registry is straight forward. These people harassing you aren't in America and aren't subject to any do not call regulations! Well if they aren't in America, how are they calling with domestic phone numbers you ask? Major USA telecom companies have reseller businesses where they resell VoiP phone services to consumers all over the world and they use virtual phone numbers that have American phone number exchanges. Why then are these American Telecom companies providing these foreign people with phone services to harass American consumers and use the services for illicit activities? The truth is they're not, in fact most of the major American Telecom companies aren't even aware of who is using the services and what they're being used for as they're reselling them to different foreign vendors who then sell the service to foreign consumers. Tom Friedman was right, the world is getting flatter.
So the question then becomes, what are my options and what can I do to prevent this? The best thing to do is to use method #1 (below) and re-record your voice mail with the VC_SIT tone to fool the autodialer.
2) Answering the phone, calling them back and pressing "1" to be removed only confirms that they have a real person on the phone. I believe they have "war dialed" to find your number and if you've answered or called back, they now know they have a real phone number and it only makes you get targeted for more calls, I've managed to get a second phone on their list via calling back from another line.
3) Here is a growing list of the numbers they have used (spoofed). When I get another call from an unfamiliar number, I immediately google that number and usually it is here on this web site. I then know that I got called by another scam/telemarketer scum bag.
1) There is a simple way to stop any automatic predictive dialer from any calling phone line.
Get a telephone answering machine:
Wal-Mart, AT&T 1739 Adjunct Answering Machine System $16.46
Target, AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Answering System (EL52100) $29.99
Radio Shack AT&T Corded Digital Answering Machine $19.99
etc...
or re-record your outbound message (play it from your computer's speakers)
then go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VC_SIT.ogg to hear the 3 tones played twice.
Press RECORD and play the tones from your computer speaker into your microphone on the answering machine, or your cell phone when you re-record your voice mail message. After the 3 tones are played twice, begin your personal voice recording:
BOOP, BOO, BEEP pause, you have reached (your phone number) we are not available to take your call at this time. Please leave your name and phone number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
If you are home, when you hear the name and phone number, you can pick up the phone if you wish to talk to the caller. Otherwise the telemarketer dialer will automatically remove your number from their fish list.
This also works for cell phone voice mail.
General Info: SIT Tones
There are eight Special Information Tones or SITs played before telephone company recorded announcements. They are used to tell automated dialing equipment the call did not complete.
The VC_SIT tone indicates: Vacant Code; this number is not in service, so remove this number from your calling list, (however your number really is in service, you simply fooled the auto dialer into not calling again). I can tell you that since I have done this on my phone, the volume of calls has dropped drastically. I just got my first call in a month, and in the prior month I only had one call then too. THIS SEEMS TO WORK! Update, I am suddenly on their list again after months of being off, I have been called three times this week and once last week.
2) To help on my phone, I've created a trash contact which has a silent ring tone and each time they change their spoofed number to a new one, I add them to this contact so at least I can continue my meetings and meals without interruption once I have their new spoofed Caller ID number. It helps, a little. If I do not recognize the called, or it is private, or no number, or even a wild number, (I've also been called by number 69, and 488, and a few other incomplete numbers), I don't even answer. I pull a browser, check google against that number, if it turns up here, I add their number to my trash contact list, enter a do not call complaint, ( https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2 ), and update my phone list here to help to get the word out on this number.
3) While I'd like to recommend contacting governmental agencies, I have yet to find one that either cares at all, or have a means or method of resolving this illegal action. So, without sounding too anti-government, we have the government of the corporation and for the corporation, it appears to me.
3) There are others who've been called who report that by screaming, whistling, or making other loud noises into the phone, gives them some kind of satisfaction, but your miles may vary. If you're interested, have a loud whistle handy, some measure of satisfaction can be garnered from knowing that their ears will ring for the rest of the day. To do this, they have to (usually), wear a headset, if you speak softly to them so they raise the volume, you'll get better results. Mean yes, but some swear by it as a method that works.
4) Register your phone at donotcall.gov. After that you should file a complaint each and every time they call. I have never had anything happen as a result of this, but I did feel a little better by doing it. Senator Hatch's office most recent letter indicated they have serious funding issues, (no surprise here) and do very little, but at least you have the information filed. I have yet to see anything come from these folks that it at all encouraging.
5) There is no one here that can stop the calls, you have to take action yourself. Forget Do-Not_Call or FCC or BBB or Attorneys General, use the VC_SIT code to start your voice mail message, let your contacts know to expect that tone at that start of your voice mail, and then give it some time to get the autodialers to mrk your number as vacant.
Thanks for all of your reports. The key, though, is not to say "take me off your list" but instead to ask them to put you ON their "do not call" list. Asking them to take you off their list results in no legal obligation. If you tell them to "Please place this number ON your DO NOT CALL list" they are required to stop calling.
Personally, I just don't answer calls with numbers I don't recognize.