topic Re: Prank Calls in Community Chat

Prank Calls

tishkins — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:14:37 GMT

The other day I received a call and the ID said Internal Revenue Service. Now I know they never call. Just out of curiosity, I picked up. It was a recording telling me to call a certain number and give then give the person the claim number quoted by the recording. Has anyone received crazy calls

Re: Prank Calls

hckynut — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:32:13 GMT

Yes, I receive lots of crazy calls and many times they are my best humor for the day. I rather enjoy playing games with those that make calls for various reasons that ur an important to me and more than likely not that important to them. I have had decades of practice and carrying on a conversation with people that I know just irritates the heck out of them and they don't know any way to get around it other than walking out or in the case of a telephone, hanging up.

Re: Prank Calls

ROMARY — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:08:02 GMT

Yes, we could play innocent/naïve, go along with it, take up tons of their time............ Might be fun, for a change!

Re: Prank Calls

Lucky Charm — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:25:38 GMT

Yes, I received a call from Publisher's Clearing House in November. They gave me a claim number and told me to call a number to claim my prize, verify my address, etc.

Hung up-googled the number they gave me. It was for Publisher's Clearing House. YIPPEE!!!

Called the number, gave my claim number and they 'gave me instructions' on how to prepare (PAY!) for the 'Fed Ex driver' to make the delivery of my big check.

What no van? No bouquet of roses?

I told them I was recording the call and I was disconnected immediately.

Re: Prank Calls

DREAMON — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:24:31 GMT

Yes ...I get calls from my own home number and that scam had me puzzled till I googled it and found it was common.

Re: Prank Calls

scotttie — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:28:16 GMT

On 3/14/2015 ROMARY 1 said:
Yes, we could play innocent/naïve, go along with it, take up tons of their time............ Might be fun, for a change!

I have done that sometimes. It is a cheap entertainment.

"Is this Peggy???" I say

Re: Prank Calls

chickenbutt — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:33:21 GMT

I don't think they are prank calls, so I'd be careful. It seems to me that that sort of thing is a phishing type call, trying to get info to steal your identity or get into your credit card or bank account.

Re: Prank Calls

Toppers — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 23:12:17 GMT

I had one strange phone call that was supposedly coming from a jail, and was some type of collect call from someone named Jed or Jeb.

I couldn't really tell that well. It was left on our answering machine at the time. It was one of those strange phone numbers that was all zeroes, like 000-000-0000. This person called a few times, and then the phone calls stopped altogether.

Supposedly how this scam works, is that it is supposed to be some kind of call forwarding scam where the person on the other end can use your phone account to make phone calls, at no cost to them. So, you shouldn't accept the calls, or even answer them. They may or may not even be an inmate calling you, either.

Re: Prank Calls

kdgn — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 23:30:05 GMT

On 3/14/2015 chickenbutt said:
I don't think they are prank calls, so I'd be careful. It seems to me that that sort of thing is a phishing type call, trying to get info to steal your identity or get into your credit card or bank account.

They aren't what I would call prank calls, they are scamming, fraudulent calls. The IRS one alone has earned these impersonators $15 million from the unsuspecting.

The IRS will NOT call.

Re: Prank Calls

MyBoyRusty — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 23:45:40 GMT

I got a call today about my computer showing errors and of course the man had a accent. I yelled at him and hung up.

Re: Prank Calls

sidsmom — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:48:47 GMT

On 3/14/2015 chickenbutt said:
I don't think they are prank calls, so I'd be careful. It seems to me that that sort of thing is a phishing type call, trying to get info to steal your identity or get into your credit card or bank account.

ITA. I can't help but think just answering gives them the impression of vulnerability for future calls.

Re: Prank Calls

Snowpuppy — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:02:01 GMT

I never answer the phone for someone I don't know. I have cell only and it goes to vm. I always google the # before I would ever call back.

For those who think it's ""entertainment"" what if they were calling you while being parked in front of your house from a cell or other device? Then they know you're home.And your phone is now busy. You'd have to hang up to dial 911 while they break in.

Stupid. Really stupid.

Re: Prank Calls

dex — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:09:26 GMT

Sometimes if I am bored I will answer to play with them.I say I am so glad you called.I am stuck at home with explosive diarrhea and nobody wants to keep me company.They usually hang up and that's okay.

Re: Prank Calls

tishkins — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:12:38 GMT

To Dec Love your answers

Re: Prank Calls

dooBdoo — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:16:06 GMT

On 3/14/2015 sidsmom said:
On 3/14/2015 chickenbutt said:
I don't think they are prank calls, so I'd be careful. It seems to me that that sort of thing is a phishing type call, trying to get info to steal your identity or get into your credit card or bank account.

ITA. I can't help but think just answering gives them the impression of vulnerability for future calls.

sidsmom, Answering does generate more future calls.

It tells the robocallers they hit a "live number," and then oftentimes they share or sell it.

It's best not to answer if you don't recognize the caller ID, or if it's an odd one that doesn't make cold calls (like Microsoft, Apple, IRS, etc.).

Re: Prank Calls

JustJazzmom — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:18:33 GMT

Had a phone call from California with an Indian sounding person (from India) wanting to discuss solar power with me. I hang up on calls like this.

Re: Prank Calls

circles — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:45:39 GMT

I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the number...

Caller I.D....is worth every cent I pay for it....

Re: Prank Calls

handygal2 — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 23:48:57 GMT

I get a lot of scam calls on both my landline and cell phone. I never answer a call if l don't recognize the number. If it's important, the caller will leave a message. The vast majority just hang up when the answering machine kicks in.

Re: Prank Calls

Noob1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 00:01:53 GMT

Some man called my house one time and in a frantic voice, he told me that I had to rush to the hospital because one of my sons was injured at work. Well, thank God my one and only son was here with me eating some banana pudding or else I would have probably gone crazy.

Re: Prank Calls

Kachina624 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 01:33:13 GMT

Those IRS calls aren't pranks, they're scams.