Caller Type: Unknown
Phone Number Report: HOW TO THROTTLE BOGUS CALLS (updated 03/21/2012)
Ok, here's a solution if your phone has a contacts list--it works quite well on my iPhone, which allows unlimited phone numbers for any contact.
Step 1, create a contact named something like these names
IGNORE JUNK CALL
SCAMMING SCUMBAGS
FRAUDSTERS LIST
.....
Step 2, select a SILENT ring type for this contact. Or, select a distinctly unusual ring tone like
CRICKETS or
MOTORCYCLE or
RIFLE...
This lets you know if a repeat caller is on the line, but I prefer the silence myself. My iPhone lights up showing the caller ID, even though I have a silent ring.
Step 3. Enable CALLER ID to be displayed for incoming calls that are made to your phone. It's a pity these stealth calls UNKNOWN, or OUT OF AREA, or their ilk, can't be blocked by any phone I know about. My iPhone won't let me put these names where the phone number field is entered.
So, what you do is to put the phone numbers of all bogus and scam callers that contact you, or try to call you, in this special contact.
Also, unless you recognize a toll free number owner, let all calls of this type go unanswered, and if no
voicemail is left, add the Caller ID (their phone number) into the IGNORE JUNK CALL contact.
Also add any other bogus calls
you get or know about, well they go in this contact too.
This may mean also all callers that don't leave a voice mail, or are soliciting you for services or products who you don't have a business relation with. And slime bags you don't want to talk to, like that jerk at the bar, or your ex.
For new toll free and also out of area calls: run these numbers
through Google search to see if they have been reported as junk or have been identified by others as scams.
Don't call an unsolicited toll-free number back, it captures your own phone number, and you will get on other scam lists to call you.
Toll free numbers all have area codes from this list: codes 800, 888, 877, 866, and codes reserved for future expansion include 844, 833, 822, 880 through 887, and 889.
FURTHER: Don't take the default voice mail prompt that came with your phone, because it usually
speaks your phone number and indicates you aren't around to pick up the call and maybe even speaks your name as well.
Record a new one
like "Sorry I missed you, your message will be appreciated".
Friends will know your voice. Scammers, not so often.
My list is long now, my silent ring saves me from tons of spam and scam, and yes, the do not call list is worthless, and toothless as well.
Please feel free to copy this post anywhere, and to any forum.
Consider writing a letter or email to your phone supplier, or your congressman to fix this awful state of affairs, and to put some teeth into the DO NOT CALL law. Ask them to shut down the services that allow fake telephone numbers to be used as well.
Crafted by xyzzy
