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Old 06-04-2015, 08:44 AM   #21
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My cabin v-mail box is filled every time I go up there with the same message from the IRS. You would think by now they would have had the black helicopters come to arrest me...
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Old 06-04-2015, 08:52 AM   #22
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As universally hated as these calls are, you'd think some politician would run on a platform to eliminate this. Heck, I'd contribute to their campaign fund.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:13 AM   #23
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Got a call just yesterday which, thanks to his forum (I think) gave me a heads up.

"We've detected something wrong with your computer...."
I played along for a few minutes then told him that I had a Chromebook and didn't have a MS logo button...
He hung up within a half second!
There are some hilarious youtube videos with folks stringing these so called MS repair techs along.

But I prefer to just not waste my time talking to them.
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Old 06-04-2015, 03:23 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by BTravlin View Post
Why does everyone invest time in trying to investigate an unsolicited phone call? As someone else said, if it's important they'll leave a message. I have more important things to do, like go and play on someone's lawn.
Agreed - just ignore them and see if they leave a meaningful message.

The only reason I'll check 800notes, is to be absolutely sure before I block them (my blocking rule is first, then simul-ring to NOMOROBO). Unfortunately, some legitimate people call and do not leave messages. Even though I tell everyone, if it was important enough to ring my phone, it should be important enough to leave a message.



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Originally Posted by Nunthewiser View Post
We had a threatening call from someone identifying themselves as with the IRS. After a few seconds of terror ....
Really? Isn't it obvious these are scams? The first contact from the IRS is a threatening phone call? No way!

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Originally Posted by H2ODude View Post
As universally hated as these calls are, you'd think some politician would run on a platform to eliminate this. Heck, I'd contribute to their campaign fund.
They did, the "Do Not Call" list! Three problems with that:

1) The scammers do not care about breaking the law,

2) The law is toothless - even when they track someone down (after tens of thousands of complaints), they get a small fine, and that is reduced for 'inability to pay' (the scammers have their accounts arranged such that the business has little/no assets). But the FTC makes a big deal about it, like they actually did something.

3) The politicians are exempt from this law (surprise!).

If everyone would just ignore them, they would go away (the scammers that is, not the politicians ).

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Old 06-04-2015, 04:47 PM   #25
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I work for the post office. When I get a call from my boss my caller ID actually does say "US GOV".

That said, be careful.
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Old 06-04-2015, 04:58 PM   #26
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There are some hilarious youtube videos with folks stringing these so called MS repair techs along.
Somehow it never occurred to me to search for them. I'm listening to one now that is a stitch. I posted the link to the video here.
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Old 06-04-2015, 05:25 PM   #27
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Somehow it never occurred to me to search for them. I'm listening to one now that is a stitch. I posted the link to the video here.

Nice! Great runaround lol
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Old 06-04-2015, 05:46 PM   #28
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That's an obvious scam. I never answer a call when I don't know the number. If it's important they will leave me a message. Or not - which is many times the case with scam and such.
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Old 06-04-2015, 06:31 PM   #29
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Somehow it never occurred to me to search for them. I'm listening to one now that is a stitch. I posted the link to the video here.
Now that was funny!! Dablu Dablu Dablu
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Old 06-04-2015, 09:52 PM   #30
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We just hang up on them. I figure that if you toy with them too much, they are probably in a position to pass your phone number along such that the volume of crank calls goes exponential.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:15 PM   #31
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Originally Posted by ziggy29 View Post
I work for the post office. When I get a call from my boss my caller ID actually does say "US GOV".

That said, be careful.
In that case, I would definitely not answer the phone. If he later corners you,
tell him you thought it was a scam caller.
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Old 06-05-2015, 06:37 AM   #32
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We have always relied on the electronic butler (answering machine) and won't pick up any call where we don't recognize the caller.

The latest scam is very clever. It sounds "real," a young man with a local (mid-Atlantic) accent. The caller never identifies himself, but asks for Mr. A. by his first name. Moreover, the caller sounds anxious, as in "Aloysius? Aloysius! Please pick up. Helloo? Aloysius?"

One of these days I plan to pick-up and say, "This is Aloysius. Whattaya want?"

Amethyst
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Old 06-05-2015, 07:24 AM   #33
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Originally Posted by LinCella View Post
I never answer a call when I don't know the number. If it's important they will leave me a message. Or not - which is many times the case with scam and such.
I avoid answering unknown calls too.

When the phone rings I do think for moment trying to recall if I'm expecting a call from a doctor's office or some other business I may have left a message with. They almost never have caller ID enabled and often don't leave a message.

It took me years to unlearn hopping up to answer the phone when it rings, but now I'm good at ignoring it :-)
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Old 06-05-2015, 10:42 AM   #34
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I solved the robocalls problem 100% with this product

Amazon.com: SENTRY 2 (New), Fully automatic blocking, 100% blocking of all spam calls new or repeated.: Electronics

The first time a call from an unknown caller ID is received, the caller has to press "O" when prompted to do so by a message. From then on, that person's calls will go through.

There are a few problems with it, but it has blocked all robocalls--the phone doesn't ring.
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Old 06-05-2015, 10:55 AM   #35
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I solved the robocalls problem 100% with this product

Amazon.com: SENTRY 2 (New), Fully automatic blocking, 100% blocking of all spam calls new or repeated.: Electronics

The first time a call from an unknown caller ID is received, the caller has to press "O" when prompted to do so by a message. From then on, that person's calls will go through.

There are a few problems with it, but it has blocked all robocalls--the phone doesn't ring.
The Sentry 2 is the real deal.

The call blocker is whitelist based, so even handles the telemarketers that routinely spoof by changing their numbers. I have mine set up with a splitter (to have the caller id pass through), but with the splitter, I do get 1 ring before calls get screened.
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Old 06-05-2015, 11:51 AM   #36
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Originally Posted by TromboneAl View Post
I solved the robocalls problem 100% with this product

Amazon.com: SENTRY 2 (New), Fully automatic blocking, 100% blocking of all spam calls new or repeated.: Electronics

The first time a call from an unknown caller ID is received, the caller has to press "O" when prompted to do so by a message. From then on, that person's calls will go through.

There are a few problems with it, but it has blocked all robocalls--the phone doesn't ring.
Does this device work will cell phones or only land lines?
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Old 06-05-2015, 01:05 PM   #37
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Does this device work will cell phones or only land lines?
Land lines only.
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Old 06-05-2015, 07:43 PM   #38
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We dropped the land line 2 years ago because of scam and robo calls... now, these calls are beginning to trickle over to the cell phone...
This is why I have always kept a minimal land line with a number I can give out instead of giving out my mobile number. As others have said, I don't answer it except for a small set of known caller ID numbers.

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One thing that helped for me , when I dropped the landline I "parked" the number with a parking service. The number now is just a voicemail, it sends me an email if a message is left. I decided to keep the old landline number because it was tied to so many accounts and everything now that requires a phone for registration get this number.
I like this idea too, and will have to look into it.
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Scam Call? Caller ID said "US GOVT"
Old 06-05-2015, 07:55 PM   #39
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Scam Call? Caller ID said "US GOVT"

I received a call today from a friend who works at the VA Medical Center and it said US GOV.
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Old 06-06-2015, 09:43 AM   #40
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I don't have a caller-ID box. Would I need to buy one of those, too? And would my phone bill increase if I added caller-ID service? I see I would need to buy a splitter if I don't have one already (I'd have to check to see if I have one of them already). I am trying to get a handle on what other little surprises await me should I buy the Sentry 2 call-clocker.


Nevertheless, I am so sick of getting calls from Carmen or Bridget from Cardholder Services 2 or 3 times a week along with all the other garbage calls.
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