I need help with Robo Calls.

[user9430961]

Hello,

Since I get about 7 robo calls per week (I know that is not many by some standards), but I’m in the market for the best free No-Robo call app. I always block these calls on my phone when I get them, but over the past 2 years, I’m now just sick and tired of receiving these calls to begin with. I just wanted to find out what suggestions are out there for my iPhone 7. Thus far, the ones I have heard of so far are: Nomorobo, Youmail, and Hiya. Since I am not very tech savvy, I was wondering can I have multiple no-robo call apps on my phone or is it better to have just (1) one app?

To make things worse, I have a Google number that is setup to ring my cellphone . . . so I get robo calls on my direct Google number AND my direct cellphone number.

My first thought, if I have more than one no-robo call app, it might cause problems with multiple apps trying to do the same thing (for my Google number and also my cellphone number), and then make it an issue to get the calls I want from my family, friends, and regular business. So I’m thinking if I just get (1) one good app, then I’ll just deal with (the hopefully very, very few) robo calls that get through.

Any suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

 

[sixthson]

I doubt they can be stopped. Even when you block them, they call with different numbers. Just be sure never to answer a phone number you don't recognize or the problem will get worse. It's part of life in the 21st century probably.

 

[swerve]

I use Hiya -- I'd say that it works 70 - 80%

I haven't used any others -- so I cannot compare. Also, I don't have a google number so I don't know how that would affect things.

Robocalls are insanely awful.

Best of luck!

 

[KaraBulut]

The first thing to do is check your carrier- some of the major carriers have anti-spam filtering options available- you just have to turn them on. This seems to work better because spammers are now spoofing phone numbers, so that you think it might be someone calling from your local exchange.

 

[Rickrock]

Yesterday we received a call that the caller id implied was from my doctor's office. When I answered it wasn't from my doctor, it was spam and they wanted to give us credit. Now they are copying familiar phone id's from your phone and using them as their calling id so you answer the phone. If it had been from someone I didn't know I wouldn't have answered the phone. This is scary. It makes me wonder if they are using my id to call someone.

 

[KaraBulut]

...It makes me wonder if they are using my id to call someone.

I've known a couple of people who got calls from their own number.

These calls are against the law if you're on the Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry has been in effect since 2003, in spite of the telecom industry fighting the legislation. It was working well until 2016 when the current Administration appointed a telecom industry lawyer to head the FCC.

This guy with the Reese's mug:

The guy with the mug has been busy trying to do the industry's bidding instead of listening to consumers (which the FCC is required to do by law).

The good news is that the FCC is being forced into doing something about it. The public has been pissed off about Do Not Call Registry being ignored and the volume of spam calls they are getting, especially the spoofing of phone numbers, and the FCC has been inundated with complaints from the public about it.

Robocalls could be blocked by phone companies under proposed rules, FCC chairman says [USA Today]

Phone companies would be able to block annoying robocalls and other unwanted phone calls by default under new rules to be considered by the Federal Communications Commission.

Some landline and cellular providers do offer call-blocking features now, but consumers must opt in. The new rules proposed by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, to be voted on by the commission at its June 6 meeting, would eliminate some concern by phone companies that FCC rules make it illegal to deploy call-blocking tools.

This would be a good time to complain to the FCC since they are meeting on June 6th to discuss the new rules.

For more fun:

 

[ShadowCat]

The flash button is good for this if it keeps up you can block the phone number on a special list ask your phone company for a user guide for their services there should be a way to block the number. Of course if it is political or involving any company you do business with you're screwed because you acknowledge receiving their calls

 

[user9430961]

Hello Everybody,

Thank you so very, very much for your comments, feedback, comments, and suggestions. I greatly appreciate all that you have shared.


Thanks a MILLION, what you have shared has been a great help.

 

[Rickrock]

Today we got a call that the caller id said was from the neighboring city government. I answered it and it was a recording that said we could get a good interest rate on a loan. They were using a fake id to get us to answer.

Also, I have contributed to a few Democratic political campaigns and after that I was getting calls (and emails and snail mail) from several more Democratic campaigns from various states. Several of the calls we receive each day are from area code 202 which is Washington DC and I suspect they are from Democratic organizations (we don't answer those calls). I could be giving to at least 8 different campaigns each month if I was rich and stupid.

 

[KaraBulut]

Today we got a call that the caller id said was from the neighboring city government. I answered it and it was a recording that said we could get a good interest rate on a loan. They were using a fake id to get us to answer.

Also, I have contributed to a few Democratic political campaigns and after that I was getting calls (and emails and snail mail) from several more Democratic campaigns from various states. Several of the calls we receive each day are from area code 202 which is Washington DC and I suspect they are from Democratic organizations (we don't answer those calls). I could be giving to at least 8 different campaigns each month if I was rich and stupid.

Wait until 2020 when you start getting texts from campaigns.

Texts aren't covered by the Do Not Call Registry because they are not considered to be telecommunications. They're considered an "information service" thanks to a rule written last year by the FCC.

Texts fall in a gray area between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FCC. It's something that Congress needs to fix before we all get spammed by texts in the way we're getting spammed with phone calls on our cell phones.

 

[KaraBulut]

The good news is that the FCC is being forced into doing something about it....

This would be a good time to complain to the FCC since they are meeting on June 6th to discuss the new rules.

Update: Good news on Robocalls - your carrier can automatically block them for all customers:

Your phone carrier can now block robocalls by default [CNN]

The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to give wireless carriers like Verizon the green light to block unwanted robocalls automatically for all customers. The move could curb a torrent of phone-based scams and unwelcome interruptions that have afflicted millions of consumers, said the FCC...

The vote clears the way for carriers to switch on robocall-blocking technologies for phone lines by default. The technology works by using algorithms and network scanning to identify unwanted calls, similar to how email providers scan for spam messages.

Wait until 2020 when you start getting texts from campaigns.

It's already begun.

Since I wrote that, I've received two texts from someone claiming to be from President Trump's campaign wanting me to support "his wall" and "against the Liberal Mob & FAKE NEWS media".

 

[GamerBear]

My caller block list has went well over 1,000 numbers. Wish my carrier was a little more strict on robocalls but Sprint sucks major ass when it comes to blocking them.

 

[Rickrock]

Sometimes when you block one number they pick a new number to use to call you instead.

 

[swerve]

Yesterday we received a call that the caller id implied was from my doctor's office. When I answered it wasn't from my doctor, it was spam and they wanted to give us credit. Now they are copying familiar phone id's from your phone and using them as their calling id so you answer the phone. If it had been from someone I didn't know I wouldn't have answered the phone. This is scary. It makes me wonder if they are using my id to call someone.

Same thing happened to us today -- except it was the name of a local restaurant (not a national chain). Credit offer. Unbelievable.

 

[KaraBulut]

Finally!

US government announces nationwide crackdown on robocallers [CNN]

The US government announced a nationwide crackdown on illegal robocalls on Tuesday, targeting companies and individuals who have collectively placed over 1 billion unwanted calls for financial schemes and other services, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The crackdown involves nearly 100 cases, five of which are criminal enforcement actions. They were brought by the FTC, Justice Department, 15 states and a slew of local authorities...

Some of those targeted by the action were a major source of robocalls. Derek Jason Bartoli, a Florida man who allegedly developed, sold and used a form of software that allows millions of calls to be placed in quick succession, was responsible for 57 million calls to US phone numbers over six months in 2017, according to a federal complaint.

Congress is actually working on bills to address the problem. Hopefully, Mitch McConnell deem them "socialism" and will allow the bills to get a vote in the Senate.

On Tuesday, a House subcommittee will consider the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act. The bill directs the FCC to clarify rules making clear that robocalls may only be made to consumers with their consent.

A bill proposed in the Senate, the TRACED Act would expand the FCC's power to punish illegal robocallers.

 

[gsdx]

Congress is actually working on bills to address the problem. Hopefully, Mitch McConnell deem them "socialism" and will allow the bills to get a vote in the Senate.

On Tuesday, a House subcommittee will consider the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act. The bill directs the FCC to clarify rules making clear that robocalls may only be made to consumers with their consent.

A bill proposed in the Senate, the TRACED Act would expand the FCC's power to punish illegal robocallers.

With very few exceptions, robocalls have been illegal in Canada for a number of years. We've also had a federal 'Do Not Call' list for even longer. The robocall laws are automatic. The 'Do Not Call' list requires a one-time registration.

Unfortunately, they don't stop the credit card calls or the 'Congratulations! You have won...' or the Windows scams that come out of the United States or countries where people speak with very heavy accents.

 

[Alistair]

Yesterday we received a call that the caller id implied was from my doctor's office. When I answered it wasn't from my doctor, it was spam and they wanted to give us credit. Now they are copying familiar phone id's from your phone and using them as their calling id so you answer the phone. If it had been from someone I didn't know I wouldn't have answered the phone. This is scary. It makes me wonder if they are using my id to call someone.

That's kind of scary because it would imply your doctor's office database was hacked.

 

[72-Jay]

I've known a couple of people who got calls from their own number.

Have had that happen on multiple occasions.

 

[KaraBulut]

A bill proposed in the Senate, the TRACED Act would expand the FCC's power to punish illegal robocallers.

Senate Passes Anti-Robocall Bill [The Hill]

The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, which passed by a 97-1 vote*, had received more than 80 co-sponsors by the time it reached the Senate floor.

The bill, introduced by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), would give the federal government the authority to slap offenders with fines of up to $10,000 per call.

The legislation would also give regulators more time to find scammers, increase penalties for those who are caught, promote call authentication and blocking, and help coordinate enforcement to increase criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers.

* Rand Paul (R-KY) was the sole vote against the bill.

 

[KaraBulut]

More progress:

State attorneys general, telecom companies band together on sweeping anti-robocall effort [The Hill]

A group of attorneys general from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., joined executives from 12 phone companies Thursday to announce a sweeping effort to combat the scourge of illegal robocalls dialing up millions of U.S. customers every year...

Under the deal between industry groups and the government, which is over a year and a half in the making, the companies — including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and Comcast — have agreed to implement call-blocking technology at no extra cost to customers, and offer their customers a range of "free, easy-to-use call blocking and labeling tools."