Feb 16, 2010
I was just commenting to my SO that I wasn't getting nearly as many calls from these spammers/scammers as I used to-- and then today I got a call from what APPEARS to be 250-412-8815. But I know it really isn't that number, these spammers spoof the phone numbers.
This is the first time I've seen a Canadian area code from them.
YES, these are robocalls. YES, these phone numbers are spoofed. YES, these guys are spammers. YES, these guys are scammers. YES-- all of these things are illegal, but they don't give two hoots.
I am on the DNC list-- which is a complete and total JOKE. I get more calls now than I did when I wasn't on the list. My phone number is also unlisted and unpublished, and I use it for business purposes only.
I refuse to answer the phone if I don't recognize the phone number on my display. I don't have voicemail, so they can't leave a message.
Pressing "1" to speak to an agent will NOT work. Asking to have your name removed from their list will not work. In fact, if you do that, you've just verified that your phone number is legitimate and you'll get even more calls.
NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING works to stop these jerkoffs from calling. The only thing that seems to work to minimize the amount of calls is: DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE! !!! DO NOT LET YOUR MACHINE TAKE THE CALL. Do whatever you can to disconnect-- unplug your phone for a minute or so.
They'll try to reach you about six or seven times, at various times of the day. If they're unsuccessful, your number will get flagged as being no good and will eventually be removed. So-- keep refusing to answer their calls and unplug your phone for 60 seconds to generate a ' this call cannot be completed' or 'this number is not in service' message. This is about the only thing I know about that works to any extent.
Filing a complaint with the CRTC is a waste of time since the calls originate from outside of Canada. The CRTC is toothless anyways.
If I had a dime for every call I got from ' credit card services' or 'cardholder services', I'd be rich.