Calling #: 716 332-3768; Caller ID: "VOIP STREET INC"; Call @ 6:22 pm ET Wed, 30Mar'16.
This is a "VOIP" or "Voice over IP" caller.
According to <Wikipedia.org>: "Voice over IP (VoIP) is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms commonly associated with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service. .... Wikipedia also states: "VoIP systems employ session control and signaling protocols to control the signaling, set-up, and tear-down of calls".
In other, relatively different words, this particular "VoIP" -- which left no message -- was using an automated "rolling number" call system. *Your* responding to such a call: (1) establishes that your ph. # is an active one; and (2) *your* response legally constitutes a solicitation for that party to call you back, &/or to provide your ph. # to other "nuisance" callers.
With *our* Caller ID blocked, I called back, and a seemingly young adult male turned the call over to a seemingly older, "savvier", adult male, who started to say " I'm glad you called back ... I'm calling on behalf of the New York State Police Association ....", or some-such.
However, even if this *isn't* a scammer, anyone plagued by solicitations might consider Consumer Reports' piece, "Don't donate blindly to police and fire groups ...." : <ConsumerReports.org/cro/news/2014/11/don-t-donate-blindly-to-police-and-fire-groups/index.htm>. The article mentions CharityWatch <CharityWatch.org; CharityNavigator <CharityNavigator.org>; GuideStar <GuideStar.org> [who claim: "GuideStar is the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations."]; and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Apparently within that latter alliance, for example, is < BBB.org/upstate-new-york/programs-services/bbb-foundation/ >, who seem to give a kind of "Charity Primer".
~ Yours in healthy skepticism, Skeptical in Schenectady.
Calling #: 716 332-3768; Caller ID: "VOIP STREET INC"; Call @ 6:22 pm ET Wed, 30Mar'16.
This is a "VOIP" or "Voice over IP" caller.
According to <Wikipedia.org>: "Voice over IP (VoIP) is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms commonly associated with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service. .... Wikipedia also states: "VoIP systems employ session control and signaling protocols to control the signaling, set-up, and tear-down of calls".
In other, relatively different words, this particular "VoIP" -- which left no message -- was using an automated "rolling number" call system. *Your* responding to such a call: (1) establishes that your ph. # is an active one; and (2) *your* response legally constitutes a solicitation for that party to call you back, &/or to provide your ph. # to other "nuisance" callers.
With *our* Caller ID blocked, I called back, and a seemingly young adult male turned the call over to a seemingly older, "savvier", adult male, who started to say " I'm glad you called back ... I'm calling on behalf of the New York State Police Association ....", or some-such.
However, even if this *isn't* a scammer, anyone plagued by solicitations might consider Consumer Reports' piece, "Don't donate blindly to police and fire groups ...." : <ConsumerReports.org/cro/news/2014/11/don-t-donate-blindly-to-police-and-fire-groups/index.htm>. The article mentions CharityWatch <CharityWatch.org; CharityNavigator <CharityNavigator.org>; GuideStar <GuideStar.org> [who claim: "GuideStar is the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations."]; and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Apparently within that latter alliance, for example, is < BBB.org/upstate-new-york/programs-services/bbb-foundation/ >, who seem to give a kind of "Charity Primer".
~ Yours in healthy skepticism, Skeptical in Schenectady.
The phone rang once displaying the name VoIP Street Inc. I do believe I have heard of this one and have no idea what this is all about. But thankfully it was automatically blocked.