topic Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day in Get Support

10+ Spam Calls a Day

katiefleming — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 07:20:09 GMT

I am losing my mind...starting yesterday I have been getting at least 10+ calls a day. I answer, no one is on the other end, they just hang up. I'm in Montreal, and they're all calls from Ontario, or 226 area code, 646, 250, 343, 306. It's just non-stop.

I'm blocking each one now as they come in, but what the heck is happening??? As soon as the phone rings I reject the call, and if there's no voicemail I block it (in case it IS a legit call)

I'm already on the do not call spam list but wondering how the heck this happened. I saw someone else posting about Saskatchewan but I have been hit harder! All the provinces are getting me. What can I do? 😞

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

HALIMACS — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:02:00 GMT

@katiefleming

Sounds extremely frustrating. Other than changing your number, not much.

NEVER answer any calls from numbers/people you either don't recognize or are not on your contact list. If the person calling you needs you bad enough, they will leave a voice message, if they don't bother leaving one, you likely didn't need to hear from them

IF YOU DO ANSWER, and the caller is a spammer, it's likely your number will get logged as one which will get answered, so anticipate spam calling to increase (at least in the short term).

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

Triguy — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:28:46 GMT

Keep on blocking the numbers.

If you don't need to keep your phone#, log into your self service account to change your phone# every 30 days.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

dabr — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:44:46 GMT

@katiefleming Unfortunately, not much more you can do other than to first not answer any unknown numbers and then to keep blocking them as already suggested and hopefully, eventually they'll decrease in frequency.

Also even if you opt to change your number, it doesn't guarantee that sometime in the future the new number will not start receiving the spam calls as spammers use an autobot dialler which will eventually call the new number.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

esjliv — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:42:58 GMT

@katiefleming wrote:
I am losing my mind...starting yesterday I have been getting at least 10+ calls a day. I answer, no one is on the other end, they just hang up. I'm in Montreal, and they're all calls from Ontario, or 226 area code, 646, 250, 343, 306. It's just non-stop.

I'm blocking each one now as they come in, but what the heck is happening??? As soon as the phone rings I reject the call, and if there's no voicemail I block it (in case it IS a legit call)

I'm already on the do not call spam list but wondering how the heck this happened. I saw someone else posting about Saskatchewan but I have been hit harder! All the provinces are getting me. What can I do? 😞

@katiefleming - that would be very Annoying!

Ignore them, if you don't recognize them.

If they just started yesterday, hopefully this will be short-lived and stops soon.

Good luck

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

katiefleming — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:53:45 GMT

Ok, I will keep ignoring and blocking! Literally as I'm typing this another one is calling!! AHHHHH. I don't want to change my number, it is too much of a hassle. Let's hope they decrease over time. Thanks everyone.

Also, my voicemail obviously picks up at some point. To them, isn't that an answer?

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

dabr — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:03:42 GMT

@katiefleming wrote:
Ok, I will keep ignoring and blocking! Literally as I'm typing this another one is calling!! AHHHHH. I don't want to change my number, it is too much of a hassle. Let's hope they decrease over time. Thanks everyone.

Also, my voicemail obviously picks up at some point. To them, isn't that an answer?

@katiefleming Yes, I believe you may be right that if those messages go to voicemail, they might be considered as being answered.

I know @Nezgar has posted some really useful info on how to redirect some of these calls so that they bypass your voicemail, except I don't remember where his post/link is right now. Hopefully, he will respond and give you more info on that himself since I've tagged him.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

HALIMACS — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:06:01 GMT

@katiefleming

No, they want to get people who answer. They can't sell or scam a voicemail. 🤣

You can temporarily cancel calls going to voicemail.

To "disable" voicemail, dial *004*8080000000#

To reset it back to defaults, dial ##004#

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

rliu1993 — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:13:19 GMT

sad, i got 5calls a day.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

Nezgar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:14:49 GMT

@HALIMACS wrote:
@katiefleming

No, they want to get people who answer. They can't sell or scam a voicemail. 🤣

My latest fave is just to answer... make sure you press 1 so their robodialer actually connects you to a human.... then say, oh hang on let me get my dad!!!... then put on mute, speakerphone and put the phone down.... though they usually hang up pretty quickly after that...

Since a lot of these calls aren't really telemarketers, Lenny won't prove too interesting to direct the calls to, but that is an option: 🙂

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Using-Your-Service/Lenny-the-Telemarketers-worst-nightmare/m-p/572114#M117710

The main priority might be to just make sure that declined calls dont result in a useless voicemail message you have to go and delete after. To prevent that, you set the conditional forward for declined and blocked calls to go to a dead-end instead of your voicemail.

To set, dial: *67*0000000000#

To undo, dial: ##67#

Now when you get a call you know is a junk call, simply decline the call and the caller will hear something to the effect of "Sorry you call did not go through" (voip.ms) or "Your call cannot be completed at this time" (SaskTel)

The idea here being the robodialers may blacklist your number due to the "not in service" response, and you get the added bonus of not having to go and delete junk voicemails after.

Alternatively, 306-545-8171 will simply tell the caller that the line is only equipped for outgoing calls:

There's also some other numbers can you send your declined calls to, for amusement when friends call too. 😉

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Using-Your-Service/Lenny-the-Telemarketers-worst-nightmare/m-p/572114#M117710

Be especially careful which if your friends/coworkers you use this one on!!!!! 800-250-9562 🤣😆🤡😈

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

katiefleming — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:32:58 GMT

They're not leaving voicemails though, and they're not answering me when I pick up. There's literally nothing on the other end of the line. As soon as I answer they just hang up. And no voicemail. It's the weirdest thing ever.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

WoozyPolarBear — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:34:33 GMT

@katiefleming wrote:

I'm already on the do not call spam list but wondering how the heck this happened. 😞

Signing up for the "Do Not Call List" is the worst thing you can do, and will result in even more spam calls. The thing is, that list can only be enforced on Canadian based companies and people. The CRTC cannot and does not have any ability to fine or charge international scammers. What happens with this National Do Not Call List is some scammer pretends they are a legitimate company within Canada and downloads the Do Not Call List from the CRTC. They then in turn use that list as a source of verified and legitimate numbers that they know exist, and hence those numbers actually get targeted even heavier. Since they are almost always from India or Nigeria, the CRTC is powerless on doing anything to them. These scammers just spoof their numbers to some random Canadian based number...or they use some burner number from a online Voip service like TextNow, Fongo, etc.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

WoozyPolarBear — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:38:19 GMT

@katiefleming wrote:
Ok, I will keep ignoring and blocking! Literally as I'm typing this another one is calling!! AHHHHH. I don't want to change my number, it is too much of a hassle. Let's hope they decrease over time. Thanks everyone.

Also, my voicemail obviously picks up at some point. To them, isn't that an answer?

Blocking numbers doesn't do much of anything, other than creating a large list of blocked numbers on your phone. Most of the scammers just spoof random numbers, and each subsequent time they call, they just change the spoofed number to a different one. What you will find out is if you call back the number that called you, you will get connected to some random real person that has no idea their number called you in the first place.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

Nezgar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:14:42 GMT

@WoozyPolarBear wrote:
What you will find out is if you call back the number that called you, you will get connected to some random real person that has no idea their number called you in the first place.

Yep, a lot of people are still thinking Caller ID is secure and is associated with a phone line... whereas in reality with so many other 3rd party organizations interconencted to the phone network unlike the old days, many business, cloud, and internet connected phone systems, caller ID can now be made up to be say the caller wants it to say, completely independent of the phone numbers used for INCOMING calls.

The STIR/SHAKEN caller-id verification initiatives that are supposed to be in place by this summer intend to address "fake" caller ID's by passing on some verification that shows a caller ID is presenting a phone number that the caller is actually authorized to use and is linked to their DID (for incoming calls), vs unverified which could be coming from anywhere...

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

hTideGnow — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:43:45 GMT

True, i don't think i suggest the blocking number method too. They just make up numbers and likely they won't even reuse the number next time.

Also, spammers now make up number with the same area code and first 3 digits. If you start blocking these numbers and the list get longer. At one point, your friend's new phone number might happen to be on that list

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

WoozyPolarBear — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:48:09 GMT

The best thing I've seen a phone company do to block numbers is Telus' "Call Control", where it asks the caller to press a random number that the system generates before connecting the call. That system also allows you to white-list numbers from your friends so they don't have to go through the process.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

dabr — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:00:59 GMT

@WoozyPolarBear wrote:
The best thing I've seen a phone company do to block numbers is Telus' "Call Control", where it asks the caller to press a random number that the system generates before connecting the call. That system also allows you to white-list numbers from your friends so they don't have to go through the process.

@WoozyPolarBear That would be great if there was any chance of getting that option for PM, but being that PM is the budget third tier service provider, it'll probably never likely be made available here...

However, (IIRC) @srlawren recently mentioned that option was also available for customers at Koodo, although I'm not sure if it's only offered to postpaid customers, or if the prepaid customers get it as well.

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

Nezgar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:02:44 GMT

@WoozyPolarBear wrote:
The best thing I've seen a phone company do to block numbers is Telus' "Call Control", where it asks the caller to press a random number that the system generates before connecting the call. That system also allows you to white-list numbers from your friends so they don't have to go through the process.

Yes that is the best. Most robodialers/telemarketers haven't figured out to press digits yet to get past a simple menu like that. This is a popular solution if you setup a DIY VoIP phone line, just add an IVR menu with 1 choice to get through for unknown/non-whitelisted caller and you instantly eliminate 99% of the chaff.... If I'm not "sure" if a caller is junk or not, a minor workaroud I can set my Public Mobile to conditionally forward on decline to my home line if I'm home, which i have setup this feature.... if the phone doesn't ring that confirms it wasn't junk as they didn't make it past the menu....

Hopefully some day that feature comes to PM so the everyone can enjoy it....

At least incoming calls are unlimited even on the $15 plan, so there's no financial impact in answering anyway...

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

Nezgar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:10:58 GMT

I wonder how many spam/scam/junk calls people get with 867 area code numbers.. (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut) - Many Long distance services and VoIP providers charge much more to call those territories, like 14c/min. That might be a good way to get a "quiet" number haha if it costs scammers more to call those parts of Canada. 😄

Re: 10+ Spam Calls a Day

hTideGnow — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 21:15:49 GMT

@dabr wrote:
That would be great if there was any chance of getting that option for PM, but being that PM is the budget third tier service provider, it'll probably never likely be made available here...

Agree. The only way we might see this here in PM is that it becomes a $5/month add-on features. LoL