Increase in marketing calls on cell phone? How to get rid of this?

[RD3 64]

Within the last few months, I have seen a big-time increase in marketing calls to my cell phone.  Like 6 per day.

Anyone else?

And I can one-by-one "block" these callers but it seems that they have a bunch of other similar numbers to call from.  How can I get off of these lists???

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4998]

You only get 6 a day? Lucky.

[RDCanecutter 26853]

Memorize 3 or 4 random phrases in Albanian. Shout them into the phone.

[Parliament 14560]

Any call I get that isn't from our home office's area code, or isn't in my contacts, I send it to VM. Listen to the VM and if it isn't legit, I block the number.

[TwiceHorn 31987]

On your cell phone, there are several apps, trucaller and hello among others, that use databases of spam callers to block numbers that have been reported as spam calls.

[Lobwedgephil 1146]

At&t has a great app for this for at&t users, used to get 5 or 6 a day, now get one a month or so. 

[DanRydell 799]

Any call I get that isn't from our home office's area code, or isn't in my contacts, I send it to VM. Listen to the VM and if it isn't legit, I block the number.

That wouldn’t seem to work for shit since 99% of the spam calls I get (basically everything other than political fundraising calls) are ghosting not only my area code but my prefix.

[DalTxHornFan 3130]

30 minutes ago, Parliament said:

Any call I get that isn't from our home office's area code, or isn't in my contacts, I send it to VM. Listen to the VM and if it isn't legit, I block the number.

I don't answer any number that I don't recognize -- those bastards are always spoofing to make it look like a local call.  If it's legit they'll leave a message. 

[IDIOTsavant 8673]

1 hour ago, DanRydell said:

 

That wouldn’t seem to work for shit since 99% of the spam calls I get (basically everything other than political fundraising calls) are ghosting not only my area code but my prefix.

 

No kidding. The other night I called myself. Maybe it was the savant in me, but somehow I knew it wasn't legit. It must've been my sixth or maybe even my seventh sense.

[Reagan1k 3040]

I use RoboKiller for my app.

It even auto-answers known spam callers and you can pick semi-humorous auto-bots that screw will the callers in the background.

You can even go back and listen to the exchange if you care to.

Not sure if it is any better or worse than  other apps but it is what I use.

[SDG 3335]

In iOS you can go to settings, do not disturb, allow calls from, all contacts.  Everything else automatically goes to vm. From there I just read the message and decide if I want to call back...

[Okie State 3887]

I don't answer any number that I don't recognize -- those bastards are always spoofing to make it look like a local call.  If it's legit they'll leave a message. 

This. I rarely ever answer my phone. If I get a legitimate message, I'll return the call. It is annoying though.

[Vic Mackey 47847]

There are no lists. Everyone's number is being grabbed for these calls. That Do Not Call Registry was used for legit marketing calls from legit companies. And it was against the law for them to call you. There isn't much they can do since they are all originating overseas and they keep spoofing their number. I can't tell you how many numbers I have on my auto reject. I don't use any apps but now a lot of carriers will detect these and display it as Scam Likely when the call is coming through. They also love to spoof the number to where it's very similar to yours. Same area code and first 3 digits. I have even heard of people having their exact number call them. It throws them off so much they decide to answer to see what it is. It is out of control these days across the country with this shit.

[Jerry Callo 8952]

3 hours ago, Lobwedgephil said:

At&t has a great app for this for at&t users, used to get 5 or 6 a day, now get one a month or so. 

Thanks for the heads up.  The app was already installed but I had not set it up.

[shadetree 66]

Thanks for the heads up.  The app was already installed but I had not set it up.

What is the app? Thanks

[Lobwedgephil 1146]

Call Protect. 

[Sbbruin 22082]

3 hours ago, Reagan1k said:

I use RoboKiller for my app.

It even auto-answers known spam callers and you can pick semi-humorous auto-bots that screw will the callers in the background.

You can even go back and listen to the exchange if you care to.

Not sure if it is any better or worse than  other apps but it is what I use.

That actually sounds great.  Get some Jerky Boys type of responses.  "Look jerky, I don't need to talk to you!  Get Brett Weir I said!"

[TwiceHorn 31987]

Youmail voicemail even has one that says "this number is out of service."

For reference:

Trucaller

Hello

RoboKiller

Youmail (but it is a visual voicemail service, so you may not want to use it).

[bschoolprof 6335]

4 hours ago, Reagan1k said:

I use RoboKiller for my app.

It even auto-answers known spam callers and you can pick semi-humorous auto-bots that screw will the callers in the background.

You can even go back and listen to the exchange if you care to.

Not sure if it is any better or worse than  other apps but it is what I use.

I use robokiller too. Works great. Some of the pranks are gold. 

[4th&Five 41904]

Mine have decreased since I started calling them back. Usually there’s an option to opt out. 

[XYZ 2154]

If the FCC gave a damn, I don’t think it would be that hard to stop calls from overseas that look like they originate inside the country. Then go hard at the calls originating in the country and throw some people in jail. No, not fine them; throw them in jail. But nobody gives a shit.

[CooterBrown 18272]

That wouldn’t seem to work for shit since 99% of the spam calls I get (basically everything other than political fundraising calls) are ghosting not only my area code but my prefix.

I don’t answer any call with my prefix since I don’t know anyone with it.

[RD3 64]

8 hours ago, Lobwedgephil said:

At&t has a great app for this for at&t users, used to get 5 or 6 a day, now get one a month or so. 

I have AT&T. What's this app?

[Lobwedgephil 1146]

51 minutes ago, RD3 said:

I have AT&T. What's this app?

At&t Call Protect

[NeverMarryAStripper 22241]

If the FCC gave a damn, I don’t think it would be that hard to stop calls from overseas that look like they originate inside the country. Then go hard at the calls originating in the country and throw some people in jail. No, not fine them; throw them in jail. But nobody gives a shit.

This is where we should be using drone strikes. Start blowing up these overseas call centers and I bet it stops pretty quick.

[Southland 35]

2 hours ago, CooterBrown said:

 

I don’t answer any call with my prefix since I don’t know anyone with it.

Same here. That always tips me off that it is a spam call.

[TwiceHorn 31987]

9 minutes ago, Southland said:

Same here. That always tips me off that it is a spam call.

That's interesting.  I get a lot of calls with my AC and prefix that I never answer.  My number also happens to be somewhat similar, apparently, to a realtor in Arlington (when unknown to me numbers leave messages, most often it's something about an open house or whatever), so I just thought a lot of people with Sprint in the Metroplex were calling that realtor.

 

I have also received several calls with the caller ID "Testing I Alpha," under different numbers, several with ac and prefix.  Any idea what that's all about?

Edited July 10, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[luke duke 6445]

AT&T Call Protect is legit

[RD3 64]

Just added AT&T Call Protect...

[Nice Guy Eddie 13707]

3 hours ago, XYZ said:

If the FCC gave a damn, I don’t think it would be that hard to stop calls from overseas that look like they originate inside the country. Then go hard at the calls originating in the country and throw some people in jail. No, not fine them; throw them in jail. But nobody gives a shit.

I’m in this camp.  And add the FTC to the list of who should be stopping it.  The callers are misrepresenting who they are and what they’re selling.  Can’t the major carriers work together to validate the caller before putting them through? 

[RD3 64]

Downloaded the Call Protect app....  how does it work?  

[Jerry Callo 8952]

33 minutes ago, RD3 said:

Downloaded the Call Protect app....  how does it work?  

I got a call yesterday evening that popped up with a red flag and identified as telemarketer.  I thought it would actually block calls, but maybe not.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13707]

sad that so many have moved to a point where we don't answer unknown numbers.  You actually should want to talk to unknown people, who are legitimately calling you.   Ask any parent if they want to ignore an unknown number.  Could be a teacher or even a stranger who is helping their kid.   For me if my dogs get loose, someone may call me by seeing my phone number on my dogs' collars.  I don't answer and they choose to not leave a message.  I missed out on getting them back quickly.  

there should be a free, simple method for a caller to prove they're legitimate.  in the past, the long distance costs gave some legitimacy to the caller.  A phone bank in India couldn't afford to talk to thousands of Americans each day.  We're now harmed by our efficiencies.

[RD3 64]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

sad that so many have moved to a point where we don't answer unknown numbers.  You actually should want to talk to unknown people, who are legitimately calling you.   Ask any parent if they want to ignore an unknown number.  Could be a teacher or even a stranger who is helping their kid.   For me if my dogs get loose, someone may call me by seeing my phone number on my dogs' collars.  I don't answer and they choose to not leave a message.  I missed out on getting them back quickly.  

100% agreed with you. With kids in school, you never know if the call is from a teacher or the school nurse.  So I field these unknown calls and it can be frustrating b/c 95% of them are spam.  Of course that 5% has been the school nurse and fielding that call makes the 95% worth it.

BUT this app has worked so far.  I have had 2 so far and it is showed as "Suspected Spam".  I filtered that out.

[DanRydell 799]

Call Protect does catch a decent amount of spam but it doesn’t really stop the ones that are spoofing your area code and prefix.

[DanRydell 799]

I got a call yesterday evening that popped up with a red flag and identified as telemarketer.  I thought it would actually block calls, but maybe not.

Some it does block. Others it just warns you about. You can also manually block a number in the app if the same one is calling repeatedly.

[BottleRocket 659]

I downloaded ATT Call Protect app but it looks like you need at least an Iphone 8.  App said I couldn't proceed because I didn't have 'digital voice' activated.

[luke duke 6445]

I downloaded ATT Call Protect app but it looks like you need at least an Iphone 8.  App said I couldn't proceed because I didn't have 'digital voice' activated.

I have a 6s

[RD3 64]

Call Protect app is the tits. Pos Rep to all you bastards.