Dramatic decline in scam calls

[Basil]

Up until very recently, I had been getting an annoying number of scam calls. Sometimes I’d get dozens per day, usually accompanied by some voice mail about tax relief or pre-approved loans, etc.

The past week, it occurred to me that I’ve not been getting many, if any, of these calls (just watch, now I’ve jinxed myself and calls are going to start again).

I did a bit of research and found a couple of efforts by both justice dept and FCC regarding scam operations and robo calls and can’t help but wonder if this has anything to do with the recent decline in calls I’ve been getting.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/...cammer-marketplace-and?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-424692A1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[Gliderman8]

I have my iPhone set to “ask the purpose of the call” before it connects to me.
I haven’t had one call from a spammer.

 

[Basil]

I have my iPhone set to “ask the purpose of the call” before it connects to me.
I haven’t had one call from a spammer.

I have mine set to send unknown calls to VM (I have my reasons). My point is there has been a noticeable decrease in spam/scam calls.

 

[Gliderman8]

And on the email side, I bet I’ve received at least 4-5 “invoices” from the Geek Squad. All from different addresses yet the same phony scam attachment from each sender.

 

[Basil]

And on the email side, I bet I’ve received at least 4-5 “invoices” from the Geek Squad. All from different addresses yet the same phony scam attachment from each sender.

I don’t get stuff from the geek squad, but I do get a lot of emails telling me thank you for your purchase and it sends me a fake PayPal invoice with a link to check my order. Of course the link is to a fishing site. I also get a lot of fake emails claiming to be from a bank that I don’t even belong to asking me to verify my credentials, etc.

 

[Gliderman8]

I don’t get stuff from the geek squad, but I do get a lot of emails telling me thank you for your purchase and it sends me a fake PayPal invoice with a link to check my order. Of course the link is to a fishing site. I also get a lot of fake emails claiming to be from a bank that I don’t even belong to asking me to verify my credentials, etc.

Hard to imagine that people fall for that shite (tried to remove the “e” but couldn’t )

 

[Basil]

Hard to imagine that people fall for that shite (tried to remove the “e” but couldn’t )

These scammers are not people sitting there sending individual emails. They are bot farms that are sending out tens of thousands of emails a minute. They only need one or two to be successful.

 

[mikephillips]

And with AI, who knows how much and what may arrive. I also have all numbers not in my list sent to VM. Most don't leave messages and the numbers come and go. Some days nothing others several with numbers listed as literally all over the world, such as China and Afghanistan for example. Annoying but with the numbers constantly changing by the background spoofing, what can you do.

 

[bobhustead]

Saw a youtube about a new scam. They bomb you with a couple hundred emails in few minutes while invading your bank or credit account so you don't notice the bank warning that someone is trying to get into your account.
Bob

 

[Basil]

Saw a youtube about a new scam. They bomb you with a couple hundred emails in few minutes while invading your bank or credit account so you don't notice the bank warning that someone is trying to get into your account.
Bob

One good reason to make sure Two Factor authentication is turned on.

 

[mikephillips]

That sort of stuff is reasons why first my email doesn't contain a name or other identifying info. I also still do checks and mail for for payments and when shopping online always hit the guest and do no keep options so my credit and other info ism't spread all over. Less convenient?? Yep, but I'd rather protect my details and make it as hard as I can to find out my specifics.

 

[Gliderman8]

I have my iPhone set to “ask the purpose of the call” before it connects to me.
I haven’t had one call from a spammer.

On Friday I had my very first spam caller respond regarding the reason for the call before it connects to me.
The caller responded with “it’s a survey”. It came up on my phone and I had the option to answer or decline the call. Of course I declined it but it was interesting to see how it works because most callers just hang up.

 

[LarryK]

Get a lot of spam calls, medicare, equity loan, car insurance average about 6-8 a week. I decline them and once in a while will answer as sheriff dept. They hang up quick. One time I answered and said I am busy, they said it will take a minute, hit the impact wrench button. No calls for a week.

 

[JPSmit]

My phone service will block Spam calls and they get about half right. Basically if it is just a number I won't answer it. For a while I would get calls from 'Voicemail' which was a little confusing but it definitely is better.

 

[mikephillips]

Generally I don't answer but once I did. Was some guy telling me I'd been found in "secret federal court" if kidnapping and molesting kids and had to pay a $5000 fine or the police were down the street and would arrest me. Well I know there's no "secret" court and if I was being charged with something like that I'd have been arrested first So I told the guy that I was guilty and they could come arrest me and I'd be at the end of the driveway waiting. He said I couldn't do that and I could only pay the fine. He got mad and yelling when I said that wasn't what he gave as options and 3 squares a day and not going to work was ok with me. Anyway, wasted 10 minutes or so of his time as he yelled and and such.

 

[JPSmit]

I am constantly mindful of a couple I knew who received a 'you have an inheritance' phone call - and they really had! After paying a finder's fee they still ended up with about 250k. It was a neighbour of his parents.