I love these comments. First of all, yes, this is a robocaller. That means that all numbers are being called--it does not matter if you are on a do not call list, the machine is dialing every number that is active. Second, ATT does not pay businesses for every call that hits a caller ID machine. There is no incentive from any phone company to abuse their lines. Third, the call is almost certainly not from New York (the number is disconnected--how could it be used to call you?). Likely it originates over the internet as a VOIP call, and is sent through a server (probably in Canada) to cloak its origin and give a false origin/number. What legit caller ID gives the location rather than the name of the business? US Federal law requires that all businesses identify themselves accurately on caller ID.
I have an ooma phone, so this number will get blocked. Best purchase I ever made. $10/mo for premium service (+ taxes). Many such VoIP services can do this as well.
These comments are interesting and I, too, am disgusted with the number of unsolicited calls I receive. But, I never answer, I do log them for the day that citizens rise up and become so incensed that someone tasked with the job of passing laws or taking action, will finally do their job and resolve the issue. Hell will freeze over, I realize, and there are far bigger fish to fry, such as keeping terrorists from crossing our southern and northern borders. Again, when Hell freezes over, or we're all dead, we won't have to worry about unwanted calls, any more. Can you tell I'm just a bit disgusted with a useless government who wastes our tax dollars on useless laws that are unenforced? Wise up, people, and start electing something other than useless idiots!! Oh, my call, from this latest scammer, was received 9/16/14, at 6:59, EDT. I didn't answer and no message was left. Caller ID was New York, as reported, previously, and it was the first time I personally received a call, from this number. I'm sure it won't be the last!
To Thnkr. I also should of added that if you think about it Thnkr, what would be in it for all these robo calls to call every one and just hang up. Post after post , people say over and over that the phone rings and then there is nothing on the other end, that they just hang up. What would be the point of the people trying to call you if they just hang up. If you think its just for mailers or they are just trying to find active numbers, companies dont need to pay a 3rd party just so they can find out where to mail out their mailers. Companies can also buy blocks of ACTIVE numbers from AT&T. This is done all the time. The phone rings and hangs up because there is no one on the other end to sell you anything. ( in most cases ). These false companies are only being formed to generate money thru the robo machines. When AT&T first voted on this, it was created to generate business for Caller-ID. AT&T thought that maybe a business would use it at the most 200 times a month and at a half a penny per call, AT&T would have to give back 1 dollar in credit but when you have these false companies using robo machines doing 200,000 calls a day, it becomes a money maker for the scammers.
No. That is not how it works. That is an urban legend.
The reason for the hangups is that they're using predictive dialing. Predictive dialing works like this: The computer system dials several numbers at the same time. Whatever number is answered by a human first is put through to the telemarketing agent. If none of the agents are available to take any of the other calls, the others are abandoned - the system just hangs up on them.
This saves the agents time, as they don't have to wait while the phone rings or is answered by a machine. The system only gives them a live person, so each agent can spend more time on the phone scamming people without wasting time.
Predictive dialing and then abandoning the call by disconnecting (hanging up) is illegal in the US - telemarketers are required play a recording identifying them and explaining the call to you. However, remember that these are scammers trying to steal your money. If they don't care about theft, they're certainly not going to worry about a telemarketing law, whether it's predictive dialing or using the do not call list!
That's the reason why they keep calling. They will try over and over until you happen to be the first one that answers. If you don't answer calls from unknown numbers, they will keep trying forever.
Note that if you do answer and then hang up, or if it's answered by your voicemail or answering machine, they will still keep trying forever.
And if you do answer and press the button to talk to a live person, they will STILL not give up. Instead, it will get much worse, because they'll know that your phone will be answered by a person gullible enough to talk to an agent. They will sell your phone number to other scammers and it will never end.
But for get the idea of them getting paid each time they trigger a customer's caller ID. That's simply not true.
@SD, I know for a FACT that they get paid every time Caller-ID is activated. Not only was i there when it was voted on, but it is well documented by a free lance reporter that did a cover story on this illegal practice back in Febuary,2013. I WILL SAY IT 1 LAST TIME, THEY DO GET PAID. You can call AT&T yourself if you dont believe it.