topic Re: ""Private Caller"" in Community Chat

Private Caller

Krimpette — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:34:58 GMT

Just about every day, I get a call from "Private Caller". They are somehow able to block any other information from appearing, so I can't report their number. Anyone else get these call? I never answer them, so you'd think they'd give up! I wonder how they can manage to hide all that information? I do know that if they're unwilling to identify themselves, I'm certainly not interested in talking to them!!!!! But I'd like the calls to stop.

Re: ""Private Caller""

goodstuff — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:36:58 GMT

Why don't you call customer service at your phone service provider and ask them how this can happen and what you might be able to do to block such calls?

Re: ""Private Caller""

circles — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:42:25 GMT

I get them, too...along with all the other annoying Toll Free 800 calls that come in...answering and telling them to take your number off their list is a waste of time...they have hundreds and hundreds of 800 numbers...

Re: ""Private Caller""

SuiGeneris — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:42:30 GMT

It's fairly easy to hide Caller ID information when you are dialing a number. I couldn't remember the prefix used, so I looked it up on WikiHow:

How to Make Your [Land Line or] Mobile Phone Number Appear As a Private Number

Use a caller ID blocking prefix. In many countries, you can enter a code before you dial a number and your phone number will be blocked from appearing on the recipient's caller ID. The code varies depending on your country and your service provider, and it is not possible to block in all countries. Enter the prefix, followed immediately by the number you are dialing. For example, if you are in the US and want to call (555)123-4567, you would enter *675551234567

North America -- *67

ETA: Erased the other countries because of extraneous data information.

Link: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Mobile-Phone-Number-Appear-As-a-Private-Number

Re: ""Private Caller""

Pook — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:46:18 GMT

Several people I know do this but usually leave a message. I won't answer if I don't know who it is.

Re: ""Private Caller""

TaxyLady — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:47:51 GMT

I get these private caller ID too. I let it go to voicemail. One day however the private caller called back immediately and I answered it. It was one of my husband's doctors.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Krimpette — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:51:51 GMT

I guess they must feel it's worth their while to not get reported. Sure hope all the robo-callers don't start doing that!!! As I said, I just don't answer. Actually, these days I only answer the phone from numbers that I recognize. Such a nuisance!!!! (Thanks for the info, SG, I had forgotten about that code.)

Re: ""Private Caller""

moonstone dunes — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:52:08 GMT

These calls are a daily nuisance. Some are ""Private Caller"" or ""Unavailable"" but most are from odd states with 855 numbers. Or just the number alone.

The ones that baffle me are the 7-digit numbers like 000-1919

If you want to temporarily block your cell info there is a way to do it right on the phone. You can change back if you want.

Re: ""Private Caller""

moonstone dunes — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:53:34 GMT

On 4/7/2015 TaxyLady said:
I get these private caller ID too. I let it go to voicemail. One day however the private caller called back immediately and I answered it. It was one of my husband's doctors.

My Primary Care doctor uses ""Private Caller"" when they call. IDK its strange

Re: ""Private Caller""

KYToby — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:55:58 GMT

This is not happening because people are entering a code into the phone before each call. This happens primarily thanks to the advent of VOIP which most companies now use for phone service. Essentially, a company's phone switch's software can be set up to broadcast customized caller ID information.

Re: ""Private Caller""

SuiGeneris — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:03:00 GMT

On 4/7/2015 moonstone dunes said:
These calls are a daily nuisance. Some are "Private Caller" or "Unavailable" but most are from odd states with 855 numbers. Or just the number alone.

The ones that baffle me are the 7-digit numbers like 000-1919

If you want to temporarily block your cell info there is a way to do it right on the phone. You can change back if you want.

Yes, there is. I didn't include that information. Here it is:

Hide your number through your device's settings. Many phones allow you to block your Caller ID information by changing the phone's settings. If your phone does not have the option to do this, then it is not allowed by your carrier, and you will have to try one of the previous steps.

· iPhone - Open the Settings app, tap Phone, tap Show My Caller ID, and then toggle the slider to ON.

· Android 4.0 and earlier - Open the Settings app, tap Call, tap "Additional settings", tap Caller ID, and then tap "Hide number".

· Android 4.1 and later - Open the Phone app, tap the Menu button, tap "Call settings", tap Caller ID, tap "Hide number"

· Windows Phone 8 - Open the Phone app, tap the More button (...), tap "settings", tap the box under "Show my caller ID to", tap "no one" or "my contacts"

· BlackBerry - Press the Menu key, click Options, click General Options, find the Restrict My Identity field, set it to Always.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:05:54 GMT

We used to have a private, unlisted telephone number. Therefore when we called someone from our landline, it came across their caller id as private caller.

However, we get a lot of sales and solicitation calls from private callers. I just ignore them. At one point we had something on our phone so private numbers couldn't ring through. They got a message stating we didn't accept calls from private numbers.

Re: ""Private Caller""

hckynut — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:04:44 GMT

Just another form of ""electronic hacking"". Look for it to get worse before it gets better. Who knows? Maybe it's the NSA checking you out!

Re: ""Private Caller""

Toppers — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:12:37 GMT

Yes, I get these types of calls, too. I just ignore them. If we get any medical calls, they actually show up as coming from our hospital system/network, so we don't have to wonder about that.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Elstongunn — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:18:44 GMT

On 4/7/2015 moonstone dunes said:
On 4/7/2015 TaxyLady said:
I get these private caller ID too. I let it go to voicemail. One day however the private caller called back immediately and I answered it. It was one of my husband's doctors.

My Primary Care doctor uses "Private Caller" when they call. IDK its strange

Yes, apparently some medical offices and hospitals use "Private Caller." I had no idea until I Googled "Private Caller."

I recommend that people Google and read up on the Private Caller IDs. Some are scams, but sometimes they aren't. I wouldn't just dismiss them out of hand.

Re: ""Private Caller""

corita — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 18:38:24 GMT

On 4/7/2015 Pook said:
Several people I know do this but usually leave a message. I won't answer if I don't know who it is.

I won't answer any call if I don't recognize the number. I probably get five or six a day. I have a phone that announces "who" is calling, so I don't pick up if I don't know the number or person. They never do leave a message....

Re: ""Private Caller""

foundinlv — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:26:18 GMT

We have a feature that tells the caller that we do not accept blocked calls and to unblock and call again. I don't block my caller i.d. so I do think it's a bit off-putting when others do it.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Mj12 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:32:24 GMT

On 4/7/2015 hckynut said: Just another form of ""electronic hacking"". Look for it to get worse before it gets better. Who knows? Maybe it's the NSA checking you out!

Definitely. NSA.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Bjjo — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:35:09 GMT

Yep, I use to answer these private calls a few years ago, but I did quit after I caught on. No one that I know uses that to call me or my husband. I only answer the numbers that I know are family and friends.

Re: ""Private Caller""

Mominohio — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:47:59 GMT

When I call people from my home phone, it comes up like this on their ID. We never asked for a block of any kind, and we actually are in the phone book, so I have no idea why it happens, but I've never done anything to change it either.

I know that one of the lines from my Vet's office comes up like that, when she calls from the line in her office. I also have answered calls that come up like that and they are solicitors.

I don't think you can judge, just by that particular label, exactly one type of caller or solicitor. Could be a number of things. Any call like that, or a number I don't recognize, I usually let go to the answering machine, then pick up if it is someone I want to talk to.