"Spam Risk" (Page 3): I just signed up with 1-VOIP which uses nomorobo to reject spam calls. I also had a CPR5000 call blocker but it is not needed anymore. In addition, I have a phone...

Bmarsh Loc: Bellaire, MI

I just signed up with 1-VOIP which uses nomorobo to reject spam calls. I also had a CPR5000 call blocker but it is not needed anymore. In addition, I have a phone set from Vtech which has several call screening features, including one that makes an unknown caller announce themselves before the call is presented. You then either accept or reject the call. I think the Vtech set is the same as the AT&T. No more spam calls.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I like my CPR Call Blocker. But perhaps I do something a little different than you are doing. When a call comes in, and including Spam Alert, I let it continue to ring. Then the answer machine kicks in. If no message is left, then I pull that number up on the CPR Call blocker, then I block it. If, instead there is a message left (like a doctor appointment reminder) I'll listen to the message,delete it but won't add it to the call blocker. So far, I've never seen a number 'blocked' by me ever call again.

Bill

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Nomorobo (which is free for land lines) has made a measurable difference for us - no cost or downside to try it if your phone service supports it.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

When power is out and the cell towers are down how do you call for help ??? Land lines still work !!! Telephone CO. have back-up generators with auto start to keep their batteries charged so your land line will work to call for Fire, Police or Doctor. Retired AT T tech, Power was 1 of my jobs, covering 30,000 business and home customers.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

jerryc41 wrote:

When I get most phone calls, my caller ID indicate... (show quote)

I have an Apple phone and it has a feature that silences all calls from people that aren't in your contact list. Apple flashes the call across the screen when it comes in and then takes it directly to VM. It's great not to hear all of those calls anymore. I don't know what phone you have but maybe you have it too and don't realize it. Google it.

cwp3420

jerryc41 wrote:

When I get most phone calls, my caller ID indicate... (show quote)

I use an Apple iPhone 12 Max Pro. In the phone section in settings, it has a button called “silence unknown callers”. I keep that turned on all the time. With that on, the only calls that will ring through to your phone are people stored in your contact list. If they’re not a saved contact, it goes straight to voicemail without your phone ever ringing. I find out of 100 calls that end up going to voicemail, only 2 or 3 leave a voicemail.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

14kphotog wrote:

When power is out and the cell towers are down how do you call for help ??? Land lines still work !!! Telephone CO. have back-up generators with auto start to keep their batteries charged so your land line will work to call for Fire, Police or Doctor. Retired AT T tech, Power was 1 of my jobs, covering 30,000 business and home customers.

Yes indeed, POTS (plain old telephone service) is VERY reliable!

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

Area code 962 has not been assigned. If you get a call from that area code it is always spam.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

jerryc41 wrote:

When I get most phone calls, my caller ID indicates, "Spam Risk." I pick up and hang up……

I will text or speak in a very authoritative voice the following. Spam calls and texts stop almost immediately.

“You have reached the telephone number of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. You must delete this number, never call this number again and never share it with anyone. This is your only warning. You will be prosecuted to the full extent of Law.”

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

As long as the phone companies and cell phone service providers can derive income from the spammers we will never see an end to the spam calls. If the FCC would make the phone companies and Cell service providers financially responsible for the spammers I would bet that spam calls would stop immediately!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Scruples wrote:

I will text or speak in a very authoritative voice the following. Spam calls and texts stop almost immediately.

“You have reached the telephone number of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. You must delete this number, never call this number again and never share it with anyone. This is your only warning. You will be prosecuted to the full extent of Law.”

And then you see that it's your elderly aunt from far away calling.

A recording of that would be good.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

jerryc41 wrote:

The alternative is to let the phone ring ten times.

If my phone rings and it's a number I don't want to answer, I press the sound button on my phone and the ringing stops. It doesn't answer the call, just stops the ring.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Longshadow wrote:

Yes.
Land line works when cell phone battery dead or tower out. (Backup phone)
Land line works during a power outage (We have one "plain" phone.)
911 knows exactly where I'm located.
We have no bells & whistles on the land line ,local only, $30/month with taxes.

Maybe someday we'll ditch it.

If the tower is out (we have minimal signal from the local towers anyway) the wifi is used for my cell phone.
My battery runs out maybe twice a year and I usually notice and it only takes a minute to charge it to the point where it works again.
I dropped the land line about 10 years ago since we only got spam calls on it.

clickety

Longshadow wrote:

Yes.
Land line works when cell phone battery dead or tower out. (Backup phone)
Land line works during a power outage (We have one "plain" phone.)
911 knows exactly where I'm located.
We have no bells & whistles on the land line ,local only, $30/month with taxes.

Maybe someday we'll ditch it.

I too feel the benefits (actually protections) you noted justify the cost of a landline.

Equus Loc: Puget Sound

Can't recommend a call blocker, but I did get a call recently that wanted me to return the call so they could confirm that I am deceased. Since I am deceased I didn't call.