Are you here just to make an ineffective complaint, or do you want to learn how to really reduce annoying spam / scam calls?
Click on the line that best describes your reason for posting here.
I amJust_ComplainingWe cannot stop the calls to you, or report those calls to the appropriate agencies for you. You must do that yourself. Ineffective complaints are no better than shouting out a window ... and they waste both electrons and the time of helpful people who try to answer questions when those answers are not read.
Did you know that approximately 99% of first-time visitors here do not return to read solutions to their problems? If you wish ot be among the well-informed few, and really want a solution rather than just ventilating or making an ineffective complaint, click on "Reduce_Spam", below.
I want toReduce_SpamYou have come to the right place! Although you can't stop the bad guys from calling your phone, you can reduce or eliminate the irritation by blocking the calls.
Obtain a call blocking device, app, or phone. Google (or your favorite search engine) IS your friend!
Realize that the Do Not Call list is NOT a call blocker!
Here are some tried and true methods for reducing or eliminating repeated spam / scam phone calls. Try whichever one(s) that work for you.
1. Do not answer the phone if you see an unknown number on your Caller ID ... let it go to answering machine or voicemail. Many telescammers hang up after three or four rings.
2. If you have a smartphone, get one of the inexpensive or free phone blocker apps at your online app store, and learn how to use it.
3. If your cell is not "smart", read the manual to learn how to set up a "group". Assign the scammer's phone number to that group. Also assign a "silent ring" to that group. You will not hear your phone ring if that number calls you again.
3a. Alternately, assign a "silent ringtone" as the DEFAULT ringtone. Then, assign your favorite ringtones to friends, family, contacts, businesses, etc. That way, you will not hear your phone ring, even if the scammer changes numbers! (Disadvantage: if you forget to whitelist somebody, you won't hear their calls, either)
4. For cell phones or landlines: Contact your phone service provider. They may have a facility or method to allow you to block numbers.
5. If you buy things online, you might want to google "call blocker" to see what devices or apps Amazon or other sites have to offer for landlines or smartphones.
6. DO NOT call unknown numbers back without checking who called (800notes is your friend)! All that does is verify your number is "live", and it will be shared among many spammers. There is an even more dangerous reason ... read this:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/one-ring-cel ... ing-your-wallet
6a. Also, be aware that calling a spammer back (or pressing a key to "get on the do not call list") merely verifies that your phone is "live". You will get even more spam calls!
6b. There is also a possibility that the CallerID you see is NOT that of the real caller! The bad guys can spoof or fake what you see on your caller ID, and they can use "real" phone numbers to make you believe the call was from a legitimate company.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id
So, the call from "your bank" or "your card issuer" or even your own area code might NOT be from those people! If the call is related to your finances, identification, health, computer or other critical information, consider calling the real company back, using a phone number on a statement (or the back of the card).
7. Consider picking up the phone, then immediately hanging up. A "real" caller will usually call you again, within seconds. A robocaller will not.
If you want to report potential fraudulent or scam calls, here is a link to a frequently updated site that displays links to (mostly government) sites in Canada and the USA were you can report those scams, or learn more about them.
http://phonehelp.2truth.com/complaint_sites.html
Information about Government and Telco actions:
The FTC and top communications companies met, to determine what they can do to stop robocalls and other illegal calls. Here is a link to a frequently updated page, showing the history and progress of their initiatives, as well as recent Congressional bills and industry implementations.
http://www.phonehelp.2truth.com/initiatives.html
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Please reply to this post, on 800notes.com, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself. Alternately, join the 99% nonreturn group, and continue to enjoy lots of spam.
actualy PPA IS contracted by ATT to do 3rd party collections. Either you are not telling the truth or you got mis information from some one at ATT. Either you made changes to your acount and the old one went into collections because they cant merge acounts or its a billing mistake by ATT. Try calling back speak in a civil manner and ask them to do a conference call with you and ATT. Not everything is a scam and most of these post are from DEBTORS who dont want to pay the money they owe!!
Or maybe AT&T [removed:lang] them over for years & they finally switched to a different carrier (thank GOD verizon started carrying the iphone) and LEFT...canceled all 4 numbers & internet. Don't owe a freaking dime, on purposely didn't renew any contracts knowing verizon was coming out with the iphone if I just had some patience & AT&T continued to bill for a month that a person was with verizon? I pay my bills when I owe them & when I don't people like you can [removed:lang]. Keep calling Edward, it won't get you anywhere!! I refuse to give AT&T another dime.
Nice tirade, but garbage. This company has been calling me to collect a debt I offered to pay but was refused by the principle party (a medical concern that was informed in advance I had nothing but Medicare to cover any and all bills). Instead of taking the small payments I offered, they immediately turned it over to collections despite my contacting them and now expect me to pay for their bad behavior with collection fees. As soon as hell freezes over. It's standard procedure for that company and the office manager actually apologized and said he thought it was foolish. Now some semi-literate, bottom-of-the-barrel, borderline sociopath thug thinks he's going to do better. I simply answer ONLY calls from people I know or who I can verify as legitimate - I never even hear the phone ring. I am collection-proof but enjoy making collection agencies spend time and money for nothing. I'd bet they would stop quick if they knew that there was not a single penny they could get from me as I am a homeless disabled vet and on exist on SS disability, but it's more fun this way. I suggest others do the same and make them squeal for every penny. Imagine how close to the bottom of the gene pool you have to be to work in a collection agency!
I don't know what or why this person/company is calling with so much frequency. The calls are coming to the cell phone, office phone and home phone. Please make it stop