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Spoof Calls and Texts - is there ANYTHING we can do to stop them??

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by ima_drummer2k, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

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    Seriously, I have tried EVERYTHING and I'm still getting HAMMERED with these calls and texts to the tune of about 10+ calls per day.

    • Blocking the calls doesn't work since it's a different number every time
    • 4 different apps - all with great reviews - none of which have worked
    • answering the call and immediately hanging up (which I read worked because the caller would think the number was no good and take it off the list) worked for a few weeks....until it didn't
    • removing my phone number from the HCAD website - since most of these calls were people wanting to buy my propertie(s) for pennies on the dollar - hasn't worked
    • all kinds of settings for my phone which were supposed to block them haven't worked. Why doesn't iPhone have an option to block all calls not on your contact list? Even if you figure out how to do it, you still see them in your recent calls and they can still get to your voice mail.
    • Waiting on the FCC to crack down on them (yeah, right....)
    The texts are almost as bad as the calls. There are 10 different recipients, so even if you delete the text thread, it reappears every time one of those 10 recipients replies "Stop."

    There is nothing we can do about this. All hope is lost.

    [/rant]
     
    don grahamleone, Exiled and da_juice like this.
  2. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title
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    Change your phone number. I changed mine a few years ago after having the previous one for forever. It was easy and not too painful to update info where it needed to be updated.
     
  3. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost not wrong
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    Download Youmail in the appstore/google play

    doesn't stop texts IIRC but has stopped almost all robo calls for me
     
  4. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    If you aren’t in my contacts, I don’t answer my phone. If you leave a voicemail, I “might” call you back if something sounds legit. I have a home phone/landline because it doesn’t really cost anything more with my cable/internet bundle. The voicemail is full, and I haven’t checked it in over a year. If I don’t know the person calling, I do t answer. Other than my elderly mother in law, most people don’t even bother calling the land line. In other words, if you need me to bail you outta jail, I better know you pretty well, and you better call my cell phone and leave a message. Otherwise, you’ll rot in jail like telemarketers will rot in hell.
     
  5. Space Ghost

    Space Ghost Contributing Member

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    As the previous poster stated, if they are not in your book, ignore.

    I have an out of state number, so if i get a call with the same area code as mine, its automatically ignored.

    Carriers are working together on a joint initiative called SHAKEN/STIR. Basically they are allowing each other to view each others call initiations to ensure its a legit call and not a spoof. This is some real James Bond stuff.

    Here is recent article on the topic:
    https://www.metaswitch.com/knowledge-center/reference/what-is-stir/shaken
     
    don grahamleone and B-Bob like this.
  6. boomboom

    boomboom I GOT '99 PROBLEMS
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    Forward the calls to Florida.
     
    ThatBoyNick likes this.
  7. BALLhog 247 365

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    If only Andrew Yang was president...
     
  8. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

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    I have had my phone number now for 8 years and have been told that people still leave me voice mails. Never checked one single time lol
     
    Os Trigonum likes this.
  9. ThatBoyNick

    ThatBoyNick Member

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    Yes.

    1st- Find a nice thick brick wall.

    2nd- throw your phone as hard as you can at said wall.
     
  10. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

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    First of all you can stop whining.
     
  11. OmegaSupreme

    OmegaSupreme Contributing Member

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    I'm considering getting the new Samsung S20 Ultra, but may not do it simply because the automatic call screen feature on my Pixel phone works so well. Used to get a few calls a day, but now I get one every couple of weeks because the screened calls just show up in the call log most of the time without me knowing about it.

    You pretty much get your own automated voice that screens everything.

    Couple of screenshots...



    Of course this would require you getting a different phone though.
     
    CCity Zero likes this.
  12. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
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    This **** should be punishable crime
     
  13. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    So that's why my spam calls have increased
     
    boomboom likes this.
  14. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

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    I never answer my phone if it's not someone I know. Frankly, I usually don't answer even if it IS someone I know.....except my wife.

    But that's different than ignoring them. Ignoring them is impossible.
     
    don grahamleone and arkoe like this.
  15. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost not wrong
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    The Youmail app I posted about above does two things well.

    1) It screens out known and suspected robo callers based on a user registry and industry knowledge

    2) It has a super useful setting where it will automatically squash any call that comes to you from a number that begins with the same starting six digits as your present phone number (a very common robo/spoof caller tactic)

    If you want to go nuclear, you can always go maximum lockdown and block/screen ALL calls that do not appear in your contact list. If they leave a message you can always call them back or put them on a "safe" list later. An added bonus is that the service comes with free voicemail transcription which is WAY more useful than I expected it to be.

    The one caveat is that it does not work well with all carriers (worked brilliantly with Verizon, but I had to jump through some extra technical hoops when I switched to Sprint).
     
  16. fallenphoenix

    fallenphoenix Contributing Member

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    woo pixel gang. their spam blocking service is top notch
     
    ico4498, ElPigto and OmegaSupreme like this.
  17. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

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    Interesting, I'll give it a shot. Free?

    I tried the Hiya app which had shining reviews, but it was trash. It just labels a few numbers here and there as potential spam. Gee, thanks. I had no idea that call coming in from Russia was potential spam...........
     
    B-Bob likes this.
  18. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost not wrong
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    It's free. You can subscribe to the service if you want shiny premium features, but it's hardly necessary.
     
  19. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

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    Installed it 20 minutes ago and it's already blocked 3 calls.

    [​IMG]
     
    B-Bob and DonnyMost like this.
  20. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost not wrong
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    [​IMG]

    Make sure you look around in the settings of the app. There are some things you will want to customize to get the experience you desire.
     
    B-Bob likes this.

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