I find some of the remarks posted about these ‘faux telemarketer calls’ amusing. I put together a software program that has logged over 380 of these nuisance calls since 2012. Those of you that let the calls roll to your answering machine, voicemail or worse yet answered the call you have just ensured you will get another of these calls. Maybe not from the same number, but they’ve just identified your number as valid and passed it on. Most of the initial calls originate from software (aka; ‘robocalls’) – once your number is identified as active, then a person may be there on the follow up calls. If you have the capability to ‘block’ the number that called – that is the best action. If you don’t have a blocking option, keep a phone with caller ID close by and simply hit ‘talk’ and ‘off’ simultaneously. This will reduce the number of nuisance calls, but not stop them. If you really want to block them – there is software available that a layman can install. Of the 380 calls I’ve blocked, only 16 have been in the last 6 months. So the message is simple – blocking works….
PS: I think Call Notes should add a 'Call Type' for 'Spoof' or 'Scammer Calls'!
Just called 400PM today. Caller ID said Out of Area. I hit "talk" and then immediately hit "off." Obviously a telemarketer/scammer. I will now file a complaint with the FTC.
Call was from USA Alert Systems, which claimed to be "30 years old" but whose web domain was registered about six weeks ago, on Feb. 2, 2015. They offered to send my mom "free" emergency alert equipment at no cost other than a $30 monitoring fee, which my mom apparently didn't understand was going to be a monthly charge to her credit card. When I asked the caller why the website was so new if they were in business for 30 years, she said "let me ask my manager" and the convenient answer of "oh, they just redid the website" came back a moment later. Then I told her there were no past pages for their URL on archive.org and no info in Yahoo Finance or Dun & Bradstreet. She then tried to change the subject by stating that my mom had already asked them to send the device, yada-yada-yada. She also had a weird response when I told her our number was on the do-not-call list (which I confirmed a few months ago). She said they wouldn't have called if we were on the do-not-call list. She also denied it was a cold call even though she had to ask my mom to spell her name and provide our address. I relayed this info to my mom and she cancelled the order.
Tell your mom to be sure to check her credit card balance and make sure they haven't charged her. If they have, she needs to notify the credit card company immediately to deny the charge.