I’m not sure it’s only me but I receive a few spam calls a day almost every day.
Phone numbers of callers look legit (like Aussie numbers) so I pick up, sometimes it’s hung up upon picking up or it speaks a foreign language (mainly Chinese pre recorded) so I have to hang up. I don’t recall I have ever had a spam call last year but it’s different this year.
Is it because the government CovidFree app got hacked and possibly sold to the third party?
about 3-5 a day, usually with spoofed numbers.
iphone: use Silence Unknown Callers function
android: settings -> spam and calls -> Filter suspected Spam Calls (enable)
I always set silence on my iPhone so not much difference. Also I have installed Truecaller app but still getting spam calls.
Stop picking up calls from unknown numbers. That just flags you as an active number on their database so you get even more calls…
Anyone important will leave a voicemail message.
Those numbers are spoofed, they're not actually calling from that number but from VoIP servers abroad.
when I look on https://www.numberlookup.com.au/ etc you see people call them back..
IF YOU DONT KNOW THE NUMBER AND NO MESSAGE LEFT, IGNORE IT!!!
Yep. I no longer pick up calls from numbers I don't have saved, if they're a real call then they'll leave a message.
I leave my phone on DND permanently and have it set to ring for contacts.
True caller doesn't work well, any other options ?
Still get through, but not as many on Android.
I used to link up scammers/ to each other was hilarious listening to them ramble off.
Now I'm retired, I don't do it as much. Scammer Payback is the best on YouTube just saying.
problem with silence unknown callers is sometimes you are expecting calls from people who's number you have not saved, unfortunately this blocks those people too
2-3. I've started searching numbers on google before answering. If someone needs to speak to me they'll leave a voicemail as well so I know who it is and why they want to speak to me.
If someone needs to speak to me they'll leave a voicemail as well so I know who it is and why they want to speak to me.
Exactly. I say this to the misso everytime shes stressed about having a mystery number with no results on google.
i get spoofed numbers that are extremely similar to my own number. ez red flag. i dont pick up unknown numbers. they can leave a message
Yeah I have seen a whole series of callers with the same 7 first numbers and only the last 3 digits change. Easy ignore.
If its important they'll send a text right after. No text, no voicemail, no return call.
I get like maybe a dozen a year , I don't give out my number to many businesses.
simple algorithm to life
dont answer a phone call unless you know who it is from
if important they will leave a message and ring them back
Yep, that's my modus operandi too.
In my more sombre moments I reflect on the irony that for all the fancy things my phone can do and how far the fields of telephony and telecomms engineering have come in the last 70 years, my phone is basically a pager.
Done this for years. Another thing I did was use a generic voicemail greeting, not my own voice. It just says "please leave a message after the tone", without confirming my name.
You can go further and only allow recognised numbers to trigger your phone's ring tone. Unknown numbers remain silent and go through to voicemail.
The only time this doesn't work is when you're expecting someone to call, such as delivery driver or maintenance person or Gumtree buyer/seller who has your number but you don't have theirs. In those cases it's not ideal to let it go through to voicemail since it might be a time-critical call such as "I'm out the front of your house".
I've been getting more and more recently - used to be one or two a year, now it's three a week. Same rule as others, they'll leave a message if they're legit.
Usually 3 to 5 a day and they all follow the same old method:
Call from Amazon that I have to authorise a $876 refund and just provide my credit card details
Call from NBN or Telstra that they need access to my details (modem) to perform checks otherwise my internet will be disconnected
The ATO has an arrest warrant for my arrest and if I don't pay $X in gift cards etc they will come to my home and arrest me
LoL your very wanted.
I got one a couple of weeks ago and the number was exactly the same as mine except for the last digit. I didn’t answer it and they didn’t leave a message.
I haven't had any for a while, then bang, I might get a few in one day.
On average - about 43,745
That's only 2 seconds per call. How can you be sure they're all spam?
Today, 4, and that was by lunch time. Most of them are robo-dialers that just ring and hang up as soon as you answer.
I now have a voicemail message that says "You have ended up here because I don't know your number and I am screening calls for scams. Please leave a short message.
My recording says:
"This is the Australia Federal Police. You have called the unlisted number for a person under the AFP witness protection program. Please hold while we trace the calling number.
That's awesome idea.
Just got a call from the ghost of Prince Mumba Jumba telling me he has sadly passed away. He has left me $2.4 Million in eneloops in trunk boxes and I just have to pay $850 in taxes and shipping.
I'm happy to go halvies with you
factory seconds?
I hope they are fully charged.
I get 2-3 spam calls daily. It has worsened this year compared to past years. A lot of spam texts too.
I've been getting a stack lately and they are just incrementing the # by 1 each time… never answered one call.. they've never left 1 message
03 7067 520* - earlier this week they were using 51**
You can check the wholesaler of numbers that aren't spoofed https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#/number-register/sear… and it looks like Symbio Networks are the wholesaler for those numbers. Symbio Networks are well known for knowingly giving scammers phone numbers and refusing to take the numbers down when they've been reported. ACMA are useless https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2022-06/symbio-warned-not-i…
Then Symbio needs to be fined $10 million per time they refuse… Our strong Gov etc will look after us….
Incorrect. That won't tell you who the reseller or even current carrier is. Only tells you who the original allocate is.
3-5 times a day with varying end numbers, to get around me blocking them each day pretty effing annoying
0390634794
0390631592
Netsip are the provider for those numbers, you can check here https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#/number-register/sear… and netsip are well known for knowingly giving scammers phone numbers.
Learn how to read that site before accusing companies mate. Numbering system won't tell you who the provider is, only who the number was allocated initially
Sorry mate, I normally give out your number on the insurance comparison sites.
I get maybe 2 per week now - definitely alot quieter since earlier in the year??
In recent years I let numbers I don't know go to VM and it feels like that has helped with the drop-off too.
I can't seem to avoid those idiots at "Q&A Marketing" in QLD every few Sundays, I'm on the DNC list but I'm guessing they can get around it with "research"??
Zero! Ever since I got a new number about two years ago and only give my old number to businesses. It's bliss.
We got few each time after dinner. With due respect I wonder why most of them speak with Indian ascent and I used to say something like: are you ringing from Bombay ? No more now instead I told them quickly : Sorry I am not interested and dropped the line.
Any unknown caller or blocked number gets ignored and goes to vm.
VM message essentially states "Due to endless spam, I no longer take calls from numbers not in my contacts list. I do not listen to any voicemails. Please text me a one line summary and I'll get back to you. Apologies for the hassle, feel free to blame Hyperbad"
After approx 2 years my rate of spam calls is down at least 80%. I assume I'm dropping off some of their lists.
I'd suggest trimming your message to "Please text me and I'll call you back."
Your legit callers won't be interested in the sad backstory about how you manage your phone.
Actually many have got a laugh out of it.
But you do you.
I get maybe 4 or 5 a week. I no longer answer unknown numbers. Incidentally, just because someone knows some of your details doesn't mean they are legit. I got (but didn't answer) a couple of calls from (02) 9392 6000 last week. A Google search revealed that the callers claim to be from NBN and they actually know details about the person such as name, address and on one occasion even the date of an appointment for an NBN technician. Plus, there are even people posting comments that this number is legit:
https://www.reverseaustralia.com/lookup/0293926000/
However I checked and the NBN as a wholesaler do not phone customers just send appointment text messages. I suspect that one of the NBN sub-contractors is abusing the NBN database.
Also, I know 2 people who had their bank accounts hacked after following instructions from a caller claiming to be from their ISP.
Unfortunately, you can't give these callers the benefit of the doubt.
An older relative was scammed by these people. Retail ISPs need to inform their customers that NBN Co is wholesale only and never speaks directly with end users.
Spammers should all be sent to gulags. In capitalist societies there are huge numbers of scum constantly trying to fleece other people of what little they own.
While that’s the official line they use, they (and/or their contractors) do occasionally call directly. When I upgraded from FTTN to FTTP earlier this year, I received several calls from NBNCo and a couple of their contractors after I posted about the experience on whirlpool. I mentioned a couple of minor issues with the way the job was done, and someone within nbn co read this, figured out who I was (was really easy with the small number of upgrades happening at that time), and called me for more information. It was actually really creepy! I then had the someone from the contractor, and eventually the actual guy who did the work call me.
I get them most days on my mobile. I don't have a landline anymore. I don't answer numbers I don't recognise. My Samsung (and Optus) usually says "Potential Fraud" or "Suspected Spam".
If they do not leave a message, then I use reverseaustralia.com to look up the number. If there are numbers registered there as spam or whatever, then I will block the number.
I will sometimes call the number and then if there are no registrations on the number in reverseaustralia.com, then I will post a comment.
My Samsung does that too. It's a great feature.
Yep miss my S8 for this stuff, much better than an iPhone that doesn't have built in fraud detection
Less than 1 per week 👌
On average, zero.
I get a wave of them after I sign up for some of the competitions on here. Settles after a few weeks.
I’ve stopped responding to calls or texts from numbers I don’t know.
Download a list of Indian swear words, really gets them going!
Not too many myself, missus gets a few more on average. Google does a decent job though, 99% of them are identified as suspected spam callers.
The ROM on my phone identifies as a Pixel, so I get the call screening option but unfortunately doesn't work. When I tested it, looks like it's talking to the other end but they can't hear anything and I don't get any responses (audio or converted to text). Pity since looked like a good idea for the remaining 1% of callers.
Just install the 'phone' app by google and replace the default one. No need for a pixel it's available to everyone.
I get a mixed bag of unsolicited call. Lots of charities that calls. I would love to know which company calls on behalf of the RFS, Salvos, Cancer Council, RSPCA, Fred Hollows…
About 10 per year, almost all about installing PowerPal. Looking for a house and have received a lot of phone calls from real estate agents after looking at houses, even when I tell them I'm not interested in the house. Then a few services I was looking into where I'd been warned they'd call if I applied for a quote, so solicited spam I guess. But random ones that I didn't instigate it's just the ~10 per year.
I just checked and I don't have spam calls blocked.
Only 10? I wouldn't mind that lol. I get triple that and usually 20 messages a month.
Got a new one yesterday. This lady said she was from the 'nbn network'. I was going to play along, but asked if she had a mother and father and how would they feel right now. She hanged up immediately.
Absolute scummy Muppets!
PowerPal isnt scam. Its moderately useful. They also came to change all my light bulbs to the energy efficient ones and put rubber seals under the main doors to reduce heat wastage
They're spam calls, which is what OP asked about. I already have PowerPal, I don't need ~7 calls per year asking if I want it installed.
Did you tell them its already installed? They should log it in the system. It happened at my other residence
@StarvingOat: Of course, but they still kept ringing. They were in a pretty big hurry to get off the phone when I said I already had it, so I guess they didn't bother taking the time to log it anywhere.
i used to get them all the time but it's slowed down a lot lately
some of them are good one almost had me on the hook a few weeks ago they claimed to be from ebay and said someone in melbourne bought a $300 gift card on my account
i only caught on when they asked me to install Anydesk on my phone which is a remote desktop app which would let them control it
most of the scam calls lately have stopped, hopefully I am flagged as a do not call time waster as I keep them on the phone as long as possible when they call to enrage and waste their time. What hasn't stopped is the bloody political calls. Charities that call I immediately cut them off and say sorry I don't engage with unsolicited calls, please don't call again, to save them the time and it seems to work, have not had a charity call for months and months now.
haha yeah, i'd say it fluctuates but if i pick one up by accident, I enjoy wasting their time, having them wait just a minute, then my hearing goes out the window, i whisper and suddenly yell - but i'm always polite and never insult them
Couple times a day, she recently moved in with me too
How's it going so far?
Are you not concerned with her being on the phone all the time to strange men?
I might get one per month but I never pick up any number that's not in my contacts. If it's important, they can leave a voicemail or message me.
It's become a real problem and literally no one is doing anything about it.
The government has to put up ads on the radio to help stop people getting scammed, but it's obviously not working. The scammers are happy to spend months going through thousands of people to get to the one old person who has know idea and hands over their life savings.
i believe just the phone ones alone is a market of about $2bn a year, no wonder they are so keen.
your sentence is confusing, the gvt has to put up ads (so they havent) but its obviously not working (so there are ads?!) - i'm unsure i havent watched tv in years, let alone listen to the radio
The ads help prevent people being scammed if they get a call but nothing's being done to stop the actual calls itself. They're just getting worse.
It's gotten to a point where my voicemail message now says "I don't pickup or return missed calls, please text me to get in touch"
Perhaps the government could start requiring phone numbers to be linked to a registered person or business with proof of ID when registering for a number.
My voicemail message is: 'due to the large number of spam calls I no longer answer calls from unknown numbers. Please leave a message and I'll call you back'. Don't even say my name in the message.
I've been getting about 1 a day recently. Sadly they just hang up.
I'm more than happy to waste a scammers time.
If it continues, I'll likely block unknown numbers. The only other unknown numbers are Real Estate Agents and I'm happy to ignore them.
I haven't had any spam calls for many weeks. But, I probably jinxed myself now.
None.
Not because of the covid app as never had that and still get spam
I kept getting private number calls at weird hours like 11pm 2am 3am etc. I picked up twice but since I’ve stopped picking up they stopped calling ..for now
On Optus originally I was getting calls from Peru, unsure why, I got so annoyed I started saying your calling a CIA data Center in Prague terminate the call immediately or we will be contacting your local authorities.
Then after a while I started, "Please code in"……..
If you have failed to "Code In" Trace starts immediately.
none have google pixel that filters spam
Same. Even if you dont have a pixel, people can download and use the phone app by google and turn on filter scam calls.
you talking messaging or further? I've been using Google messaging it's got quite of late.
Fake Parecels nearly had me. Cause I was expecting one.
Someone mentioned "Stop picking up calls from unknown numbers. That just flags you as an active number on their database so you get even more calls…"
And i totally know that, but the problem is, if your going through a process of say, mortgage applications, or applying for jobs etc, you will start to get calls from numbers you havent saved, and someone of them you cant afford to miss
Voicemail?
Having to call back, go thru a million menu options and then sitting on hold for 15 minutes just isn’t efficient.
Just answer with, “Hello [insert State name] Police, Constable Hardwick speaking”, and see what their response is.
Although, on the odd occasion I’ve had to answer an unknown number because I’m expecting a call from someone I don’t know I’ve often used, “Hello this is I.T., please quote your ticket number.” If it’s a scammer then I keep insisting on a ticket number until they give up.
(1) A person who is not a police officer must not, in any way, hold himself or herself out to be a police officer. Penalty: 120 penalty units or imprisonment for 1 year or both
ETA Tasmanian law
A person who is not a police officer must not do any of the following without lawful excuse or the approval of the Commissioner:
(d) impersonate or represent himself or herself as a police officer;
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, or both.
Around 5+ per week.
I tend to ignore any number that I do not recognise due to the fact they can leave a voicemail if it were important.
Sometimes if the solar rebate group call, I give them my local Maccas address to conduct a “free” inspection and quote, and they don’t call back for a few months then.
I like spam calls, it gives me an excuse to not answer calls.
So I have 2 mobile services, my personal one and my work supplied one. I have taken great efforts ever since owning both numbers to keep them confidential, supply of the numbers to 3rd parties as limited as possible etc. I never really had an issue with spam/scam calls and texts up until the introduction of the mandatory QR check in's during Covid (I say this specifically because especially for my business number, I don't use it for anything externally, only when I had to do the QR check ins for my workplace). Ever since we had to do that, and supply our mobile numbers, the uptick of spam calls and texts has been immense. With that said though, I have noticed a reduction in it a bit recently, however, over the past 2 years, it has most certainly shot up.
Galaxy phone had spam blocking option.
was recently getting 2 calls a day from spoofed mobile phone numbers - each typically only calls once from that spoofed number - so no point trying to block that number as they won't use it again
I suspect they continued because I picked up - and that fact was then saved for them to continue to robo-call
I also suspect that if you don't pick up - on the reasonable assumption that anyone who really wants to speak to you will call again from the same number, and/or leave a message for you - then the robo-calls with stop
my most recent robo-call I heard was like 'thank you for spending $200 we have charged to your Amazon account - if you have any questions, press 1'
You can change a setting on your phone to send all incoming phone calls that are not on your contacts to voice mail. If it is important, they will leave a message.
I barely get spam calls, not even one a week. This is how I have minimized unwanted calls, so far it has worked well, BTW I've had my current number for over a decade.
This should works cause I do the same!
Unacceptable amount of them… and sms too.
Numbers are spoofed.