peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Last week a guy called and said my Windows computer was sending out infections. He wanted to look (e.g. take control) of my PC to fix it. Very insistent and would call back, if needed. I asked "Windows 10?" "Yes" he replied. Too bad I don't have one of those machines. It's an old scam. They change your password to lock you out. They need only a credit card number to fix it. I guess there are still gullible folks out there.

Robert R Loc: Indianapolis and Naples

Ditto. I never answer if I do not know the number. If important, they will leave a message..

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

This is an ongoing problem for everyone--specially those of us who are at home a lot (but it has now creeped over to our cell phones too). The do not call list is there and is (apparently) followed by a few legitimate businesses--the rest don't care or even know of it's existence. Congress believes the problem is best addressed by the phone carriers and they believe it's best addressed by Congress--ever hear of "Catch 22?"

We don't pickup unless caller ID lets us know it's someone we want to talk to or we're expecting a call (Craig's List issue as previously mentioned). Generally we expect legitimate callers to leave a message and then we answer it. For the few who get through or leave a threatening message to return the call--one is the fake IRS--I found they stopped calling when I call them back and explain that I used to prosecute people like them and that they are committing the federal felony of "wire fraud" and give them the citation and tell them I'm reporting them to the Inspector General of the IRS. At least that seemed to help. I feel bad for all the construction people calling hoping to drum up business--times are tough no matter what the government says--but the fact is I would never pick a contractor because of an unsolicited phone call.

Finally--and no political position intended--under the present administration I would expect absolutely no help from the federal government because of it's strict pro-business policy.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

We also have the same problem here in Oz. Very annoying. Mostly the calls are from India or the Phillipines so if I pick up the phone, say hello, and there's a delay, I quickly hang up.
Our local tv warned us of a new scam....if they ring and ask "can you hear me?" and you say "yes", they can splice that word and use it making it seem you agreed to some sale or whatever nasty business they are up to. Beware.

koalaroo Loc: Gold Coast, Australia

Here too in Oz. Dinner or lunch time. I could set my clock by it.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Very good point--do not engage them in any unnecessary dialog--hang up.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Most of these telemarketers don't leave a message on voicemail(because they know no one is going to call them back). Since they use automatic dialers and call every number in an exchange, even cell phones get these sales calls! On a cell phone you can at least block the number(but the next time they call it will be from another number).

Djedi

Thanks Jerry, that explains a few weird phone calls I tried to follow up on recently. Bas......ds!!

Mercer Loc: Houston, TX, USA

Do you think our government will do anything to retard or stop the phone harrassment, fraud, and serious criminal activity it supports? You sound intelligent, so I am sure you must realize congress will not act. They are far too busy, full time, giving away our tax money to buy the votes that will assure them of lifetime tenure.

The phone problem will get worse, and probably will engender national security issues based on our inability to control the massive telephone system. Phone lines have many uses, some vital to the operation of our national infrastructure, including robotic management of power systems, weather reporting, air traffic operation, etc. I am surprised the terroristically inclined haven't moved toward activity in those areas, YET... or maybe they already have.

I have heard you can reduce the number of these calls to your cellphone, but you won't get rid of them in the long run:

1. Do not answer the phone if you do not recognize the number. Turn off the phone before swiping the screen to
answer.
2. If you answer but do not hear a person at the other end, hang up immediately, and:
A. Block the number and any messages associated with it.
B. Delete the call.
3. Never say "yes." Rumor has it that the call is recorded and your "yes" can be used against you. to paste together
what will sound like your agreement to purchase, etc. Example: "Is this Mr. Jones?" Response (bad), "yes."
4. I have heard that the "Do Not Call" registry is beginning to run again. The registry practically disappeared
following 9/11 when I hear a huge number of national security personnel were diverted to address more serious
problems. It won't hurt to register or re-register, but don't rely on them. You can be absolutely sure that the
criminals ignore the registry, particularly the nastiest of them.
5. Some of the calls encountered:
A. Stock, Bond and investment frauds.
B. You are being sued by the IRS.
C. Your computer needs immediate attention from the caller, a Microsoft engineer.
D. The cruelest one of all: The Ransom Call. Your computer stops working properly. Your files cannot be
accessed. For $500, immediately, the caller will restore your machine. I understand from professional
computer engineers the only thing you can do is pay them if your files are important... business files, tax
information, potentially embarrassing
personal files, etc. They can and will crash your machine totally if you do not pay.
E. Emergency demand for money, To get a relative out of hospital after serious accident, etc.

This is just a small sample. New scams are popping up daily. Don't trust any caller you do not know personally.

dangriss Loc: Fresno, CA

Passing laws against this kind of abuse is a waste of time and effort. These calls are from con artists and hackers mostly overseas using the internet to access VOIP servers, and spoofing the servers into using whatever numbers they want to show up on your phone. Passing laws in the US will not affect calls from India, Africa or Russia, even if they had the slightest inclination to obey laws in their own countries.
Just another way in which abuse of technology out races legitimate uses.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Really doesn't matter, as all the call blockers don't work anyway!

Djedi

Well, I didn't consider myself gullible (I do now) but recently I had an issue with Paypal. I couldn't find their number quickly, so I thought I'd Google it. There was a large entry with a phone number in bold letters, so I called that. A typical, nice sounding individual with Indian accent answered. I explained my issue. He tried to get me to go to a specific page that somehow never appeared. He asked what browser I was using and I told him. I was getting frustrated, so he asked to let him take over my computer and find it. In a moment of weakness I let him do it. Then he wanted me to sign in again. It was at that point that a little bell went off in my head and I tried to retake control, but could not! So, I just shut off my computer realizing that the number I dialed was not really Paypal. When I went back into google, that particular listing and phone number for paypal was no longer there!
Just because you find it in Google, does not mean it is what you think it is!!! I almost think the people behind this scam worked for google. Otherwise how could they inject and remove a listing so quickly?

Geezer Loc: Capreol, Ontario, Canada

Here's a trick I learned working for a telecom company.....

I Googled and downloaded a "re-order" tone, and recorded it to a digital dictation recorder. When I get a suspicious phone call, I answer and play the recording. This tells the telemarketer's auto-dialing computer that the number is invalid. And since many of these people share phone numbers, I get very few of these nuisance calls now.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My call blocker doesn't let them through. The Indian guy got through because he was using the caller ID of the local school. Sometimes, the phone will ring just once, and then it is disconnected. I don't understand that.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Not only does this stink. They call me on my Cell Phone. A) I am on the no call list B) The government doesn't want me to talk when I'm driving and C) If you try to call the government (state orb federal) It's a recording that blows you off.