My own phone number called me today

Jul 10th, 2015 12:56 am

#1

equalizr [OP]: Deal Addict; Mar 7, 2003; 1034 posts; 70 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 12:56 am

For the last 5 or so months I've been getting calls from my own phone number or close to it saying i have won points towards flights. I get these at least once a week. I've tried blocking all variations but they still manage to get through and leave voices messages. I've even had people calling me saying i called them with the same message I've been getting. I understand these are internet calls. Is there a way to stop them or at least slow them down?

Jul 10th, 2015 9:32 am

#2

ceredon: Deal Guru; Sep 28, 2010; 10896 posts; 3167 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 9:32 am

I don't think there is a way to stop them since they can set the caller ID to whatever they want. These are offshore spammers that have been a problem for the last few years. One of their more recent tricks is to set the caller ID to a number in your area or even your own number. These days the most common messages are about winning something from airmiles or westjet, or a live person selling air duct cleaning.

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Jul 10th, 2015 9:45 am

#3

ShadowVlican: Deal Expert; Jun 12, 2003; 15116 posts; 1511 upvotes; Markham

Jul 10th, 2015 9:45 am

Yea it's impossible to block these people unless you want to risk blocking legitimate calls

Unless you only white list your contact list

ShadowVlican

Jul 10th, 2015 9:45 am

#4

Varian: Deal Addict; Nov 10, 2013; 1297 posts; 646 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Jul 10th, 2015 9:45 am

If some of them are from WestJer, which is a fully functional airline company, why doesn't the government do something? I understand it being hard to catch people selling and scamming, but if it's from WestJet,shouldn't they be held liable about people spamming for their company'?

Jul 10th, 2015 9:52 am

#5

ceredon: Deal Guru; Sep 28, 2010; 10896 posts; 3167 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 9:52 am

Varian wrote: ↑If some of them are from WestJer, which is a fully functional airline company, why doesn't the government do something? I understand it being hard to catch people selling and scamming, but if it's from WestJet,shouldn't they be held liable about people spamming for their company'?

They aren't from westjet. It has nothing to do with WestJet. They aren't even from Canada, which makes it difficult for the Canadian government to go anything.

"Hi, you just won a special trip from [WestJet], please press 1"
*press 1
"Congratulation on winning your [WestJet] vacation. Please enter your credit card information to continue".

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Jul 10th, 2015 10:15 am

#6

mr_raider: Deal Expert; Feb 29, 2008; 29093 posts; 4782 upvotes; Montreal

Jul 10th, 2015 10:15 am

I actually sat through the whole spiel one time, accepted the offer, got escalated to a manager to get my card info than threatened to report him for fraud. 30 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Jul 10th, 2015 10:20 am

#7

White Comet: Deal Addict; Apr 24, 2006; 4006 posts; 586 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 10:20 am

Same thing happening to me. People calling me says I called them but didn't. Also been getting these "You've won a prize/cruise" etc quite a bit from 647 numbers.

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Jul 10th, 2015 10:21 am

#8

M_Matt: Sr. Member; Apr 12, 2008; 661 posts; 148 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 10th, 2015 10:21 am

equalizr wrote: ↑... I've tried blocking all variations but they still manage to get through and leave voices messages.

I've had "local" neighbourhood numbers call me and earlier this week "my own number" called me. But I've never had any of them leave me a voice mail. It's either luck or down to the fact that I don't pickup if I don't recognize the number.

Jul 10th, 2015 10:23 am

#9

mystery: Deal Fanatic; Dec 29, 2005; 5719 posts; 1424 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 10:23 am

I just don't answer calls from numbers I don't recognize, especially if they start with the first digits of my phone number.

They seem to have decreased in their frequency (knock on wood).

Jul 10th, 2015 10:43 pm

#10

annexguy: Member; Jun 23, 2008; 465 posts; 100 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 10th, 2015 10:43 pm

same here. my # is 416-780-ABCD, their caller ID always very similar to mine, like 416-780-ABDD

Jul 10th, 2015 11:50 pm

#11

equalizr [OP]: Deal Addict; Mar 7, 2003; 1034 posts; 70 upvotes

Jul 10th, 2015 11:50 pm

Found an android program called Extreme call blocker. You can use wildcards like 780-98*-xxxx. Also has the feature of answering the phone and hacking up without you even knowing it thus no voice messages.

Jul 11th, 2015 12:51 am

#12

dazz: Deal Fanatic; Dec 10, 2004; 7070 posts; 2691 upvotes; Canada

Jul 11th, 2015 12:51 am

These scammers will use your first 3 numbers and it's done by an automated program. The number they are using are spoofed and the callers are scammers. DO NOT be nice to them. They are calling you to scam so tell them to fuc$%$k off and waste their time. Government is well aware of their scam and already fined them,but can't do anything as they are located somewhere in Panama.

Jul 11th, 2015 12:37 pm

#13

h2o-: Deal Fanatic; Mar 24, 2004; 5108 posts; 840 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 11th, 2015 12:37 pm

annexguy wrote: ↑same here. my # is 416-780-ABCD, their caller ID always very similar to mine, like 416-780-ABDD

Yes, realized these kind of spam calls about half year ago... sadnessly these can't be blocked.

h2o- a.k.a. 阿水 (Ah Sui)

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