866-217-1442

This is an energy company that doesn't quite 'get it' that we don't want their services!

Received several unsolicited calls from this number identifying themselves as an energy company selling natural gas.  They left a name - Elsa - and an extension - 209 - but numerous attempts to reach 'Elsa' have gone unanswered.

Caller claimed he was from Apple Care regarding my iPad. Claimed it had a virus; pop up showed on iPad to call 1-866-217-1442 to resolve. Hacker, scammer.

Was on Pinterest and a pop up came up that I needed to call this number because my phone had been "compromised". Called this number and "Apple care" ran a scan on my phone and they wanted to "help" me with get the virus off my phone. I said I would just go into the Apple Store and he said "it's on you ma'am" and hung up.

I received the virus pop up and called them and gave them IMEI number but during the call I realized it could be a scam.. I am not sure how bad it is that I've given them my IMEI?

Pop up on iphone after clicking on pintrest picture of hair style saying systemmaciosalert.shoppingstop.us
your apple device has a virus
Apple IOS Alert!
Pegasus spyware activated
System might be infected due to unexpected error!
Please contact Apple Care 1-866-217-1442 immediately!
for assistance regarding how to remove it.  (and so on).

I didn't call that number, but instead contacted Apple Support via my computer and gave them information to return my call.  Spoke with a really nice lady that informed me that was not one of their numbers and they wouldn't pop up a message on your phone.

Damned scammers! Why can't we do something about these fools?

There are several techniques folks have used to supposedly stop further calls from spammers.  Here are some:

Technique	How It Works	Pros / Cons
Do Not Call List	NOT a call blocker!	Prevents calls from legitimate telemarketers ONLY
Blocking service	Simultaneours Ring Blocks crowdsourced list of numbers	Bad Guys can spoof lots of different numbers, but services are quick to react.
Call Blocking Device or App	User chooses numbers for blacklist (blocked)	Bad Guys can spoof lots of different numbers, user must choose what to block.  100% effective against 2nd (or later) calls from same number.
Call Blocking Device or App	User chooses numbers for whitelist  (all others blocked)	Difficult to defeat, but if user forgets to add a friend, the friend is blocked
Call Blocking Device or App	Challenge-Response system (automatic blacklist)	Difficult to defeat.  Robocaller cannot respond to challenge, so number automatically blacklisted. User can also set up their own blacklists or whitelists.  Not 100% effective against human spammer-callers.
Blowing horn or whistle into phone	Irritates spammer	Does not work.  May lead to unanticipated results.*
Arguing with or swearing at spammer	Irritates spammer	Does not work.  May lead to unanticipated results.*
Repeatedly calling the spammer back	May contribute to the problem, rather than the solution	The other phone may be that of an innocent third party, since spammers spoof numbers!
Forwarding the spam call to another phone	May contribute to the problem, rather than the solution	The other phone may be that of an innocent third party, since spammers spoof numbers!
Entering into a LONG discussion with the spammer	Prevents individual spammer from making calls while talking to you	Slows down spammer's call rate, but also ties up your phone.  Does not affect other spammers in the same or different call centers.
Do not answer unfamiliar numbers.  Let call go to message system	Legit callers usually leave message.  Spammers usually hang up after 3 or 4 rings.  Consider blocking the latter.	Some spammers let it ring for more than 4 times
Find an appropriate Special Information Tone (SIT) with a web search.  Record that tone as the beginning of your Answering Machine or VM response.	The SIT tone supposedly "tells" the calling computer that the phone has been disconnected.	Works for quite old computer based dialers, BUT cheap war dialers do not listen for a SIT tone, and try to "talk" to your VM anyway. Also, today's VOIP systems use a different method.
Technique	How It Works	Pros / Cons

* "Unanticipated results" include:

• Spammer sharing your number with other spammers.
• Spammer spoofing YOUR number, so it appears on others' Caller IDs  (see   https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id  )

If you want to report potential fraudulent or scam calls, here is a list of links to (mostly government) sites in Canada and the USA were you can report those scams, or learn more about them.

http://phonehelp.2truth.com/complaint_sites.html

For info on FTC and communication initiatives to stop robocalls and other illegal calls, click "FTC", below.


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Please reply to this post, on 800notes.com, to let us know you read it, or have taken suitable actions to protect yourself.

Keeps Popping up in my I phone while playing a game.  This is not a bona ride Apple care number.  How can I get this to stop?

Same thing just happened to me.  I called the 866.217.1442 number - not from my cell phone but a landline and they said it was "Apple Care".  Then asked me if I was calling from the number that received the notification.  When I said no, and indicated that I was suspicious of things like this, he hung up on me.  TOTAL SCAM