What people don't realize about this site.

Even brief information here helps to indicate the level of the scammer.  If I see lots of issues I am more likely to https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=39744

Instead of ranting here or stating how you think you got even, take action do the following.
1 - Register your phone(s) with the National Do Not Call Registry: https://www.donotcall.gov/
2 - Everytime you get an unwanted call file a complaint with the National Do Not Call Registry: https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/co ... laintcheck.aspx
3 - Post the same complaint against the number on 800notes.com and link back the post to the complaint at the National Do Not Registry.

Become a part of this movement. These unwanted calls are more than just a nusiance, they are a violation of your rights to privacy.

I started doing this and the number of calls I receive dropped less than one a day and very rarely do I get a second call from the same number. My conclusion is that this method does get results. Exscept from the Shady (indian) Steve Martin claiming to be a representative of the US Treasury, asserting the cops are on the way and I need to send him money. That guy is a real crook needs to be caught and taken to Gitmo.

Many people here are registered with the DNCR. However I get them impression that there are some that believe the FTC actually blocks the calls and I am sure that will always be true.

Yeah, I'm very familiar that this site is used for information only. And I use it frequently when we get a call we're not sure about and I want to see what the people on this site think about it. I've posted a few times to warn people about stuff I'm familiar with in the hopes I might be able to help somebody avoid a scam.

I see some of you talking about how people post any old information online without a care in the world as to who sees it. Things have changed. Or perhaps my parents just passed their common sense onto me. I remember when I first got on the internet I was warned about not posting personal info. And I followed that rule. You don't see that now. So many people post their names, their addresses, phone numbers, schools they attend, where they work, what they eat, where they eat, where they shop, when they're going on vacation, etc, etc, etc. And it's hard for me to believe some of these people are adults instead of naive kids or teenagers that think they live in a bubble where they'll never get hurt, nobody will ever take advantage of them, etc.

>Are you Janie with a name change? Since you seem to know exactly what she meant although she wasn't specific.  

No. I just feel the same way about the whistle/air horn nonsense, and have said so several times. So do some other regulars here. The topic has come up before.

>The only reason I can think of that these callers would develop a personal vendetta against someone to the point of targeting them for some kind of revenge would be if the "victim" went out of their way to anger the caller.

That was exactly my point, and from my reading of JanieJ hers as well, if a little vague.

> But anyone who chooses to do something like that should know they run the risk of making matters worse for themselves because they do have your number.

The three of us are in agreement then.

Ha ha good one

I get scam calls almost on a daily basis and some days more than one. In my area the FBI scammers are now at work. I let as many people as possible know about this site from Facebook to media sites when there are reports of any kind of telephone scam going on.
I've seen many VOIP calls but one that really got me is that when my own home landline number came up on my Caller ID! Another "local" call was a number four digits up from mine, my last two are 70 and this one was 74. I called it back and it was an elderly gentleman who still used a rotary phone (we've still got some ancient party lines way out in the boonies, they can't even hook up to dial-up) so I let him know what was going on and for him to report it to AT&T.

Ultimately your approach will do more to shut down the boiler rooms than wringing our hands or not answering the calls. My call from Cancun yesterday took 18 minutes, interspersed with coughing fits. Juan Mendez from Villa del Palmar/www.takeawayvacations.com was very persistent, but failed to get his sale. My record is 28 minutes w/ a Microsoft tech support scammer from India, and 31 minutes with Rachel from Card Holder Services. Watching continuing education videos makes the time fly, time the scammers have lost, time they don't have to scam a vulnerable person. So I have a long ways to go before equaling 55 minutes!

That IS The Truth. Thank you for stating it so well.

That's correct, but when the calls get transferred to a business in the US, action is possible.

Exactly!!!!! That is my point. If the phone companies get implicated as they should, you will see how quickly they find a way to block these calls. Its been done before.

If you have the time, then donate to this cause--- of keeping the scammers busy on the phone.

I'm not sure how much effect it really has, but it sure can be fun to play "stupid" with a live agent, just to see how far you can take it before THEY give up. Even if you don't have time to really mess with them, start the conversation, then say "could you please hold on a minute? Someone just rang my doorbell." Then just lay the phone down. They don't usually wait very long, but still .... Most telemarketers work on commission, so wasting their time may not hurt their employer, but it might encourage them into finding a different line of work. Eventually that would eliminate the workforce. Well, one can dream.

replying to:
This is why I advocate pressing '1' and getting to a live agent.  This imposes a greater cost on them while they go through their initial script.  Asking questions, getting them off script, waffling on the offer to get them to take more time to try to close the sale - all these things increase their cost and cut into their profits. While their are talking to me, they aren't talking to someone else who might buy something (from reading these forums, it will be to their regret).

If the profit is removed, they will have no choice but completely stop telemarketing.  No laws will do this.  No technology will do this.  Only good old-fashioned 'crowd sourcing' of our time to make them bear the maximum burden for as many of the illegal calls they make will tip the balance.

The DNC list doesn't work? Really? Really?  Just how many more calls do think you would be getting from legitimate telemarketers because your number is not on the DNC list? if anything, you should be appreciative that the DNC list has stopped all the legitimate telemarketers from calling you. What's left? Nothing but the scammers! It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Federal Government at least stopped those calls.  Misinformation is exactly what regular posters are talking about here.

If only more people would realize this.

My now-elderly father has been doing that for a year now, and I am also doing it too, on my landline.
He does not have caller ID at all, and has an old pulse-dial telephone.
The robocaller equipment will hang up the line within 10 seconds.