Community Chat

[luvmyteddy4]

I keep getting phone calls from the area code 406. I think it's Helena, MT. I never answer. I googled the phone number and there is a big scam coming from Montana. A lot of people reporting it. It's all over the internet.

It sounds like a credit card company trying to collect on magazines subscriptions. I don't order any and never have but they do not give up. I guess from the people that do answer is that they say you owe this much and they are pretty rude. Maxim was one magazine they mentioned.

I am still getting phone calls from my own number - it is so weird. I don't answer those either since I know they are from me and I'm home! This no call list thing is for the birds.

[DoneTryin]

It might not even be coming from Montana, but rather someplace else in the world. Those scammers are so good they can make the caller ID anything they want.

If I don't know who's calling, I don't answer. Period. If it's legitimate, they'll leave a message and/or try to reach me some other way.

[spud188]

406 is the area code for the whole state.I agree the do not call registry is a joke.

[luvmyteddy4]

I don't answer either but it is so irritating when they keep calling back every other day and all times of the day and night. I get so many of them and of course they never leave a message. I turned off my phone in the bedroom and I love that the cable company flashes the phone number on my TV when the phone rings. Best thing they ever did.

[NoelSeven]

"This no call list thing is for the birds."

Yes, it is,! And it makes me so angry, something could be done about it but nothing is.

Our local consumer reporter did a TV report on it, said to wait, speak to them when they answer and ask to be taken off their list. I've done that... they call back in a day or two. There's a carpet cleaning group that calls most often, like sure, I'll let people I don't know into my home

[newziesuzie]

We NEVER answer if we don't know the caller ID. But thanks for warning us OP.

[Marp2]

The Do Not Call Registry is joke because only the law abiding abide by the law.

[nun ya]

Yes, the Do not Call is a joke. I've never done business with half the people who call. I love the one where they tell me Windows on my computer is sending rogue messages. I tell them I have a Mac and they hang up

[dooBdoo]

I think there's a misunderstanding about those calls exempt from the Do Not Call Registry. I agree, it's a weak system, but at least it does filter out some calls.

Do Not Call Registry does not cover calls from:
--Organizations you do/did business with (you have to opt out from those groups to stop calls, and I think this should be changed to protect consumers)
--Organizations you've given permission to (people don't realize when they do things like entering contests, registering on websites, etc., they give them permission to call and to share your phone number with other groups)
--Calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations.

It also cannot protect you from telemarketing/scam robocalls because they use computer systems which scroll numerically through random numbers hoping someone will answer. (This is why you NEVER should answer, because it marks your number as a "live" one.) Also, they're usually located outside the USA so they don't fear prosecution for their criminal acts.

People should register their landlane and cell phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry and their state's Do No Call Registry to get protection from reputable businesses. As Marp wisely said, those who are law-abiding will follow the law, so it helps a little.

Thanks for the heads up, luvmyteddy. Always a good reminder to all of us.

[dooBdoo]

On 11/4/2014 NoelSeven said:

"This no call list thing is for the birds."

Yes, it is,! And it makes me so angry, something could be done about it but nothing is.

Our local consumer reporter did a TV report on it, said to wait, speak to them when they answer and ask to be taken off their list. I've done that... they call back in a day or two. There's a carpet cleaning group that calls most often, like sure, I'll let people I don't know into my home

Hi, Noel! I'm surprised a consumer advocate would advise answering and talking with the callers. The security officers in our hospital system strongly urge people not to answer, because most of the calls are computer-generated, scrolling numerically through random numbers, waiting for someone to answer. Once they know it's an active number, they continue to call and even share or sell your number to others. If the business is an actual company located in the USA, you can report them to your state Attorney General's office -- I've read that will results when reports to the DNCR don't. Have you tried signing up with Nomorobo? It's free, and it's effective.