Any actual way to reduce spam calls?

[lil_Blue_Ford]

One of my ex's... pretty devout christian... would always answer spam calls with

"Joe's abortion shack, you r*pe em we scrape em!"


Even I would have a hard time with that one

That’s… uh… well, probably fairly effective at getting them to hang up anyway… but yikes, a tad brutal…

 

[Blmpkn]

That’s… uh… well, probably fairly effective at getting them to hang up anyway… but yikes, a tad brutal…

Yeah.. she was nutso lol.

 

[scotts90ranger]

They get mad enough just telling them to remove you, I'm not quick enough to do that...

The one time I was goofy on the phone since it was a hidden number turns out it was Hospice telling me my dad passed away so I have a hard time being a jerk right off the bat, not that anyone I know is battling anything right now but still...

Annoyingly two calls this morning, first just hung up, second was an indian dude saying something about his records showing my number showed interest in life insurance, I told him I didn't

 

[scotts90ranger]

Still at most 2 calls a day, sometimes a couple days between calls, still usually Indian dudes named Mike or Mark or something... still go with the "I'm extremely uninterested with whatever you are trying to sell, please remove me from your list", most are from Senior Benefits next is American Solar so DO NOT give either any $$

 

[Jazzer]

Never answer. If it’s important they’ll leave a voicemail.

I was getting 10-15 calls a day a couple of months ago, since then their computers figured out that they got no answers from my number, and I’m only getting 1-2 a week now.

 

[pjtoledo]

One of my ex's... pretty devout christian... would always answer spam calls with

"Joe's abortion shack, you r*pe em we scrape em!"


Even I would have a hard time with that one

that's old, first heard it in 1972

 

[scotts90ranger]

I don't want to not answer, I want no calls, I can deal with one every 2-3 days, when I get a whole bunch my ADD kicks in and I completely lose focus, it was driving me nuts... now that it's all people it's easier to deal with, learning all the robots was a pain and took longer to tell them to screw off...

 

[DILLARD000]

Anyone still using an old fashioned telco landline and getting constant scam calls, is basically 10-20yrs overdue for switch to cell service & dumping that expensive telco landline. Monthly cell voice+text+data5gb service can be had for as low as $15/mth, a deceit android unlocked smartphon can be had for $200-300, an android app called "Safest Call Blocker" is free. Refusing to stop using a landline just is refusing to stop being a victim of scammers, old telco's, old age\habits. Have a homebound widower FatherInLaw in that camp; insists on keeping his 60yo landline (has a cellphon but rarely uses it); constantly answering & talking to scammers, despite warnings not to from both my wife+myself and other family members. He says it's just entertainment for him, to see if he can scam the scammers; afraid he's going to give them info that could do some real damage.

 

[BroncLander]

I just block them. Then my phone doesn't ring if they try to call. It's always similar scams.

 

[Roert42]

Not answering will make them stop calling. Nothing else.

 

[Josh B]

I like my landline just fine. I answer all calls with Hello, then wait a second and if they're not talking continue with, leave a message and I'llllll call ya back, then I hang up.
I cannot recall the last trash call I've got

 

[gaz]

@scotts90ranger ,
40-50 years ago, in a household of 4 or more the phone may not ring for days. When it did, someone would answer it do to perseived importance.

Today, if my home phone rings and I am near enough, in time I screen it unless I recognize the number. I do not answer my cell if I do not recognize the number. Every once in a blue moon I will put this system to the test...it will be a solicitor 100% of the time.

In summary, I can't blame these people/companies for trying to make a buck, I can blame myself for how I handle it. I have only received (answered) one (1) solicitor/spam phone call in the past 5 years or so. It was about 2 weeks ago when I decided to put my system to the test by answering an unknown number.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I might be winning for now, I think I got 3 calls this week, two indian guys I got cranky with just for fun and one from my homeowners insurance company asking permission to get updated pictures of the structures...

I get the point of screening, my point is I shouldn't HAVE TO, I get that they want to make a buck but the collective money they are wasting of the people they are calling has got to be astronomical... our useless government is probably supporting that system somehow so they can get a new vegan ivory back scratcher (can't use regular ivory since that's racist)

 

[RonD]

There are basically 4 categories of telephone numbers
Out of service
Rings no answer
Rings and answers, artificial voice recording
Rings and answers, human voice recording
Rings and answers, human real time voice

Computer's dial the numbers, all numbers, its not "random", Cell or Landline doesn't matter
That number is listed as one of the above, with time of day
Lists are sold or traded between services that want access to them

Numbers are called repeatedly over time to see if status changes, i.e. back in service, time of day answers, if real or artificial answering

Its all just data to sell or trade

Certain area codes may be targeted over a few weeks then move on to another area code

Real time human answering numbers are worth the most, even if hostile.
So if you answer a call from a marketing company you will get other calls from that marketing company and others when they sell your number to them, you are the golden goose, lol, to them
And yes they change caller IDs/numbers to avoid being blocked

Seniors are often targeted in this manner, and many do still use Landlines, so yes these numbers can have more spam calls hoping for seniors to answer
Seniors tend to be more polite and because they have lived through so many changes in technology and feel they are out of step with current "things", so if some one calls claiming to be from the government, or credit card, or bank they may take them at their word and give out information they shouldn't

If you want to stop spam calls don't have a phone, literally the only way
Less spam calls, never answer if you don't know the number calling
Spam blockers use caller IDs from known exchanges for spam calls, they use data to connect to APP servers to check the caller ID before its allowed to ring thru to your phone

 

[scotts90ranger]

This whole thing is BS, the whole list of CEO's of the companies behind this garbage need to be drug behind a septic truck that has an open valve while going down the road with a bunch of tailgating cattle trucks to run over the straglers...