Silent Spam Calls to toll free numbers

Below is a report generated by 8x8's web-based interface.  all of these are silent calls.  none of the calls after area code (501) have actually reached my phone, due to my new Auto-Attendant settings.  all of these numbers were to our toll-free (886 - number deleted for posting, of course).  notice the duration of all the calls after (501): within one second of 30 seconds.  that's how long the Auto-Attendant keeps them on the line before hanging up.  previous to that, either i would pick up or it would go to VM.

3    (479) 802-4842    (866) 2013-09-02 02:54:23    2013-09-02 02:55:58    00:01:35    IN
4    (256) 677-4378    (866) 2013-09-02 12:17:41    2013-09-02 12:18:41    00:01:00    IN
5    (866) 446-5015    (866) 2013-09-03 01:20:54    2013-09-03 01:21:59    00:01:05    IN
6    (386) 490-1230    (866) 2013-09-03 02:07:36    2013-09-03 02:09:09    00:01:33    IN
7    (501) 712-2643    (866) 2013-09-03 11:55:16    2013-09-03 11:55:59    00:00:43    IN
10    (520) 254-5553    (866) 2013-09-06 04:58:54    2013-09-06 04:59:24    00:00:30    IN
11    (870) 639-4479    (866) 2013-09-09 21:10:54    2013-09-09 21:11:25    00:00:31    IN
14    (520) 332-6542    (866) 2013-09-13 09:49:38    2013-09-13 09:50:08    00:00:30    IN
15    (727) 851-1753    (866) 2013-09-13 22:25:14    2013-09-13 22:25:44    00:00:30    IN
16    (334) 581-4933    (866) 2013-09-14 00:51:02    2013-09-14 00:51:33    00:00:31    IN
17    (928) 263-2947    (866) 2013-09-14 04:05:00    2013-09-14 04:05:31    00:00:31    IN
18    (209) 267-4358    (866) 2013-09-14 05:07:07    2013-09-14 05:07:38    00:00:31    IN
19    (931) 680-3462    (866) 2013-09-13 23:06:33    2013-09-13 23:07:04    00:00:31    IN

I have been getting that same issue with MY toll free.  It's a random FROM number so these guys have to be pros or have access to pro tools anyway.  Who would bother with such pointless BS anyway?   I don't know what Auto-Attendant IS (or what system it's a part of) but I guess it's time for google ;-)

IF you feel like hollaring back at me with some info I can use, please do so through the contact from over at QRradio.NET

Thank you.

r

I am also getting silent messages from 479 802-4842 to my 800 number

Also got a silent message from 415 524-0750 to my 800 number.  When I call back a message says this number is not in service.

OP here.  It appears that we are now getting the same CA and AR calls on a new toll free number that replaced the old one that I discussed in the original post.

For about a month, I got 3-4 calls per day 24/7 from random Alabama area codes and then it stopped for about a week.  Now for about a month, random numbers from California have been calling 3-4 times per day 24/7.

Yesterday (Sunday), I received  2 silent calls from Arkansas area codes.  I have blocked California but can't block AR due to its proximity to my home state of TN.  The calls from Arkansas may have been direct to my local number.

It is time to stop the caller ID dipping fees.  I have written my US and state representatives but have received no reply.

Who regulates the dipping fees?  FCC, congress, state utilty commissions?

sorry to hear those calls are bothering you again.  is there any way you can intercept them with an auto attendant?  i still get those calls but they do not ring through to my office anymore.

Mine started on 9/26, here's my list:
2013-09-26 01:40:00,Unavailable <9282784102>,41
2013-09-28 23:31:39,Unavailable <4243369229>,40
2013-09-28 23:33:33,Unavailable <5595655932>,40
2013-09-28 23:49:53,Unavailable <5308838498>,41
2013-09-29 01:28:45,Unavailable <3342265751>,41
2013-09-29 04:18:08,Unavailable <6235526602>,40
2013-09-30 03:15:32,Unavailable <4798024842>,42
2013-09-30 11:14:23,Unavailable <9123035765>,43
2013-09-30 14:24:31,Unavailable <4247383624>,16
2013-09-30 17:18:10,Unavailable <4155240736>,41
2013-09-30 22:59:05,Unavailable <5012155890>,41
2013-09-30 23:51:22,Unavailable <5102507549>,41
2013-10-01 03:12:40,Unavailable <2562174713>,44
2013-10-01 04:28:40,Unavailable <5304191943>,41
2013-10-01 07:59:01,Unavailable <3107362107>,42
2013-10-01 09:23:26,Unavailable <3107362806>,19

Most all of these are non-routable or disconnected, and the one thing they have in common is no Caller-ID name.  Most legit callers indicate something other than "Unavailable" in the CNAM field.

I don't get it, why are we getting these silent calls at all hours of day and night to our toll free numbers?  Just got one from 479-239-4972.  I answered, is this stupid calling!  They hung up.  A couple hours ago it was from 928-793-3374 and said the same thing.  It must be a very stupid business that's making these silent calls.  What could possibly be of interest to these stupid callers.  I think I'll say something a little more dramatic next time like, Thanks for calling back, my house is on fire and I desperately need your help.  Na, that might be as stupid as the stupid callers.  Been getting these for a long while now and at times very little calls in a month and other times lots in a single day.  In Canada experiencing silent callers

I've gotten 16 calls in 3 hours today.  It runs that gamut as far as the numbers it's coming from.  No way to stop it?  It's Unknown, 374, 652, 381, 462, etc.  And all they do us hang up!

This is all probably a caller ID dipping fee scam but who knows.  I have now blocked CA, AZ and AR on my toll free number and the calls have now started coming directly to my office number.  5 today with 3 in the past hour.

I am starting to think that the calls may be somehow related to our Kall8 toll free service.  I was getting numerous calls every day on an old Kall8 number, got 3 new vanity numbers and within 2 weeks of starting to use one of the new numbers, the calls moved from the old number to the new number.  Neither of the unused numbers have received a single silent call.  The calls to the new number started BEFORE any advertising.  The only reference to the new number was a VM message on the old number mentioning the new number.

Anyone else using Kall8?

Found this thread researching the same issue. Constant calls to the toll free line... Not just a nuisance but the cost of it does not other me. Kevin, yes I do use Kall8,so you might be on to something there. Is also add that the calls started when I listed the business on Manta. Anyone else if see a correlation with Manta?

I have a listing on Manta but it only has my local number.

Although this forum is handy, it is hard for me to check regularly and I want to pursue these idiots.  I have created a group on Yahoo Groups for discussion and note comparing...

silenttollfreecalls@yahoogroups.com

I think that I have it setup correctly.  If you try to join the group and it pukes, please post here and I will figure out whats broken.  This is my first attempt at creating a YahooGroup.

Later,

Kev / OP here,

I registered for a 800notes acct and had to pick a username.  Ratt it is...

I have been talking with Kall8 about all the silent calls.  The customer service rep that I have been talking to acknowledges that they (and other toll free providers) have a major problem with spammers abusing their clients.  We got the 541-801-xxxx calls all blocked and for the past 3 days have had no silent calls thus far. When I say no silent calls, I mean none.  None received, none blocked.  I am finding it very odd that upon my bitching to Kall8 the calls mysteriously stopped.

Anyway...  It has been a nice couple of days to not be answering silent calls several times per day.

I too have been dealing with these robo calls draining my wallet but more importantly my patience.

I have found the cause and would like to propose a solution.

The cause is what has been already pointed out "caller ID dipping fees"  That is how they are making their money but in doing so it is costing all of us a lot of money and time.

The solution is a class action law suit.

Please start contacting lawyers who will take this case on.  It is worth millions to the law firm that takes these scum bags down and all of us will benefit from a decent night sleep.