Ok, so this is messed up. I use to get called on my phone by 800 fake tech scam numbers and I would report them to microsoft scam survey and FTC. I did this for a while and the CALLS STOPPED! Now I get called with random numbers from my local area. Naturally I call back on fire rtc. And they are normal people. I ask them if they called the last 4 digits of my phone number and they generally are rude and tell me to not call again I got the wrong number. Finally I spoke to someone who told me that they didn’t call any number that was like mine. And she said that she had been receiving phone calls from strange numbers all day asking the same thing. I explained to her that I think a scammer is spoofing her number to call people and thats why you are getting these calls. She was shocked and didn’t know what to do. She went on to explain she does receive scam calls all the time her self. I said I am sorry. I suggested a number change and she said she might do that at this point. Anyway how do we stop scammers that spoof random cell numbers now to avoid apps like mr number and the like. This also means we can’t call them back anymore. Is this practice the end of scambaiting?
This is quite unsettling. I didn’t think that was even possible to do.
Scambaiting won’t ever die, though. There will always be a way to do it, as long as the scammers are around.
@drek#34440 idk man this is bad.
@Markiemm#34463 yeah but there must be a away to stop it. If I pick up the phone it will be a tech support scammer but calling on a spoofed number of someone from my state. How do I report a number that is being spoofed? And has far has I can tell they are not using my number to mass call people but rather random others. What worries me is what do you do when they do that with your number? How do you report someone spoofing your number? How can the get away with doing this? And whats to stop all scammers from doing this. People are more likely to pick up a number from their area code than say a fishy 800 number. And you can’t report someones number to Microsoft scam or FTC
@Markiemm#34504 thats super messed up. why is there not laws to stop these bastards
@scambaiternumber7#34420 In many instances the call you get from spoofed number is a response to your initial toll-free scambaiting call. In my experience if I call a scammer on toll free number (pop-up number) , I say the voice is not clear. This way they call me back. Often they called me from there real working number but lately they use spoofed number. Try to keep track and see if possibly it is a call back to your call. Try that toll free number again and perhaps another scammer picks up and gives you their real permanent number…
Spoofing local numbers has been common practice for years. I have posted extensively on this issue. Scammers use local numbers because people are more likely to pick up and it protects their identity. There is a way to get their real call back number. Lead them on as if you are interested. Give them a burner email address and they will email you their real contact information. Ask for their website, the number will be posted there. Or if you really have them on the hook, they might give you their number or call you back from their number. By leading on scammers, you will receive more calls. However, those who never pick up scam calls receive plenty, so what does it matter… The FTC does not care about the numbers you report. Read more of my posts to understand why.
@myjackcity#34670 Why does the FTC not care about reported numbers?
@drwat#34596 not a bad idea but I personally want them to stop calling. I am planing on doing a number change but I have so much set up with my phone number, and my contacts, I don’t want them to win by bulling me off my number. But I do get sick of it. I wish there was a way to get enough attention about scam callers to get our government to do its job and protect us. Shit big brother could stop it pretty easily
A number change won’t help. Chances are someone had it before you and you will get their calls.
We are able to find and post numbers to this site everyday. Many citizens find and report numbers to the FTC. Their do not call program has been in place for years. Have the calls been getting better or worse? Has it been effective? No. Scammers have tactics to insulate themselves from each other. They operate just within the bounds of the law. Telecomm carriers can track and identify scammers. They allow the calls to go through because they make money on them... Think of them as junk mail. It is right their on the website. Verizon is a BBB member.
@myjackcity#34687 “Think of them as junk mail”
Yeah but junk mail is harmless. These are scammers. IDK just wish the government that is suppose to protect its citizens from foreign and domestic threats would do its job. It would not be that hard to bring the Indian scammers to justice. The government keeps tabs on all that shit and I am sure big brother knows how to look you up even from VOIP. They I guess are not motivated to do so :(
@scambaiternumber7#34821 Scammers use junk mail, too. But that is mostly harmless because it is easy to ignore. The interruption of non-stop scam phone calls is dangerous… it could lead to missing a potentially important phone call. It is nearly impossible for the US government to stop foreign scammers due to jurisdiction. They can do something about American scammers. Carriers such as Verizon make money by connecting the calls.
Keep reading... I have covered most of these topics:
replace/d/2706-beyond-tech-support-and-irs-scammers/
replace/d/6814-federal-action-against-scammers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/06/your-money/robocalls-rise-illegal.html