Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Irritating phone calls
8 views
Skip to first unread message
KenK
Jan 28, 2012, 11:35:42 AM1/28/12
to
Fingerhut (800-503-2463) has been calling my cell (it's normally off) for a
week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
Google says I'm not alone. Try Googling that number. Evidently it's their
collection service and from what I've read on Google they seem to often get
the phone number of their customer wrong and do not respond to complaints.
--
"Experience is something you don't get until
just after you need it." Steven Wright
week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
Google says I'm not alone. Try Googling that number. Evidently it's their
collection service and from what I've read on Google they seem to often get
the phone number of their customer wrong and do not respond to complaints.
--
"Experience is something you don't get until
just after you need it." Steven Wright
Annie Woughman
Jan 28, 2012, 12:06:34 PM1/28/12
to
"KenK" <inv...@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9FE8619F29...@130.133.4.11...
> Fingerhut (800-503-2463) has been calling my cell (it's normally off) for
> a
> week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
> mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
> my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
> and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
We get at least two calls a week from "Credit card services" (or some such
> a
> week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
> mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
> my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
> and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
variation). They are always from a different number and they have a taped
message that says it is urgent that we press 9 now to respond or we will
miss out on this great deal to "lower our interest rate." I took the calls
a couple of times and asked them just which of my credit cards they were
referring to. They guy said it didn't matter, they dealt with VISA, Master
Card, Discover, etc. I asked him to be specific, WHICH credit card. I
wasn't about to give him any of my credit card numbers, so just how were
they supposed to help. He said as long as I had at least $10,000 in credit
card debt they could help me lower my interest rates. Yeah, right.
Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
The Real Bev
Jan 28, 2012, 5:43:19 PM1/28/12
to
On 01/28/2012 09:06 AM, Annie Woughman wrote:
> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
You had to actually talk them to know it was, if not a scam, at least
> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
nothing related to any of your accounts?
--
Cheers, Bev
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"The fact that windows is one of the most popular ways to
operate a computer means that evolution has made a general
fuckup and our race is doomed." -- Anon.
Fake ID
Jan 29, 2012, 4:25:05 AM1/29/12
to
In article <wWVUq.3959$EF2....@newsfe18.iad>,
It's obvious that they're crooks. The calls themselves break at least
three laws:
1) Calling DNC number
2) Recorded message
3) Falsified Caller ID
Plus the statements are blatant lies:
"your home loan"
"this is your (2nd|final) notice"
pretty much everything they say
Several of the ones I get make vague claims about "stimulus" clearly
meant to imply the federal stimulus programs. One would think, and be
wrong, that the feds might be interesting in shutting these scum down.
The "car warranty" scammers supposedly went to jail. IIRC, they were
structured as three entities each performing a specific part of the scam
but each trying to point the finger at one of the others for doing the
illegal part. I wouldn't be surprized if the current scammers use a sea
of shell corporations where each call is from a different corporation.
I'd say that these assholes would claim that pressing 1 to be removed
from their list constitutes establishing a business relationship, but
it's clear from their behavior that they just don't give a shit about
the rules.
m
Annie Woughman <anniew...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>"KenK" <inv...@invalid.com> wrote in message
>news:Xns9FE8619F29...@130.133.4.11...
>> Fingerhut (800-503-2463) has been calling my cell (it's normally off) for
>> a
>> week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
>> mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
>> my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
>> and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
>
>We get at least two calls a week from "Credit card services" (or some such
>variation). They are always from a different number and they have a taped
>message that says it is urgent that we press 9 now to respond or we will
>miss out on this great deal to "lower our interest rate." I took the calls
>a couple of times and asked them just which of my credit cards they were
>referring to. They guy said it didn't matter, they dealt with VISA, Master
>Card, Discover, etc. I asked him to be specific, WHICH credit card. I
>wasn't about to give him any of my credit card numbers, so just how were
>they supposed to help. He said as long as I had at least $10,000 in credit
>card debt they could help me lower my interest rates. Yeah, right.
>Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
What is the underlying scam to these calls?
>
>
>"KenK" <inv...@invalid.com> wrote in message
>news:Xns9FE8619F29...@130.133.4.11...
>> Fingerhut (800-503-2463) has been calling my cell (it's normally off) for
>> a
>> week or two now many times a day and leaving a blank message on my voice
>> mail. I've never ordered from Fingerhut. I wonder if there's a way to make
>> my cell automatically reject calls from that number. It's very irritating
>> and uses up cell minutes to get their calls and erase them every day.
>
>We get at least two calls a week from "Credit card services" (or some such
>variation). They are always from a different number and they have a taped
>message that says it is urgent that we press 9 now to respond or we will
>miss out on this great deal to "lower our interest rate." I took the calls
>a couple of times and asked them just which of my credit cards they were
>referring to. They guy said it didn't matter, they dealt with VISA, Master
>Card, Discover, etc. I asked him to be specific, WHICH credit card. I
>wasn't about to give him any of my credit card numbers, so just how were
>they supposed to help. He said as long as I had at least $10,000 in credit
>card debt they could help me lower my interest rates. Yeah, right.
>Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
It's obvious that they're crooks. The calls themselves break at least
three laws:
1) Calling DNC number
2) Recorded message
3) Falsified Caller ID
Plus the statements are blatant lies:
"your home loan"
"this is your (2nd|final) notice"
pretty much everything they say
Several of the ones I get make vague claims about "stimulus" clearly
meant to imply the federal stimulus programs. One would think, and be
wrong, that the feds might be interesting in shutting these scum down.
The "car warranty" scammers supposedly went to jail. IIRC, they were
structured as three entities each performing a specific part of the scam
but each trying to point the finger at one of the others for doing the
illegal part. I wouldn't be surprized if the current scammers use a sea
of shell corporations where each call is from a different corporation.
I'd say that these assholes would claim that pressing 1 to be removed
from their list constitutes establishing a business relationship, but
it's clear from their behavior that they just don't give a shit about
the rules.
m
Message has been deleted
Annie Woughman
Jan 30, 2012, 6:07:25 PM1/30/12
to
"The Real Bev" <bashl...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jg1tm8$dse$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 01/28/2012 09:06 AM, Annie Woughman wrote:
>
>> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
>
> You had to actually talk them to know it was, if not a scam, at least
> nothing related to any of your accounts?
Nah, I figured it was a scam, but I was curious about what their pitch would
>
>> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
>
> You had to actually talk them to know it was, if not a scam, at least
> nothing related to any of your accounts?
be. First I demanded that he specify which card he was calling about (that
was the "oh we deal with all types of cards" answer.) I even asked the
guy what kind of scam he was trying to pull. He totally denied that--right
before he hung up on me.
watcher
Feb 2, 2012, 4:51:05 PM2/2/12
to
I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a non-working phone number, and
have a tape or digital recorder listening to the answer tones that come up
when the phone company connects you to their error line. The three tones at
the beginning of the connection are all you need. Then, play them back first
whenever you pick up to answer any call, or, if you wish, put them first in
the answer message of your answering machine. The idea is that any automated
calling system used by scammers like this will detect the "non-working number"
tones and remove your number from their database, since they don't want to
waste time calling numbers that won't respond.
As I said, I haven't bothered to do this so I don't know if it is actually
effective in getting rid of these pests, but, if they're annoying enough, it
might be worth a try.
W.
The Real Bev
Feb 2, 2012, 6:49:05 PM2/2/12
to
On 02/02/2012 01:51 PM, watcher wrote:
> I once read about a possible solution to this problem, which, I will admit,
> I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a non-working phone number, and
> have a tape or digital recorder listening to the answer tones that come up
> when the phone company connects you to their error line. The three tones at
> the beginning of the connection are all you need. Then, play them back first
> whenever you pick up to answer any call, or, if you wish, put them first in
> the answer message of your answering machine. The idea is that any automated
> calling system used by scammers like this will detect the "non-working number"
> tones and remove your number from their database, since they don't want to
> waste time calling numbers that won't respond.
> As I said, I haven't bothered to do this so I don't know if it is actually
> effective in getting rid of these pests, but, if they're annoying enough, it
> might be worth a try.
I tried that a long time ago. No difference. 80% of the calls now are
> I once read about a possible solution to this problem, which, I will admit,
> I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a non-working phone number, and
> have a tape or digital recorder listening to the answer tones that come up
> when the phone company connects you to their error line. The three tones at
> the beginning of the connection are all you need. Then, play them back first
> whenever you pick up to answer any call, or, if you wish, put them first in
> the answer message of your answering machine. The idea is that any automated
> calling system used by scammers like this will detect the "non-working number"
> tones and remove your number from their database, since they don't want to
> waste time calling numbers that won't respond.
> As I said, I haven't bothered to do this so I don't know if it is actually
> effective in getting rid of these pests, but, if they're annoying enough, it
> might be worth a try.
of the dead-air variety, with the remainder being probably-local home
improvement shops/scams.
Has anyone ever heard of a successful do-not-call-list prosecution? The
phonedroids seem genuinely ignorant of the DNCL.
--
Cheers, Bev
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level.
It's cheaper." -- Quentin Crisp 1908 - 1999
Susan Bugher
Feb 2, 2012, 8:26:26 PM2/2/12
to
watcher wrote:
><SNIP> The idea is that any automated
http://www.davehitt.com/jan02/tmmmda.html
How to emulate a disconnected number (sit.wav sound file can be downloaded). Some other ploys are suggested too.
Susan
--
><SNIP> The idea is that any automated
> calling system used by scammers like this will detect the "non-working number"
> tones and remove your number from their database, since they don't want to
> waste time calling numbers that won't respond.
"Telemarketers, Make My Day, Again":
> tones and remove your number from their database, since they don't want to
> waste time calling numbers that won't respond.
http://www.davehitt.com/jan02/tmmmda.html
How to emulate a disconnected number (sit.wav sound file can be downloaded). Some other ploys are suggested too.
Susan
--
Dee
Feb 3, 2012, 9:16:20 AM2/3/12
to
watcher <wat...@news.freeshell.org> wrote in
news:slrn3vfsjim19...@otaku.freeshell.org:
> I once read about a possible solution to this problem, which, I
> will admit, I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a
> non-working phone number, and have a tape or digital recorder
> listening to the answer tones that come up when the phone company
> connects you to their error line. The three tones at the
> beginning of the connection are all you need. Then, play them back
> first whenever you pick up to answer any call, or, if you wish,
> put them first in the answer message of your answering machine.
> The idea is that any automated calling system used by scammers
> like this will detect the "non-working number" tones and remove
> your number from their database, since they don't want to waste
> time calling numbers that won't respond. As I said, I haven't
> bothered to do this so I don't know if it is actually effective in
> getting rid of these pests, but, if they're annoying enough, it
> might be worth a try.
>
> W.
If you have a voice modem card in your PC and Caller ID service, you
can use a free utility called PhoneTray. I have used it for several
years to discourage unwanted calls. Mine is set so that Toll Free
calls hear the SIT tones with the message "The number you have reached
has been disconnected." Generally, once is enough and they don't call
back a second time.
http://www.phonetray.com/phonetrayfree.htm
Dee
news:slrn3vfsjim19...@otaku.freeshell.org:
> I once read about a possible solution to this problem, which, I
> will admit, I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a
> non-working phone number, and have a tape or digital recorder
> listening to the answer tones that come up when the phone company
> connects you to their error line. The three tones at the
> beginning of the connection are all you need. Then, play them back
> first whenever you pick up to answer any call, or, if you wish,
> put them first in the answer message of your answering machine.
> The idea is that any automated calling system used by scammers
> like this will detect the "non-working number" tones and remove
> your number from their database, since they don't want to waste
> time calling numbers that won't respond. As I said, I haven't
> bothered to do this so I don't know if it is actually effective in
> getting rid of these pests, but, if they're annoying enough, it
> might be worth a try.
>
> W.
can use a free utility called PhoneTray. I have used it for several
years to discourage unwanted calls. Mine is set so that Toll Free
calls hear the SIT tones with the message "The number you have reached
has been disconnected." Generally, once is enough and they don't call
back a second time.
http://www.phonetray.com/phonetrayfree.htm
Dee
KenK
Feb 3, 2012, 12:19:23 PM2/3/12
to
do that. However, it would work on my home land line. I've thought of
doing it in the past but have been put off by the trouble of getting the
tones on my answering machine message. Yesterday I started getting
several calls within a short time hanging up on my answering machine. No
caller ID so I have no idea who. This may develop into a PITA. I hope
not.
KenK
Feb 3, 2012, 12:23:05 PM2/3/12
to
The Real Bev <bashl...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:jgf7dh$dc$1...@news.albasani.net:
> On 02/02/2012 01:51 PM, watcher wrote:
>
>> I once read about a possible solution to this problem, which, I will
>> admit, I've never tried myself. The idea is to call a non-working
>> phone number, and have a tape or digital recorder listening to the
>> answer tones that come up when the phone company connects you to
>> their error line. The three tones at the beginning of the connection
>> are all you need. Then, play them back first whenever you pick up to
>> answer any call, or, if you wish, put them first in the answer
>> message of your answering machine. The idea is that any automated
>> calling system used by scammers like this will detect the
>> "non-working number" tones and remove your number from their
>> database, since they don't want to waste time calling numbers that
>> won't respond. As I said, I haven't bothered to do this so I don't
>> know if it is actually effective in getting rid of these pests, but,
>> if they're annoying enough, it might be worth a try.
>
> I tried that a long time ago. No difference. 80% of the calls now
> are of the dead-air variety, with the remainder being probably-local
> home improvement shops/scams.
>
> Has anyone ever heard of a successful do-not-call-list prosecution?
> The phonedroids seem genuinely ignorant of the DNCL.
>
h
Feb 5, 2012, 10:38:04 AM2/5/12
to
"The Real Bev" <bashl...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:jg1tm8$dse$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 01/28/2012 09:06 AM, Annie Woughman wrote:
>
>> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
>
> You had to actually talk them to know it was, if not a scam, at least
> nothing related to any of your accounts?
>
No, the message says something like, "there's nothing wrong with your
>
>> Obviously they are fishing because I never leave a balance on any of my
>> cards. I have told them to take my number off their lists, but they keep
>> calling so I just let them go to the answering machine. Idiots.
>
> You had to actually talk them to know it was, if not a scam, at least
> nothing related to any of your accounts?
>
accounts but we can lower your interest rate". If I actually answer it I
always press "9" to opt out, but they never stop calling. I get 2-3 calls
from them every week. And I never carry a balance either, so I couldn't care
less what my card interest rate is.
Mrs Irish Mike
Feb 5, 2012, 12:33:26 PM2/5/12
to
On Feb 5, 7:38 am, "h" <tmcl...@searchmachine.com> wrote:
I'll preface this with, "I have no life."
Whenever I get an unsoliticed phonecall, I keep the caller on for as
long as possible. I let them know I am very interested in their "free"
service, product, or prize. I ask lots of questions. I ask if I can
talk to a supervisor to make sure this offer isn't too good to be
true. I have even gotten the supervisor's supervisor to talk to me. At
some point in the conversation I'll ask them to hold while I answer
the door or stir what I am cooking. I try to make friends with the
caller. I'll share my fears and my triumphs. I'll cry and I'll laugh.
I'll tell them they are my new best friend. Just when we are about to
close the deal I'll tell them, "I don't know where the time went.
Perhaps we can continue the conversation tomorrow."
Sure, I waste my own time. I have been on the phone with a solicitor
for up to an hour. But it is fun! And even better; I never get sales
calls. Never! It has been years since I've "won" something or have
been offered an "incrediable" deal. These callers share numbers, and
my number is known to be toxic.
Whenever I get an unsoliticed phonecall, I keep the caller on for as
long as possible. I let them know I am very interested in their "free"
service, product, or prize. I ask lots of questions. I ask if I can
talk to a supervisor to make sure this offer isn't too good to be
true. I have even gotten the supervisor's supervisor to talk to me. At
some point in the conversation I'll ask them to hold while I answer
the door or stir what I am cooking. I try to make friends with the
caller. I'll share my fears and my triumphs. I'll cry and I'll laugh.
I'll tell them they are my new best friend. Just when we are about to
close the deal I'll tell them, "I don't know where the time went.
Perhaps we can continue the conversation tomorrow."
Sure, I waste my own time. I have been on the phone with a solicitor
for up to an hour. But it is fun! And even better; I never get sales
calls. Never! It has been years since I've "won" something or have
been offered an "incrediable" deal. These callers share numbers, and
my number is known to be toxic.
Bob F
Feb 9, 2012, 4:19:00 PM2/9/12
to
greeting, years ago, before the do-not-call list thing. It made a significant
difference after several months.
Bob F
Feb 9, 2012, 4:24:36 PM2/9/12
to
said to end the calls several times. Maybe it helped, because the last time they
were called "account services" with EXACTLY the same spiel.
Bob F
Feb 11, 2012, 4:06:27 PM2/11/12
to
Olaf
Feb 26, 2012, 7:56:59 AM2/26/12
to
i had an american company of all things ring my mobile for months but
when i answered it would just hung up and it did this 3 or 4 times a day
drove me crazy and ended up having to report it
--
Olaf
0 new messages