Author Topic: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?  (Read 5527 times)

Syonyk

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I get 3-5 calls a day now, from spoofed numbers (they match my area code and prefix, which has nothing to do with where I live) that are interested in extending my car's warranty, selling me Free Medicaid Braces, and other such nonsense.

It's basically eliminated my ability to use my phone for anything that I actually care about - contact from people.  If I leave the volume on, it rings regularly.  If I turn it off, then I don't get texts/hangouts notifications/etc, from people I do actually care to chat with.

Has anyone found a tolerable solution to this?  It hasn't been a problem for me for years, because I've got my original cell # from 15+ years ago, and it's been almost entirely spam free until the past year or so.

I know there are robot guard things one can subscribe to, but I don't know how well they work against spoofed phone numbers.  I also get regular calls from the usual "Hey, you got on our list, care to give us money because OUTRAGE OUTRAGE OUTRAGE OUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS ARE EVILLY EVIL and the only way to fight them is for you to give us lots of money right now" stuff, but those at least are easy enough to block.

Help? :/

Dictionary Time

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2019, 03:27:21 PM »
You can set up your phone to only ring for calls that are from your contacts.

TexasRunner

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2019, 03:32:04 PM »
You can set up your phone to only ring for calls that are from your contacts.

This.  If its a new "contact" that you actually want, it'll be a text or leave a voicemail.

iPhone:
https://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/975781
Navigate to Settings -> Do Not Disturb
Toggle Manual ON (green slider) to enable Do Not Disturb (DND), or schedule a time for DND to automatically switch on
Tap Allow Calls From
Select All Contacts

Android: 
Settings>Device>Blocking Mode.
Set time to always
Set Allowed contacts to All Contacts.

Test it with a work phone (or something) to make sure it is how you would expect it to be.

Syonyk

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2019, 03:54:17 PM »
Huh, worth a shot.  I normally leave do not disturb on at night, but haven't messed with it too much during the day.  It blocks notifications from Hangouts, which is how my wife & I chat.  Can I set apps to bypass it as well?

TexasRunner

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2019, 03:59:30 PM »
Huh, worth a shot.  I normally leave do not disturb on at night, but haven't messed with it too much during the day.  It blocks notifications from Hangouts, which is how my wife & I chat.  Can I set apps to bypass it as well?

I'm pretty sure, yes.  Also you could look for (cheap, single payment) apps that have some real development in them for more options.  If 5$ makes your phone usable again, then I would say it was worth it.  See if there is a DND app that can handle phone calls and other applications.

Otherwise check your setting to see if apps can be made exempt from stock DND lists.

Also note, you can DND different 'levels' night and day on a timer, so you don't have to mess with it.

robartsd

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2019, 05:09:55 PM »
Rather than do not disturb, you can set your default ring tone to silence and set a custom ringtone for each of your contacts on the phone. Your phone will still display the incoming spam call, but it wont make any noise disrupting you if you're not using it.

I started using this method when the problem came to my number. Good news is that it seems to have reduced after consistently ignoring calls*. In my case, I have a second layer - I use Google Voice as my primary phone number and forward calls to my cell. Google has a setting to choose if the caller's number or your Google number is sent as CallerID to your forwarding phones. With this set to my Google number, all calls forwarded through Google Voice ring my phone even if I haven't added them to my contacts.

* Since I use Google Voice for voicemail, I have disabled voicemail with my cell provider. Ignored calls to my cell number do not have the opportunity to leave a voicemail which may have had an impact on the reduction in spam volume.

DreamFIRE

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2019, 06:25:39 PM »

I NEVER answer calls from a number that's not identified as a contact.  They can leave a message if it's someone that really needs to talk to me.

I've been using Mr. Number Block for a few years, which was effective against traditional known spammer callers, but it's completely ineffective blocking the spoofed local numbers I've been getting calls from over the last year or two, unless I use the option to block calls from numbers not in my contacts.  I haven't enabled that because I still get the spoofed callers less than once a week on average.

If I started receiving spoofed calls more frequently, I would enable the option in Mr. Number Block to block calls from numbers not in my contacts or setup my default and custom ring tones so that only contacts could ring my phone.

Fortunately, it's very rare that the spammers will leave a voicemail.  And I very rarely get spam text messages, either.

I have used google voice in the past, but it added additional latency to voice calls.  And to be clear, I'm talking about cellular voice calls with google voice, not voip based calls with hangouts dialer, of which I wasn't satisfied with the quality.

Syonyk

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2019, 10:30:40 PM »
Fortunately, it's very rare that the spammers will leave a voicemail.

Maybe 10% manage to leave a voicemail.

"gain, this is last chance to obtain an extended vehicle warranty before you exceed your time and milage requirements!  It is urgent that you act now to extend your new vehicle's extended vehicle warranty!  Press 1 to be connected to a representative!"

Next time I buy a used car, it's not going to be from a dealership, because they sure shared all my information...

FallenTimber

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2019, 11:06:33 PM »
I’d love to hear more suggestions on this problem. I’m in the same boat... I get at minimum 10 calls per day, with about half of those calls resulting in a voicemail from a machine.

Even if I ignore the call, it’s a nuisance to have to check the voicemail and delete it each time. I also run a couple of businesses that use my cell phone number, so ignoring all calls outside of my contacts would result in missing customer calls.

Extremely frustrating!

EricL

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2019, 11:30:29 PM »
If you get an unlocked iPhone you can get a phone number from some other state.  I got one just before I left the Army and moved to another state.  All the spammers call from spoofed numbers from that state so I know never to accept their calls.  Or harass them if I do.  If you have a smart phone you can buy an internet phone number with another area code and use that.  Thought that can be an expensive proposition if you use your phone a lot. 

Syonyk

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2019, 09:38:36 AM »
Even if I ignore the call, it’s a nuisance to have to check the voicemail and delete it each time. I also run a couple of businesses that use my cell phone number, so ignoring all calls outside of my contacts would result in missing customer calls.

Extremely frustrating!

Yeah, I do actually get random phone calls from people about stuff on occasion, so a pure "Eh, nothing but contacts..." approach is tough.  And, as of yet, I haven't figured out how to let Hangouts chime through while keeping the ringer off, short of doing custom ring tones for everyone, which... I'd kind of rather not.

If you get an unlocked iPhone you can get a phone number from some other state.  I got one just before I left the Army and moved to another state.  All the spammers call from spoofed numbers from that state so I know never to accept their calls.  Or harass them if I do.  If you have a smart phone you can buy an internet phone number with another area code and use that.  Thought that can be an expensive proposition if you use your phone a lot.

That's helpful, but I haven't figured out how to block an entire area code and prefix.  That would go a long ways, certainly - anything that's too close to my phone number, at this point, is 99.99% certain to be spam.  Any apps do that?

EricL

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2019, 04:01:07 PM »
Even if I ignore the call, it’s a nuisance to have to check the voicemail and delete it each time. I also run a couple of businesses that use my cell phone number, so ignoring all calls outside of my contacts would result in missing customer calls.

Extremely frustrating!

Yeah, I do actually get random phone calls from people about stuff on occasion, so a pure "Eh, nothing but contacts..." approach is tough.  And, as of yet, I haven't figured out how to let Hangouts chime through while keeping the ringer off, short of doing custom ring tones for everyone, which... I'd kind of rather not.

If you get an unlocked iPhone you can get a phone number from some other state.  I got one just before I left the Army and moved to another state.  All the spammers call from spoofed numbers from that state so I know never to accept their calls.  Or harass them if I do.  If you have a smart phone you can buy an internet phone number with another area code and use that.  Thought that can be an expensive proposition if you use your phone a lot.

That's helpful, but I haven't figured out how to block an entire area code and prefix.  That would go a long ways, certainly - anything that's too close to my phone number, at this point, is 99.99% certain to be spam.  Any apps do that?


The app I use is called SecondPhone.  It allows you to get phone numbers from outside your area code.  I do not know how to block whole area codes.  All I know is that since I got my jailbroke iPhone from the midwest, where I have exactly 1 friend, I can ignore all other calls from there.

robartsd

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2019, 09:30:26 PM »
I have used google voice in the past, but it added additional latency to voice calls.  And to be clear, I'm talking about cellular voice calls with google voice, not voip based calls with hangouts dialer, of which I wasn't satisfied with the quality.
My issues with GV are not audio quality related. Certainly latency within the call hasn't been much of an issue that i am aware of. GV audio quality over VOIP has varied with equipment and network performance (my cheap 2015 Fire tablet didn't have the power to handle calls well).

DreamFIRE

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2019, 10:26:41 PM »
I have used google voice in the past, but it added additional latency to voice calls.  And to be clear, I'm talking about cellular voice calls with google voice, not voip based calls with hangouts dialer, of which I wasn't satisfied with the quality.
My issues with GV are not audio quality related.  Certainly latency within the call hasn't been much of an issue that i am aware of.

My GV cellular voice calls didn't have audio qualify problems, either.  That's what I was trying to clarify.  The GV cellular voice audio quality was fine, but it does add latency, which can be measured.  In the past, I did back to back measurements with and without GV, and GV added significant latency on top of the latency from the cellular network.  I've also seen people report measuring different amounts of added latency by google voice in the 100 to 300 ms range.  There's been quite a bit of chatter about it over the years.  When you have infrastructure latency of the cellular voice calls and add additional latency on top of it with google voice, people tend to talk over each other more.  Slow talkers/responders won't notice as much.

The audio quality issue I was referring to was when using the voip based handouts dialer, which was bad enough that I ruled out using it and did not even measure latency.  I mentioned it just to clarify I was referring to regular GV voice calls regarding latency.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2019, 10:30:28 PM by DreamFIRE »

AccidentialMustache

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2019, 10:40:15 PM »
Google Fi seems pretty good about blocking spam calls. The house line gets them (new number to us when we moved 1.5 years ago). My Fi line never does (originally a GV number for me a few years ago).

Noodle

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2019, 04:41:22 PM »
You can set up your phone to only ring for calls that are from your contacts.

This.  If its a new "contact" that you actually want, it'll be a text or leave a voicemail.

iPhone:
https://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/975781
Navigate to Settings -> Do Not Disturb
Toggle Manual ON (green slider) to enable Do Not Disturb (DND), or schedule a time for DND to automatically switch on
Tap Allow Calls From
Select All Contacts

Android: 
Settings>Device>Blocking Mode.
Set time to always
Set Allowed contacts to All Contacts.

Test it with a work phone (or something) to make sure it is how you would expect it to be.

This is the method I use (although you do have to remember to turn it off when you're expecting deliveries or workmen, etc.) I also block any spam numbers on the first offense. Of course they are always changing numbers but it makes me feel better!

pudding

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #16 on: January 24, 2019, 01:31:31 AM »
Yep, so annoying.  I get about 5 a day.
I have a small business so hard to ignore the calls, but then answer it and it's some recored message in Chinese or some clown trying to scam something.

TRD

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #17 on: January 24, 2019, 01:48:12 AM »
I really only pick up my personal cell if I recognize the number, otherwise it goes vm. Then you have that one opportunity to convince me to call you back based on the usually half gibberish voice text I read once your vistual voicemail summary pops up. Saves me a lot of stress and 99% of telmarketer/robo callers never leave vm.

If you call me at 3am with your sales bs I will block that number immediately and forever.

charis

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2019, 10:23:24 AM »
I started blocking all spam call numbers, as soon as they came in, a few weeks ago and after a few days, the calls stopped completely.  I know they change numbers constantly, but this seems to have worked, at least for now.

therethere

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2019, 10:44:28 AM »
I'm in the same boat. I never answer any calls as is since I keep my phone on silent. The numbers are pretty easy to pick out since I  have an out of state number. But they usually only use a number once so blacklisting it doesn't help with 90% of the calls. And even if the call gets blacklisted they still can leave a voicemail! I listen to headphones all day at work and it interrupts the music 5-10x per day. Then I have to call to delete the voicemail (or silence) or else my phone will remind me I have voicemails every couple hours. In my ideal world I would only have my phone do text messages and data/internet. Actually, is there a way to do this?

The strange part is, my DH very rarely gets spoof/spam calls. Maybe less than 5 a year. He will think its funny when he gets the spam chinese voicemail and feel the need to tell me. I stare at him like.... I get 5 of those a day it's NOT FUNNY!

Hah. While I was writing this I got a spam call and voicemail.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2019, 10:47:58 AM by therethere »

MrThatsDifferent

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #20 on: January 24, 2019, 10:44:52 AM »
For at least the last 5 years I don’t keep my ringer on or even let my phone vibrate anymore. I’ll only answer a call if my watch alerts me and I recognize the number. Otherwise it goes to voicemail or a text. I hate ringing devices. So that would address part of the problem.

JLee

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #21 on: January 24, 2019, 12:04:40 PM »
T-Mobile has a spam call filtering option that I discovered and enabled the other day. I have not had one since, though it's not been quite long enough for me to be sure.

dougules

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2019, 01:08:18 PM »
Tangentially, it seems like these kinds of calls have really blown up over the last couple of years.  Is it just me, or did something change to make them become way more common?

kitty_boos

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #23 on: January 24, 2019, 01:50:13 PM »
I'm android and use the free version of Blacklist Plus. There's a couple different blocking modes to choose from...I use "all except contacts". and so far, a year or so later, it works great.
What seems to bother people about the app though is that the non-contact numbers coming through are either muted or you can select the 'hang up' method so the call gets sent straight to voicemail instead of literally hung up on.
I kind of prefer it going to voicemail for those few times the call is legit and at least they can leave a message.

Bee21

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2019, 03:22:52 PM »
Is there a Do not call register where you live? I put my number on after I started receiving the calls and it reduced the number. If I pick up, I simply tell them that I am on the register, please remove me from their database as what they are doing is illegal. And then I block the number. I tend to check the number on the reverse phone directory. The calls come in waves, they tend to resell the number every 3 month to different spammers.

It is very annoying. Last year it was hell as I was expecting calls from doctors, hospital appointments etc and I simply had to answer unknown numbers.

Those people in these call centers have the worst job ever. Actually, my husband works with a Pakistani guy who used to run a call centre for these spam calls, I will have to interview him next I run into him.

robartsd

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #25 on: January 24, 2019, 03:51:28 PM »
Is there a Do not call register where you live? I put my number on after I started receiving the calls and it reduced the number. If I pick up, I simply tell them that I am on the register, please remove me from their database as what they are doing is illegal. And then I block the number. I tend to check the number on the reverse phone directory. The calls come in waves, they tend to resell the number every 3 month to different spammers.

It is very annoying. Last year it was hell as I was expecting calls from doctors, hospital appointments etc and I simply had to answer unknown numbers.

Those people in these call centers have the worst job ever. Actually, my husband works with a Pakistani guy who used to run a call centre for these spam calls, I will have to interview him next I run into him.
The US National Do Not Call Registry is part of the current government shutdown. These spoofed CallerID callers tend to ignore it anyway. FCC recommends hanging up on illegal sales calls and reporting them (not very effective since all you have is a spoofed CallerID number).

therethere

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #26 on: January 24, 2019, 04:00:18 PM »
Yeah Do not call registry is useless. There was actually a class action lawsuit a year or so ago you could sign up for if you were on the registry and still receiving calls. I'm expecting my $5 check a few years from now.

Syonyk

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #27 on: January 24, 2019, 04:02:01 PM »
If I pick up, I simply tell them that I am on the register, please remove me from their database as what they are doing is illegal. And then I block the number.

So... you're saying you tell them, "There's a live sucker at this number who will pick up if you spoof enough numbers"?  Doesn't seem too useful to me.  They're not calling from the same country, it's call centers with international internet connections, VOIP providers at scummy telcos who don't care what they're doing (as long as they pay the bills), etc.

Papa bear

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #28 on: January 24, 2019, 06:30:44 PM »
Man I fell for that clickbait.

3-5 calls and it has destroyed your use of the phone?  Phew. Can’t imagine what would happen if you had 7 or 8 spam calls.

I get a lot of these things. And I have to pick up and answer everything. I have potential tenants calling to see houses.  I have a google voice business line that rings to my cell phone as my business number. I can’t ignore those calls.

So I get 8-10. Plus some texts. And some leave voicemails. And some asshat used my phone number and now I get his bullshit too. Or how about the 5-6/week that call wanting to buy one of my rentals for cash? 

Point of this?  3-5 phone calls? It takes 3 seconds to pick up and say hello this is “name” and then hang up if it’s bologna. Annoying. But literally not the end of the world.

End rant.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Syonyk

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #29 on: January 24, 2019, 10:21:06 PM »
Yeah.  I pick up to the spam callers from India and I get put on half a dozen other sucker lists.

I miss my phone only ringing from humans.

Just because you have an income that relies on being disrupted by phone calls at all hours of the day doesn't mean everyone does.

therethere

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #30 on: January 25, 2019, 08:47:07 AM »
Man I fell for that clickbait.

3-5 calls and it has destroyed your use of the phone?  Phew. Can’t imagine what would happen if you had 7 or 8 spam calls.

I get a lot of these things. And I have to pick up and answer everything. I have potential tenants calling to see houses.  I have a google voice business line that rings to my cell phone as my business number. I can’t ignore those calls.

So I get 8-10. Plus some texts. And some leave voicemails. And some asshat used my phone number and now I get his bullshit too. Or how about the 5-6/week that call wanting to buy one of my rentals for cash?  =

Point of this?  3-5 phone calls? It takes 3 seconds to pick up and say hello this is “name” and then hang up if it’s bologna. Annoying. But literally not the end of the world.

End rant.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So your job includes picking up the phone. My job involves meetings and focusing. Throw in there inattention problems, and yes these calls do interrupt my day. At times it has been 10-15 calls a day. Besides I pay for cell phone service but I can't keep my phone on because of spam calls. It's like paying for internet and having a stranger hog it the entire time preventing you from streaming a TV show without interruptions.

JLee

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #31 on: January 25, 2019, 09:10:10 AM »
https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/call-protection

Still spam-free since I activated this.

Lady SA

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #32 on: January 25, 2019, 10:31:06 AM »
I keep my phone on silent but have vibrate on. With it in my pocket, I can feel it ring but it doesn't disrupt anyone else, I can pull it out and see if the caller is in my contacts or an unknown number.

If its unknown, I also have google fi which is rolling out a call screening service (or it is a feature of their pixel phones, I'm not sure). I get 3 options when I get a call: accept, screen, or hangup. If I click "screen call", google will start talking to the caller and ask them to state their name and reason for calling, and their spoken answer will display as text on my screen. Then I have the option to pick up the call. If the caller is legit, then I do accept the call. But if it isn't, usually they just don't answer and hang up as soon as the google screener asks them a question, otherwise I drop them if they do answer and its bogus. Its a pretty great setup and saved me a lot of aggravation.

I also make a policy to NEVER answer my personal phone for unknown callers that aren't in my contacts. They can leave a message and I'll block the number if they are spamming me.

JLee

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #33 on: January 25, 2019, 12:18:21 PM »
I keep my phone on silent but have vibrate on. With it in my pocket, I can feel it ring but it doesn't disrupt anyone else, I can pull it out and see if the caller is in my contacts or an unknown number.

If its unknown, I also have google fi which is rolling out a call screening service (or it is a feature of their pixel phones, I'm not sure). I get 3 options when I get a call: accept, screen, or hangup. If I click "screen call", google will start talking to the caller and ask them to state their name and reason for calling, and their spoken answer will display as text on my screen. Then I have the option to pick up the call. If the caller is legit, then I do accept the call. But if it isn't, usually they just don't answer and hang up as soon as the google screener asks them a question, otherwise I drop them if they do answer and its bogus. Its a pretty great setup and saved me a lot of aggravation.

I also make a policy to NEVER answer my personal phone for unknown callers that aren't in my contacts. They can leave a message and I'll block the number if they are spamming me.

That is a Pixel feature..it's pretty awesome.

Midwest

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #34 on: January 25, 2019, 12:23:29 PM »
Yeah Do not call registry is useless. There was actually a class action lawsuit a year or so ago you could sign up for if you were on the registry and still receiving calls. I'm expecting my $5 check a few years from now.

Do not call is less than useless.  I had a real live business spamming me after an auto accident.  Filed a complaint with the attorney general (who indicated they could assist  in getting the FCC involved).  Based on the letter I received back from the AG, the 1/2 hour I spent filing a complaint was not time well spent.  They have a real business, with a real #, in state and they thanked me and told be if they got enough complaints they might do something about it.  Fine them into non-existence!

DadJokes

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #35 on: January 25, 2019, 12:45:03 PM »
I always see the numbers on how many spam calls people get per day and feel very lucky. I might get one per week. My iPhone (I know, not very mustachian) says "Scam Likely" in place of the caller ID, so I know not to answer. Sometimes, it's not actually a scam, and they leave a voicemail where I can call back.

If I didn't have that feature, I probably just wouldn't answer calls that didn't come from contacts. However, if I had a business or commonly received calls from a lot of different people, that wouldn't work.

noplaceliketheroad

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #36 on: January 25, 2019, 06:02:05 PM »
In my ideal world I would only have my phone do text messages and data/internet.

This times 1000.

I fantasize about getting an iPad mini, just using it on wifi, and being able to facetime/imessage/internet my heart away without the hassle of the telephone. But then I remember the whole reason I have a cell is to be able to make a call in an emergency... and my fantasy is ruined. I really hope my fellow millennials manage to make the telephone obsolete like we've been able to do with a bunch of other outdated systems like 'buying houses' and 'having families'... I kid... mostly.

FWIW I get about 5-10 of these same area code/prefix spam calls a week, and I always block the number. Someday I'll reach the point where I've blocked every number with the same first 6 digits as mine... and then we shall see what atrocities wait for me next.

robartsd

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Re: Spam calls have destroyed my ability to use my cell phone: Suggestions?
« Reply #37 on: January 28, 2019, 08:57:32 AM »
In my ideal world I would only have my phone do text messages and data/internet.
I fantasize about getting an iPad mini, just using it on wifi, and being able to facetime/imessage/internet my heart away without the hassle of the telephone. But then I remember the whole reason I have a cell is to be able to make a call in an emergency... and my fantasy is ruined.
Add basic phone on a cheap prepaid plan (mine is $10/120 days). Or have a 911 only phone without any paid service at all.