topic Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers in Community Chat

How do I stop those Telemarketers

kivah — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:38:54 GMT

For the last several months, I've been getting at least 3 to 7 SCAM calls a day. I googled the number that calls the most - and it was a company calling seniors about knee braces - thru Medicare. I get many other calls with different phone numbers. All show the same area code as mine.

I have a landline phone and don't think I'm able to block any phone numbers.

Any suggestions???

The other morning, the phone rang after 6AM and 2 days later, 8AM --- I was sleeping.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

shoekitty — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:43:38 GMT

Law went into effect regarding ROBO calls. I dont know what good it will do. Because you have to catch the robo calls. How do you do that? Robo calls never call from a correct number.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

deeva — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:45:31 GMT

We have a landline and are able to block calls. Our phone doesn't ring if the number is in our blocked calls list.

Maybe it would be worth it for you to upgrade your phone to a model that can block calls.

Other than that, if you have caller i.d, don't answer unrecognized numbers. If it's important, they will leave a message.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

shoekitty — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:48:12 GMT

@deeva wrote:
We have a landline and are able to block calls. Our phone doesn't ring if the number is in our blocked calls list.
Maybe it would be worth it for you to upgrade your phone to a model that can block calls.

Other than that, if you have caller i.d, don't answer unrecognized numbers. If it's important, they will leave a message.

Shoekitty

i have land line with call block. Telemarketers have several numbers they all from. They change their numbers daily. They are aware of call block. I get fewer calls, but most change their number after a few daysand start in again

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

Jag03 — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:49:52 GMT

I complained to my phone company about those annoying calls a few years ago. I was told that many of these calls from foreign countries. Some actually mask their number of origin by temporarily pirating unsuspecting citizens' numbers and using them to appear on your caller ID as the incoming call.

The actual owner of that phone number would have no awareness that their number is being used.

My phone company claimed that they cannot control this unwanted call traffic.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

phoenixbrd — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 00:54:56 GMT

@kivah There have been several discussions regarding the scam calls. The best I can do is to have no emotional investment or time dedicated to these calls. I keep the landline on silent so I don't hear the call. You can choose to keep your answer machine on or not, while silent ring is on. For those that know me, they have my cell number and I have their number in my contacts. If someone calls my cell and the number isn't in my contacts, it is automatically blocked. I don't give these calls any thought except to put the numbers that called my landline on block at the end of the day, if I want.

Most critical, don't answer or return any of these calls or they will just increase. All of us are dealing with this and I believe the best way is to find your way to ignore and not respond. I haven't done the research, but I understand there is current legislation addressing this issue.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:07:38 GMT

I'm signed up with Nomorobo. I don't answer my phone unless I recognize the caller. I still get about 4 crazy calls a day.It doesn't help to block them because they call from different numbers all the time!!

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

Laura14 — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:09:17 GMT

If you have caller Id on the phone and can catch any unknown number when it rings, lift the receiver and hang up on it. Works wonders on my landline and cell.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

JesssMe — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:11:31 GMT

If your phone doesn't have the ability to block calls, go get a new phone that will. Next, stop answering the phone. If the call is someone you know, or important, they will leave a message. With the political arena heating up, calls will increase I fear. Take steps to protect yourself. When you get a call, and no message is left, block the number, and delete it. This method has worked well for me, so far anyway.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

this is my nic — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:15:35 GMT

Our landline phone rings all day long. I have filled the blocked caller list, I cannot add another number. I've signed up on Do Not Call, but that was just done so it takes several weeks to take effect. To keep the phone from constantly ringing I hit the "talk" button and leave the line open. Our children have been told to call our cell phones if they need us. So, annoying!

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

fthunt — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:16:55 GMT

Agree - lift up the phone and then push hang-up button. Works for me.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

Kachina624 — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:23:25 GMT

Year's ago, my phone company, CenturyLink, pit a recording on my line. Phone rings but I don't hear it. Recording says, "This number doesn't accept sales calls. If this is a sales call, hang up and add this number to your do not call list. If this is not a sales call, press 1" Then my phone rings. This plus my not answering any unfamiliar calls has all but eliminated trash calls. I may get one every 2 weeks or so. Since they've been warned, I have carte Blanche to abuse any and all solicitors who might get through.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

KingstonsMom — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:31:05 GMT

@kivah

Cut to the chase and get a call blocker. Ours is made by Digitone and was the highest rated call blocker by Consumer Reports after their testing.

We love it!

It automatically blocks 'unknown', 'anonymous', calls by area code and you can block over 2,000 individual calls with the press of a button.

And it's not expensive, you may want to check it out.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

Mz iMac — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:37:30 GMT

@kivah wrote:
For the last several months, I've been getting at least 3 to 7 SCAM calls a day.
I have a landline phone and don't think I'm able to block any phone numbers.
Any suggestions???
The other morning, the phone rang after 6AM and 2 days later, 8AM --- I was sleeping.

@kivah

**Turn your ringer off.** The only thing you have to listen to are your messages.

Read your phone user manual to find out if it blocks calls. No manual? Use your favorite search engine to look it up. You will need your phone's serial/model#.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

KingstonsMom — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:40:00 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
If you have caller Id on the phone and can catch any unknown number when it rings, lift the receiver and hang up on it. Works wonders on my landline and cell.

@Laura14

Many experts advise against this, it confirms to the evil one that your number is an active number to use and sell to others.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

shopperqvc — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:43:08 GMT

If it is a robo call, sign up for nomorobo dot com The phone will ring 1 ring and quit. It only works on the recorded calls that they know about, but it does work. It's free for a landline through Comcast and AT&T, I'm not sure about other carriers.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

Laura14 — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:49:06 GMT

@KingstonsMom Experts are wrong. It’s worked for me with both cell and land lines for years. Don’t answer. Just disconnect the call. They lose my number real quick.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

lovescats — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:49:17 GMT

If I'm near the phone I hit the speaker button then disconnect without picking up the receiver.

otherwise I don't pick up the phone unless I see who it is or hear their voice.

For me I don't think it is worth the time to block calls

And I keep the ringer on low or turn it off

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

KingstonsMom — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:58:41 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@KingstonsMomExperts are wrong. It’s worked for me with both cell and land lines for years. Don’t answer. Just disconnect the call. They lose my number real quick.

Not being argumentative, but if you pick up the receiver you are in effect 'answering' the call, whether you say anything or not, telling them that a person does live at this number, otherwise the receiver wouldn't have been picked up.

But hey, you say it works for you so carry on, LOL!

But that method sure didn't work for me.

Re: How do I stop those Telemarketers

mustang66lady — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 02:13:29 GMT

We have a landline and we both have cellphones. For me, my cell phone is for my use, not anyone else's. It stays in my handbag and is only used in emergency by me. My family knows to call it if I do not answer the landline at the house if they need me. I rarely get calls from any other source.

DH "bundled" our landline with cable and internet thru Spectrum. I get calls all day from everyone on the planet it seems. I have tried various methods already mentioned but the one thing that seems to dramatically reduce those calls was to pick up and immediately hang up. Have no background noise. Don't say a word. I think when I allowed my answering machine to pick up, their system marked it as "someone" is home. Not saying a word or allowing background noise to be picked up, for my thought process, is that their system can't record any type of respone-no human voice or recorded voice. I still get calls but I would say those calls are reduced 90%.

Years ago when I had AT&T, they offered a service called Privacy Manager for 10.00 a month. I had it put on my phone and my mother's. Best money I ever spent. NOTHING got thru Privacy Manager. I wasn't happy at first having to shell out for this service but it more than paid for itself. If you have AT&T, you might want to see if it is still offered. If Spectrum offered, it would be on our landlines now.