Some Fatuously Asked Questions
And REAL Answers
About Unwanted Phone Calls
The Do Not Call list is merely a list. It is not a magic switch that prevents people from calling you. The list is used by legitimate telemarketers. The list is ignored by criminals & spammers. The list also has certain exceptions, including political calls, surveys, charities, and prior (within the last 18 months) business relationships.
See the answer to question #7 to learn how to really block unwanted calls
All we can do is warn you and others about scams. We cannot stop the scammer from calling you. YOU must do that! If all else fails, get a call blocker.
We do not know who is calling you. Many telescam calls originate overseas. Telescammers frequently us a faked Caller ID, a throwaway cell phone, a Voice-over-IP (VOIP) computer, Magic Jack, or other means to avoid identification.
Lots of people and government organizations are trying to help. Most of this help is in the form of warnings about telephone scams, posted on many sites. The best line of defense is YOURSELF! Be aware of these scams, and avoid them! Discuss this problem with friends and neighbors, so they too can be educated.
Our government can do little about phone calls originating overseas, or calls made with faked Caller IDs. And, for domestic scammers, Government's reaction time is MUCH slower than yours!
We are not the ones who are calling you. See the answer to question #7
The government IS doing things to try and stop these calls. They have made "spoofing Caller IDs" illegal for most purposes, and have established several laws regarding telecommunications. However, telescammers are criminals, and criminals ignore the law. This is a VERY big problem. For an idea of the size of the problem, read this article: Why Do Robocalls Continue In An Age Of "Do Not Call" And Strict Telemarketing Rules? from Consumerist.com, and this article Five rules to avoid the top scam in the U.S. from USA Today and visit our initiatives page, to see current government and industry initiatives.
There are several methods to help reduce or stop objectionable phone calls. The government's Do Not Call list works -- but only for legitimate telemarketers. YOU must take action to protect yourself from other objectionable calls. Nomorobo helps block calls from robo callers. Your own phone provider may allow blocking of certain phone numbers. Perhaps most effective is YOUR use of a phone blocking app, service or device. Search the web for "call blocker", or visit someplace like amazon.com's list of call blockers.
We really don't know. However, if you returned the call from a scammer in Jamaica or other foreign country, your phone provider billed you for an overseas call. Also, see the answer to question #12.
See the answer to question #7 for a solution.
If you ever posted your phone number on a social site, or used it when ordering online, filled out an application form for a prize, typed it in your computer, had it stored on a hacked sales or bank site, or gave it to a friend whose computer was attacked ... your number may be known to the scammers. Also, many scammers are using computer-based "war dialers" that quickly generate and dial MANY phone numbers in sequence.
Unfortunately, the answer is "yes". Too many people post "I have been scammed" complaints in 800notes and other phone sites.
You may have been subjected to the "one-ring scam". The scammer hopes you will see the call on your callerID, and return the call. The FCC says, "If you return the phone call, you may be connected to an international hotline than can charge a fee just for connecting, along with significant per-minute fees if they can keep you on the phone. These charges may show up on your bill as premium services."
Many scam call centers assign one person to several phones. If somebody answered their call before you answered yours, the scammer is now talking to them (instead of you).
By definition, numbers can be "odd", "even", "prime", "rational", "irrational", "real", or "imaginary". Here is Wikipedia's definition of a real number
You are not on our list. We are not the ones who are calling you. See the answer to question #7
Not really. It works quite well for its intended purpose. It significantly reduces or stops calls from legitimate, registered telemarketers. See the answer to question #1 for more info.
Search the web for "call blocker", or visit someplace like amazon.com's list of call blockers.
Phone companies are "common carriers". That means they must allow everybody to use their services, unless the company is officially notified by Law Enforcement, (or, under consideration: if they have internal evidence of spamming / scamming). In other words, the phone company cannot UNIVERSALLY block a number merely because YOU complain ... however, they might give you the ability to block those calls to YOUR phone. Even better, you can protect yourself right now, by using a call blocking phone, app or other device.
They are trying to get you to send them money. If the call was from a genuine scammer, you will get NO return for your money
We can't block them for you. Only YOU can initiate that process! See the answer to question #17
Most likely, they "spoofed" the phone number that appeared on your Caller ID. In other words, they called from a different number than the one you see. The government has made most kinds of number spoofing illegal ... but criminals don't care about those laws.
Your best bet is NOT to return calls when you do not recognize the caller's number, and consider using your call blocker to prevent further receiving calls from that number.
Some people may have already reported the number ... but, have YOU? After all, YOU received the call!
Here is a local page of links to (mostly government) sites in Canada and the USA were you can report phone scams, or learn more about them
Was the survey really over, or was it a scam? (Scroll down for answers)
At least two reasons for that response:
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