Since I've retired, I've took to the sport of outsmarting the phone scammers. My late wife was smart especially after we got caller ID installed. I took that one step further after she died and I retired and bought a call blocker phone device. Don't recognize the number? Hit the button on the call blocker device and the scammers can't use that number again as the device will block the number if they try to get through to you at that number in the future. Try to get a device with a large memory. Yeah, I know the scammers use random phone number generators at times and can hide their phone numbers and locations on caller I.D. I mean by hiding they "spoof" their return numbers in one's caller I.D. Even my limited memory call blocker unit has made my life easier. I get about three "one hit" phone rings a day at my location if not more.
Used to be that the scammers let the phone ring three times. Then they went to only two times and now I many times only hear my phone ring once. I try to get to the call blocker to assess visually the displayed number and 99% of the time, it's a junk call. Hard to get to my call blocker in time sometimes if I'm on the "pot" as it resets and the current number disappears with a "one hit" phone call. It's only displayed for a short period of time with the unit I have. Probably an idiosyncrasy to the call blocker unit I own.
Now I know sometimes I realize in mid call I've dialed a wrong number and hang up after one ring so's not to bother the party. It is occurring in my house too often now and I suspect scammers.
The bastids are hoping for some old compromised person they can bilk money out of who's sitting next to a phone waiting for "someone" to call and is emotionally vulnerable.
I answered a strange call two days ago for "fun" and could hear all the voices in the background. It's obviously a "boiler room". The caller comes online and after he miss pronounces my name I say, "Effffffff You." Using the "real" colorful and truthful vulgar language we all know and love. Hung up the phone, hit the cancel button on the call blocker and acted really smug. I saw the number before I picked up, realized it was a scammer and decided I'd feel better if I yelled out some real vulgarity that day to get the "evilness" out of my system!
I have an old CPR call blocker unit. Are there any other call blocker units out there that folks are using and care to comment on? I'd be interested in one with a large memory to store numbers to block. I have to admit I still have an old wired land line at home so that's the scenario I'm in with a call blocker. Surprisingly I don't get as much on my cell phone yet. It's more stupid texts. Kurt
Used to be that the scammers let the phone ring three times. Then they went to only two times and now I many times only hear my phone ring once. I try to get to the call blocker to assess visually the displayed number and 99% of the time, it's a junk call. Hard to get to my call blocker in time sometimes if I'm on the "pot" as it resets and the current number disappears with a "one hit" phone call. It's only displayed for a short period of time with the unit I have. Probably an idiosyncrasy to the call blocker unit I own.
Now I know sometimes I realize in mid call I've dialed a wrong number and hang up after one ring so's not to bother the party. It is occurring in my house too often now and I suspect scammers.
The bastids are hoping for some old compromised person they can bilk money out of who's sitting next to a phone waiting for "someone" to call and is emotionally vulnerable.
I answered a strange call two days ago for "fun" and could hear all the voices in the background. It's obviously a "boiler room". The caller comes online and after he miss pronounces my name I say, "Effffffff You." Using the "real" colorful and truthful vulgar language we all know and love. Hung up the phone, hit the cancel button on the call blocker and acted really smug. I saw the number before I picked up, realized it was a scammer and decided I'd feel better if I yelled out some real vulgarity that day to get the "evilness" out of my system!
I have an old CPR call blocker unit. Are there any other call blocker units out there that folks are using and care to comment on? I'd be interested in one with a large memory to store numbers to block. I have to admit I still have an old wired land line at home so that's the scenario I'm in with a call blocker. Surprisingly I don't get as much on my cell phone yet. It's more stupid texts. Kurt