How are you stopping “unknown” robo calls?

[Cobra Jet]

We all get them - how are you stopping the “unknown” robo calling to your cell phone?

Cell: iPhone XR

I don’t want to pay for an app that charges a monthly fee. I know there’s various apps that claim they can block such calls, but when reading the reviews it’s a crapshoot.

The ‘Unknown’ never reveals an actual phone number, so I can’t select “info” and then “block”.

I have my phone service provider’s app that is supposed to “block” these type of calls - but doesn’t.

I have created various “unknown” contacts in my contacts list - putting the “unknown” into every field, as well as trying 000-000-0000 as a possible phone number.

How else can these calls be EFFECTIVELY blocked?

Any other tricks from the IT members on this site?

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[ctandc72]

There isn't really a "Trick". It's way too easy for companies to spoof otherwise legitimate phone numbers. Long ago I stopped answering phone numbers I don't recognize. If it's important - they will leave a voice mail or send me a text message / email etc.

I work with phone systems daily. Not too long ago I setup a new phone. With a phone number that had NEVER been used or published. A week later it got several "your car warranty is expiring" robo calls.

 

[Cobra Jet]

There isn't really a "Trick". It's way too easy for companies to spoof otherwise legitimate phone numbers. Long ago I stopped answering phone numbers I don't recognize. If it's important - they will leave a voice mail or send me a text message / email etc.

It’s not the ones where the phone # is displayed. It those that come through as “Unknown”.

I do as you do when I see an actual phone # and block it after the fact.

But when it comes through as “Unknown” and there’s no way to see an actual # (and even the info field is grayed out where one would normally go to “block”) how can those type of calls be blocked?

 

[CJJon]

I have my phone set to only ring when someone who is in my contacts calls. All the others just go right to VM.

 

[ctandc72]

But when it comes through as “Unknown” and there’s no way to see an actual # (and even the info field is grayed out where one would normally go to “block”) how can those type of calls be blocked?

Depends on the phone carrier - but keep in mind there are legitimate phone numbers out there that have the caller id display function disabled at the carrier level - at the owner's request. Not to mention where you can dial *67 and not even getting into how ridiculous the entire caller id "exchange" is between phone carriers / systems.........the CNAM system is a joke. It took me 6 months to get a third party carrier (not always the same as a service provider) to update a record.........

 

[EmCel]

I have my phone set to only ring when someone who is in my contacts calls. All the others just go right to VM.

I do the same and it saves me a lot of headache. If someone is not on my contacts then I don't really wanna talk to them or they can leave a message/text.
These robo calls are ruthless.

 

[Balr14]

I average 5 or 6 per day. Sometimes I answer them just so I can "press 1 and talk to a representative" about my extended warranty/credit card/social security account/Amazon account/etc. I take great pleasure in actually pissing some of them off. Most just hang up on you as soon as they realize you didn't fall for the scam. Insulting their mother or where they belong in the Indian caste system seems to be an effective hook.

 

[Rapid Red]

I average 5 or 6 per day. Sometimes I answer them just so I can "press 1 and talk to a representative" about my extended warranty/credit card/social security account/Amazon account/etc. I take great pleasure in actually pissing some of them off. Most just hang up on you as soon as they realize you didn't fall for the scam. Insulting their mother or where they belong in the Indian caste system seems to be an effective hook.

LMAO!
I do the same, they hang up on me. I like the free curises, when asked if it will be me and the wife I answer yes. Then they ok 2, I no 6 huh, I say yes have 5 wives. CLICK

The other fun one is the your computer is sending fault messages. Those are really fun to cut to the chase.

Ask them what the error is? They want access to check right, I say you called you tell me the fault error .

You need a free surcity system, will install small yard sign......... No thankI own a tank & bazooka.

 

[lacanteen]

I have my phone set to only ring when someone who is in my contacts calls. All the others just go right to VM.

This

 

[Whitest Russian]

Like a few other people have mentioned, spoofing numbers is a big thing with these. For that reason I don't think actually blocking the numbers is a good idea since there is a (very small) chance that someone in the future will try and contact you from that number for a legitimate reason.

Right now I have a Samsung S10+ and Verizon and I usually get one or two calls a week which come up as "Spam Risk" on the caller ID. That being said I still don't answer calls that I don't recognize or that aren't in my contacts. You can also try putting your number in the National Do Not Call Registry. I've signed up for it and seem to get less spam than the average person.

The call spoofing isn't going to end unless Congress passes a law forcing the carriers to verify the numbers. The technology to do it is there but it takes money/effort to implement and it seems like they won't do it until they're legally required to.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

. A week later it got several "your car warranty is expiring" robo calls.

I get those same goddamn calls

 

[jwt]

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-so-many-spam-robocalls-how-to-stop-them-2021-3

good read

 

[OnThree]

Google screening calls ftw

 

[Balr14]

LMAO!
I do the same, they hang up on me. I like the free curises, when asked if it will be me and the wife I answer yes. Then they ok 2, I no 6 huh, I say yes have 5 wives. CLICK

The other fun one is the your computer is sending fault messages. Those are really fun to cut to the chase.

Ask them what the error is? They want access to check right, I say you called you tell me the fault error .

You need a free surcity system, will install small yard sign......... No thankI own a tank & bazooka.

I had a "Microsoft tech support specialist" explain how my computer was sending all of these errors. He had me looking through system files and logs and showing me all of these messages. Of course, I was incredibly stupid and made him go through it really slow multiple times. Then when it came time to tell me to go to this website to fix my problem I said "Oh, this isn't my computer"! He hung up. It was at least 15 - 20 minutes and he was getting really annoyed.

 

[sox3]

I average 5 or 6 per day. Sometimes I answer them just so I can "press 1 and talk to a representative" about my extended warranty/credit card/social security account/Amazon account/etc. I take great pleasure in actually pissing some of them off. Most just hang up on you as soon as they realize you didn't fall for the scam. Insulting their mother or where they belong in the Indian caste system seems to be an effective hook.

You should listen to the Tom Mabe telemarketer murder prank. Its really good.

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