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NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:30 PM Feb 2021

wow - phone and text spammers/scammers going nuts today.

Both of our numbers have been registered with the do not call list for many years - I just went in and verified (2003, and 2008).

My wife, on one of the numbers (her cell used to be our land line) is getting texts saying she owes Amazon 800.00, two from Experian and Transunion saying she has big issues in her credit report, and just now a number saying it is the IRS. This is in the last 30 minutes. She has a Pixel, so can report spam and block numbers, but it is whackamole... they are all from area codes in a place we moved from last year.

Anyone else seeing a big uptick in spamming texts and calls?

I can imagine that lots of people end up being taken in by these. Clearly, the do not call list is like a 6 inch tall fence trying to keep the deer out of the garden!

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wow - phone and text spammers/scammers going nuts today. (Original Post) NRaleighLiberal Feb 2021 OP
My phone literally just rang as I was reading your comment. Fourth junk call this morning. EarnestPutz Feb 2021 #1
I have been Timewas Feb 2021 #2
I'm not gettting inundated, but I received a very unusual text last week DonaldsRump Feb 2021 #3
In my experience, answering the phone only verifies it's an active moonscape Feb 2021 #18
Oh, I totally agree with not answering the calls DonaldsRump Feb 2021 #19
I got something like three today gratuitous Feb 2021 #4
I think missed a call from my HCP, yesterday, although I suspect it was a spoofed call Siwsan Feb 2021 #5
Happened to me yesterday. BlueDawn Feb 2021 #6
I got an email today asking me to verify my info in order to be eligible for solar panel fierywoman Feb 2021 #7
Massive identity theft occurring nationwide in recent months pecosbob Feb 2021 #8
Expired car warranty scam, is the call I get all the time. sarcasmo Feb 2021 #9
.... NutmegYankee Feb 2021 #13
I have been getting expired car warranty calls for years. I have caller ID so do not answer katmondoo Feb 2021 #17
My favorite is, your 2106's warranty is expired. Sorry scammer, I no longer own that car. sarcasmo Feb 2021 #20
Yes - 6 spam calls so far today! 50 Shades Of Blue Feb 2021 #10
I stopped answering calls I don't know a while ago.... getagrip_already Feb 2021 #11
I got them last week BlueSpot Feb 2021 #12
I never did that Do Not Call thing, but a good friend and my mom did. cwydro Feb 2021 #14
I was thinking today was more than usual on my land line too. lpbk2713 Feb 2021 #15
I only have a land line, no caller ID, so now I don't answer the phone AnotherDreamWeaver Feb 2021 #16
We've been getting loads of spam calls mcar Feb 2021 #21
I get at least one a day Demovictory9 Feb 2021 #22
I've seen an uptick from one or two a month to about one a week. SeattleVet Feb 2021 #23

Timewas

(2,174 posts)
2. I have been
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:34 PM
Feb 2021

Getting inundated for the last week with warnings about my insurance, my credit rating and points on my driving record...block the number and they use a new one

DonaldsRump

(7,715 posts)
3. I'm not gettting inundated, but I received a very unusual text last week
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:37 PM
Feb 2021

It said that I had a package coming from DHL (or UPS, I forget), and that I had to pay around $2.00 to receive a package.

I sent a text back saying that this was illegal, and that if I ever received any further oral or written communication like this again from them, I would inform law enforcement.

Next time you get something like this, send this kind of message. If it's a phone call, try to get them to give you their email, phone number (which is probably spoofed), and a mailing address, without revealing any of your own information, and then tell them you'll turn them in.

For 99% of these crooks, that scares them off. And, if I ever do make a complaint to law enforcement, I'll keep following up.

moonscape

(4,664 posts)
18. In my experience, answering the phone only verifies it's an active
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 08:17 PM
Feb 2021

number and the calls increase. I use nomorobo, don't answer any call from an unknown number, and my spam calls in time have plummeted. I now only get 1-2/day vs gazillions

DonaldsRump

(7,715 posts)
19. Oh, I totally agree with not answering the calls
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 08:28 PM
Feb 2021

It's funny...I get VERY few calls each year. To be getting 1 or 2 calls a day and be happy about it is staggering to me! I guess I'm lucky.

My point is that none of these people will ever do anything to you if you challenge them. If (and I stress the word "if", you engage with them), tell them nothing, get all their info, and then tell them you'll call call local, state, federal, and international law enforcement.

As I said, almost all of the scammers will back off and probably never contact you again.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
4. I got something like three today
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:41 PM
Feb 2021

Including one in the doctor's office as I was filling out paperwork. Hey, my blood pressure is up! Go figure.

I don't see why having a telephone means you have to be open to calls from every scammer and fuckhead on the planet. I'll bet this would end yesterday if phones came with a simple "If my phone doesn't know you, I don't know you" app (that is, a call comes through only if the number is in your directory; everything else never connects). I'd also like to see heavy duty fines and long prison sentences for the miscreants behind the calls. Sign some international agreements to rain fire down on the boiler room call centers around the world.

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
5. I think missed a call from my HCP, yesterday, although I suspect it was a spoofed call
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:42 PM
Feb 2021

All that shows is the name of the health center - no message and instead of a phone number, all it said was 'Mobile'. They ALWAYS leave a message, and why would a clinic call from an anonymous 'Mobile'?

I figure if it was a legitimate call, they will try again.

And I have noticed an uptick in calls from "Area 246"

BlueDawn

(892 posts)
6. Happened to me yesterday.
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:44 PM
Feb 2021

I got an automated call yesterday saying it was Amazon and I needed to call a specific number immediately because someone had hijacked my Amazon account for a charge over $300. I naturally did not call the number.

And then today I got a text from a friend saying that "Netflix" had texted him saying that someone had accessed his account to set up another account in his name. He said he has never had an account with Netflix.....ever. Of course they wanted him to respond.....but he didnt.

I realize these are only two examples. I am curious to see if other DUers have been getting more calls like these lately.

fierywoman

(7,641 posts)
7. I got an email today asking me to verify my info in order to be eligible for solar panel
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:45 PM
Feb 2021

aid. Except (1) I rent, so obviously (2) I wouldn't have made the request in the first place.

pecosbob

(7,502 posts)
8. Massive identity theft occurring nationwide in recent months
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:48 PM
Feb 2021

There are tens of thousands more applications for unemployment insurance here in Nevada currently than there are workers in the state. Not sure why Nevada became a target, probably because of the pandemic's effect on the hospitality industry which is a major employer here. Saw a news story recently tracking ten different unemployment payments for ten different workers being sent to one address in Sonoma, CA.

I also got one of those fake Amazon 'You need to send us all your personal information via this unsecured link' scam phishing emails a few weeks ago as well as a similar scam a couple of months ago that purported to be from Paypal.

50 Shades Of Blue

(9,768 posts)
10. Yes - 6 spam calls so far today!
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:52 PM
Feb 2021

Mine are usually for Google ad listings, Marriott hotels, and auto warranties. Once in a while I hear from Microsoft.

getagrip_already

(14,225 posts)
11. I stopped answering calls I don't know a while ago....
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 06:54 PM
Feb 2021

anyone real will leave a message.

But both my cell phone and land line have been going nuts.

BlueSpot

(851 posts)
12. I got them last week
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 07:20 PM
Feb 2021

I didn't answer any of them and none left message but I nearly threw the phone out the window.

 

cwydro

(51,308 posts)
14. I never did that Do Not Call thing, but a good friend and my mom did.
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 07:27 PM
Feb 2021

I rarely (almost never) get spam calls. My friend gets them nonstop. Mom did too, but beyond knowing about that now.

I always thought that was some kind of set up.

lpbk2713

(42,696 posts)
15. I was thinking today was more than usual on my land line too.
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 07:33 PM
Feb 2021


Two live spammers and five or six robocalls. One lady with a thick accent wanted to buy my house. Another wanted to interest me in an assisted living facility. I usually lay the phone down for ten minutes or so to use up their time. But I happened to think ... no one has called me about my car warranty expiring lately. I hope they're alright.

AnotherDreamWeaver

(2,846 posts)
16. I only have a land line, no caller ID, so now I don't answer the phone
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 07:48 PM
Feb 2021

but let the message machine tell callers they have to speak up for me to pick up the phone. I was getting calls from 'publishers clearing house' and some guy with a deep voice saying he wanted money for police agencies. I get several calls a day now that don't leave a message. It takes me time to come from the kitchen to the phone in case it is a real call, most of the time it's a caller that hangs up.

mcar

(42,206 posts)
21. We've been getting loads of spam calls
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 08:48 PM
Feb 2021

over the last several weeks. The "your warranty is expiring" are most of them.

SeattleVet

(5,468 posts)
23. I've seen an uptick from one or two a month to about one a week.
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 09:33 PM
Feb 2021

I use multiple blocking techniques (the Ooma VOIP phone system's personal and community blocklists, which also incorporates NoMoRobo).

If I see a number I don't recognize I also normally turn on the scanner radio and answer, "North Precinct, Fraud Division" with police calls going on in the background. That results in a fast hangup is it's not a robocall, and I never hear from that number again.

I went from 5 or 6 calls a day a few years ago to a couple a month, until the past few weeks when it's back up to about one a week.

My T-Mobile account seems to do a very good job of blocking scam calls and texts. It's VERY rare that any of those come through.

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