Health Care Hotline Scam

[scrabbler1]

Have any of you been getting those endless annoying scam robocalls from "Ann from Health Care Hotline" lately? About a month ago, I was getting a lot of those calls from various phone numbers all over the country (Ann gets around LOL). But just today and last Friday, I have gotten 12 calls on my land line, all from 8 different numbers starting with 201-205-xxxx which is Jersey City, New Jersey. Most calls have been blocked by nomorobo but a few have gotten through, just like those from a month ago. At least they aren't calling my on my primitive cell phone which lacks call-blocking measures.

 

[kimcdougc]

Yes, I have been getting 10 to 12 of these calls a day on my cell phone. I don't have a land line and this is very annoying. I do block every number that makes these calls but they just roll over to another number. I hate that they now give our cell phone number to everyone it seems. I am on the do not call list. Seems that doesn't work anymore.

Very frustrating.

 

[Lukeee]

spam calls now are more likely to have the first 6 numbers matching to the number they are calling ... I only pick up calls that my phone address book recognizes.

Sometimes when I’m free, I do answer and try to sell the caller some fictitious supplements.

 

[MichaelB]

What makes this a scam instead of just more obnoxious telemarketing and robocalls?

 

[Tadpole]

One thing scamdalous is the deceptive phone number. Everything after, is just part of the whole.

 

[scrabbler1]

Just since my original post, 4 more calls from 3 different numbers. all except one blocked by nomorobo, as the first of 2 calls from one number got through. This is getting annoying even though most get blocked.


I get those spoofed neighbor calls on the cell phone. I have gotten calls from about 40 different numbers with the same area code+exchange in the last 2 years.


From my quick research on this Ann from Health Care Hotline, they are trying to get personal info for unscrupulous purposes.

 

[easysurfer]

spam calls now are more likely to have the first 6 numbers matching to the number they are calling ... I only pick up calls that my phone address book recognizes.

Sometimes when I’m free, I do answer and try to sell the caller some fictitious supplements.

Similar here. I only allow calls from a list which I approve. Seems like many of the spammers use the first 6 numbers trick these days.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

This is why I have been using Google Voice for the last 9 years. I've hardly given out my home or cell number since then, even to people I know and like. I put their number in my Google Contacts and set it to ring through to my home and cell phones...if I like them. Any number not in my Contacts goes straight to voice mail. When I was expecting an important call, like when I was waiting to hear back about a job interview or when my dad was having surgery, I set all calls to ring through for a day here and there, and then I went back to screening any unknown numbers.

If you haven't used it, I get texts and emails with transcriptions of my voicemails, so even if it's an important call I can call back in just a minute or two. I highly recommend using a virtual number like with Google Voice.

 

[Out of Steam]

Could be, but we no longer answer our landline. It's connected only to support the alarm system and 911 calls.

 

[aja8888]

We don't get any calls from Ann. We haven't had a landline for more than 5 years now.

 

[Souschef]

We don't get any calls from Ann. We haven't had a landline for more than 5 years now.

I have not get any calls from Ann, but I have been getting calls from Dave the carpet cleaner lol

 

[scrabbler1]

Ugh, two more calls from a new Jersey City number this morning. Both blocked by nomorobo, thankfully. I was out when the first one came in, the second one didn't interrupt my breakfast thanks to nomorobo.


Will Ann ever leave me alone?

 

[JoeWras]

I'm not sure if it is Ann, but the calls I get start out like: "Hi, there have been recent changes in your health plan. Let's talk about it..."

I hang up on these. I have to say, I do a double take because there ARE recent changes in most plans. It is a HOT topic. And in my case, I am changing health plans right now. I could see how an unscrupulous operator could really scam someone out of information.

 

[COHgirl]

I've received 5 calls this week

 

[bingybear]

I add hiya to my android cell. That has blocked most of the issue.

 

[CaptTom]

I got my first couple of Ann calls yesterday. I guess she's really got a crush on me. I'm going to play hard to get.

I guess they needed a new scam. "Heather" and "Rachel" were probably running out of suckers who hadn't heard of their scheme yet.

There's another interesting trend; the extended auto warranty calls now start with "we've been trying to reach you about your car warranty..." Funny they don't even know I drive a truck, not a car. And I there is no "my warranty" since I don't have one. But apparently this wording keeps more suckers on the line. Clever.

I have to take a lot of "real" calls from unknown numbers, and often they are time-sensitive so I can't just let them all go to voice mail, or block them. So I've gotten to know Heather, Rachel and now Ann pretty well. In a strange way, it's satisfying to be in the know on all the latest trends in scamming. If nothing else I can go on web forums and pontificate about them

 

[scrabbler1]

I got my first couple of Ann calls yesterday. I guess she's really got a crush on me. I'm going to play hard to get.

I guess they needed a new scam. "Heather" and "Rachel" were probably running out of suckers who hadn't heard of their scheme yet.

There's another interesting trend; the extended auto warranty calls now start with "we've been trying to reach you about your car warranty..." Funny they don't even know I drive a truck, not a car. And I there is no "my warranty" since I don't have one. But apparently this wording keeps more suckers on the line. Clever.

I have to take a lot of "real" calls from unknown numbers, and often they are time-sensitive so I can't just let them all go to voice mail, or block them. So I've gotten to know Heather, Rachel and now Ann pretty well. In a strange way, it's satisfying to be in the know on all the latest trends in scamming. If nothing else I can go on web forums and pontificate about them

I get letters about car warranty offers. They don't identify the year, make, or model of my car, just some scare BS about how certain repairs could cost me a fortune and how they can help me avoid that. Other letters I get are from the car dealership I bought my car from (back in 2007) offering to buy back y car or accept it as a trade-in for a new car, claiming that my car is in "hot demand" and how they can give me such a "great deal."