Electronics

[dfyre]

As regional director for a large non-profit, I get quite a few calls from unknown numbers, so don't have the luxury of just not answering them. My favorite thing to do when I get a telemarketer or scammer is to just say "could you hold on for a minute" and then put the phone down and walk away. They get the message and eventually hang up BUT will not keep calling back like when you just hang up as now it is wasting THEIR time.

[itzdee]

The phone calls can drive the calmest individual nuts. I tried several different things including a new phone system that would block 20 or 30 numbers. That didn't last long at all. About 3 months ago I bought the CPR blocker from Amazon. It is great and has made a HUGE difference for me. I already have blocked over 100 numbers! You can also follow instructions in the booklet for blocking types of calls as a group...and even whole area codes!

[jewel3]

My cordless phones can be set to block phone calls. When you get one, block it. The caller will get a busy signal. Or you could change your number and have an unlisted phone number. Unlisted numbers get far fewer calls so the minimal monthly charge for this is worth it.

[dooBdoo]

I wanted to add a few clarifications:

1 - The DoNotCall Registry only works within limits. It’s designed to keep ethical businesses from calling you. And it doesn’t include non-profit fund raising organizations, political groups (the non-profits), or calls from companies you do/did business with if you haven’t opted out from them.

Also, if you’ve signed up with websites, entered contests, answered surveys, etc., the fine print often says you do authorize calls from them and from associated businesses. If you’re not careful to opt out with every company you associate with, you’ve likely authorized them to use and share your number.

(Keep in mind: malicious callers usually are operating from countries outside the USA -- nearly impossible for our government to police those, and other countries aren’t doing anything substantial to help. Clearly, blocking all calls originating outside our country isn’t practical or feasible.)

2 - Having an unlisted number won’t help much. Unscrupulous callers won't abide by the DNCR and for the most part don’t choose your specific number. They use automated robocalls sequencing numerically through random numbers waiting for someone to pick up. If you do pick up, you've probably added yourself to a list of "active" phone numbers and you'll get even more calls.

3 - The fake Caller ID (including the one which appears to be from yourself) is “caller ID spoofing.” It’s illegal, but again since so many of these are located outside the U.S. they’re almost impossible to stop.

4 - If you pay for a service you have to answer (or at least see/hear) the new calls and add the numbers manually. And if you block entire area codes (like some of the 800 numbers), you’ve just blocked some reputable numbers. With a free service like Nomorobo, they already have a comprehensive list of hundreds of thousands of known malicious numbers which they automatically block for you. If a new number slips through and you report it to them, you’ve just accomplished blocking a bad number for yourself and thousands of people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops to have some peace, but unfortunately it’s the way it is right now

[this is my nic]

With computers randomly dialing numbers, it's almost impossible not to receive annoying calls. Try telling the caller that you want to be removed from their list, that might work. Good luck! BTW, I get tons of them too and ignore them.

[dooBdoo]

On 8/28/2014 di-mc said:

With computers randomly dialing numbers, it's almost impossible not to receive annoying calls. Try telling the caller that you want to be removed from their list, that might work. Good luck! BTW, I get tons of them too and ignore them.

Hi, di-mc! As mentioned before, answering and talking with the caller is almost surely going to place your number on a list of "active phone numbers" and will be used, shared and even sold to other unscrupulous criminals.

[this is my nic]

doobdoo,

That's why I use caller ID and ignore those calls!

[dooBdoo]

On 8/28/2014 di-mc said:

doobdoo,

That's why I use caller ID and ignore those calls!

Cool!

[viva923]

get a new phone number, have UNLISTED, UNPUBLISHED, UNEVERYTHING

That is the only way I got the calls to stop. I was getting calls so many times I day, this was the only way to go, it cost me I believe $6.50 a month. will pay anything for peace and quiet

[glb613]

On 8/28/2014 viva923 said:

get a new phone number, have UNLISTED, UNPUBLISHED, UNEVERYTHING

That is the only way I got the calls to stop. I was getting calls so many times I day, this was the only way to go, it cost me I believe $6.50 a month. will pay anything for peace and quiet

That won't stop ROBO calls. They are computer generated and don't use a phone book to find you. If junk calls bother you, don't answer the phone. Get caller ID and ignore any calls but those from friends or family. If the ringing bother you, turn off the ringer on the phone closest to you.