A few weeks ago I started getting a large number of calls on my personal mobile phone. I had so many calls that when I would hang up someone else would call immediately after. My number is listed on the Do Not Call registry and so it surprised me that everyone disregarded my request for privacy. It didn't just stop at calls, I also got an insane number of text messages. All of the calls were from low-paying job-posting sites, mortgage refinance places, and healthcare insurance companies.
It took me a while to figure out how all of these companies got my number and knew enough to call me by my first name. I never give out my personal mobile number and the calls frustrated me. Then I realized that I responded to an e-mail from Cybercoders and provided an updated resume that they asked for. While I am not looking for a new job, I am curious when someone says they have something for me in Utah. What a mistake as Cybercoders is really a scam to get all of the information off your resume to sell to other companies. Think about how much personal information you have on your resume that you wouldn't normally provide anyone but a prospective employer.
After getting verbally abusive with the first group of callers, I decided to take a different approach. If somebody calls or text and tries to sell me something, I immediately block that number (it has to be an actual phone number) by touching the information icon on my iPhone, scrolling to the bottom, and touching the "Block this Contact" button. On Android phones it is a slightly different process but you can have your phone reject calls from specific phone numbers as well.
I didn't stop with just rejecting calls. If someone sends you a text message with a 4 or 5-digit number, you can reply with STOP and text messages have to stop. If it is an actual 10-digit number, you can forward the message to "SPAM" or 7726 and report it. I'm not sure what they do but I hope it involves something extremely painful.
Finally I stopped being rude to the people calling me and started asking politely where they got my name. I then explain that I am trying to track down who put my information on their list so I can seek legal action. That seems to have done the trick as the unwanted texts and calls have now stopped. I never did get anyone to give up how they got my number but am satisfied with the outcome.
Showing posts with label telemarketers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label telemarketers. Show all posts
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Windows Technical Support
Lately I have been getting phone calls from a company claiming that my computer is sending messages to their server and indicating there is a problem. When the phone calls first started, they claimed to be from "Windows Technical Support." I promptly informed them that I don't have any computers running Windows and that they should stop calling me. Did that stop the calls? Nope.
Two weeks ago I files a complaint with the Do Not Call registry as this company was not smart enough to mask their number from caller ID. Did the calls stop? Nope. The company continued calling with a "Blocked" caller ID number. Normally I wouldn't answer such calls but the marina in California where I keep my sailboat also has a "Blocked" caller ID number and so last week I answered the phone thinking it was them. My wife was lucky enough to be in my home office when the call came and it went something like this:
I answered, "Hello, this is Matt."
The female voice replied, "May I please speak with Matthew Bennett?"
"This is him."
"Hello, this is Susan with Computer Technical Support."
I noticed they had changed the name of the company somewhat but thought I would try to be polite. "Yes, and why are you calling."
"We noticed that your computer is sending us data that indicates it is having some problems."
I was intrigued but knew it was the same people that have been bugging me and so I asked a very important question, "Oh really, what kind of computer do I have?"
"It is a computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system."
While that would account for most of the computers in the world, I don't have a single computer that has booted into Windows over the past 2 months and so I replied, "You are a liar. My laptop is a Mac and my desktop runs Linux." I may or may not have said a few more things before I rudely hung up on her.
I was relaying this story to one of my work colleagues and he responded that it is a scam and they got his mother recently. While they only billed her credit card for $90, there is a chance they will use the credit card number for other purposes and so my colleague had his mother cancel her card. After all, you can't really trust a crook to only steal $90.
If you take a step back and think about it, Microsoft technical support wouldn't bother calling you if it noticed a problem. They have much quicker ways of taking your money and don't need to rely on telemarketers posing as technical support. Besides, you might just ask them about a real problem you are having because there are so many.
Two weeks ago I files a complaint with the Do Not Call registry as this company was not smart enough to mask their number from caller ID. Did the calls stop? Nope. The company continued calling with a "Blocked" caller ID number. Normally I wouldn't answer such calls but the marina in California where I keep my sailboat also has a "Blocked" caller ID number and so last week I answered the phone thinking it was them. My wife was lucky enough to be in my home office when the call came and it went something like this:
I answered, "Hello, this is Matt."
The female voice replied, "May I please speak with Matthew Bennett?"
"This is him."
"Hello, this is Susan with Computer Technical Support."
I noticed they had changed the name of the company somewhat but thought I would try to be polite. "Yes, and why are you calling."
"We noticed that your computer is sending us data that indicates it is having some problems."
I was intrigued but knew it was the same people that have been bugging me and so I asked a very important question, "Oh really, what kind of computer do I have?"
"It is a computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system."
While that would account for most of the computers in the world, I don't have a single computer that has booted into Windows over the past 2 months and so I replied, "You are a liar. My laptop is a Mac and my desktop runs Linux." I may or may not have said a few more things before I rudely hung up on her.
I was relaying this story to one of my work colleagues and he responded that it is a scam and they got his mother recently. While they only billed her credit card for $90, there is a chance they will use the credit card number for other purposes and so my colleague had his mother cancel her card. After all, you can't really trust a crook to only steal $90.
If you take a step back and think about it, Microsoft technical support wouldn't bother calling you if it noticed a problem. They have much quicker ways of taking your money and don't need to rely on telemarketers posing as technical support. Besides, you might just ask them about a real problem you are having because there are so many.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Text Messages at 4am
I was rudely awoken this morning at 4am from a text message claiming that Chase approved me for a $1000 instant loan. I had a similar message yesterday at the same time. Yesterday's message said I could stop these text messages by replying with the word, "STOP". As it was 4am, I stupidly sent the message. This is always a bad idea because then the company knows there is a real person connected to the number.
Both Android and iPhones have a "Do Not Disturb" function that I decided to investigate today. As I have an iPhone, I played with those options and recommend anyone with a smart phone do the same. The first thing I did was turn on the Do-Not-Disturb feature in my phone's settings. Then I went into the notifications section and turned on the "Scheduled" function. That means my phone will not ring, buzz, or turn on the screen should I get a call or text message between the hours of midnight and 7am.
My reluctance to set this up in the past has been in case there is an emergency and someone needs to get a hold of me. There is are 2 ways around this. The first is to populate my "Favorites" list. Anyone on the list will cause my phone to notify me during the Do-Not-Disturb period. If you are not on the list, your first call goes unnoticed. If you call back immediately after, it will ring through.
My hope is that I will be able to sleep through the night without getting another notice that I am approved for some high-interest loan I don't really care about.
Both Android and iPhones have a "Do Not Disturb" function that I decided to investigate today. As I have an iPhone, I played with those options and recommend anyone with a smart phone do the same. The first thing I did was turn on the Do-Not-Disturb feature in my phone's settings. Then I went into the notifications section and turned on the "Scheduled" function. That means my phone will not ring, buzz, or turn on the screen should I get a call or text message between the hours of midnight and 7am.
My reluctance to set this up in the past has been in case there is an emergency and someone needs to get a hold of me. There is are 2 ways around this. The first is to populate my "Favorites" list. Anyone on the list will cause my phone to notify me during the Do-Not-Disturb period. If you are not on the list, your first call goes unnoticed. If you call back immediately after, it will ring through.
My hope is that I will be able to sleep through the night without getting another notice that I am approved for some high-interest loan I don't really care about.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Do Not Call
Lately I have been getting a call on my mobile phone from a number I don't recognize. It happens that I always seem to be in a meeting or tied up during the call and so I have yet to answer. Caller ID is nice as I can see the number. Normally I wouldn't bother calling a strange number back, but it happens to be from a location where I have extended family. Yesterday I decided to try and call the number back just in case it was a long-lost relative telling me I had inherited a bunch of money. Actually I knew it wasn't about any inheritance as I have so many extended family members that any wealth would be spread so thin, my share would only amount to a few pennies, but curiosity got the better of me and so I called.
That was a huge mistake. A recorded message answered the phone at the other end and said something along the lines of, "Thank you for calling this marketing company back." I immediately hung up realizing I made a huge mistake. Now they know my phone actually has a person on the other end. This morning I got another call from the same number. Once I got in front of a computer, I immediately went to the "Do Not Call" registry and made sure to enter my mobile number on the list. Anyone that wants to avoid pesky telemarketers should do the same.
The process if fairly simple. Just enter up to 3 numbers and your e-mail address. They will send you an e-mail with a link to click and complete the process. A second after entering my mobile number I had an e-mail in my inbox asking to confirm my phone number. I clicked the link and was told my number is now on the list. I have to suffer through any telemarketers for the next 31 day, however after that I can file a complaint should I receive a call. Yes, complaints can be filed at the same website. I only wish the list was good for charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors. They still get to call. Bummer!
That was a huge mistake. A recorded message answered the phone at the other end and said something along the lines of, "Thank you for calling this marketing company back." I immediately hung up realizing I made a huge mistake. Now they know my phone actually has a person on the other end. This morning I got another call from the same number. Once I got in front of a computer, I immediately went to the "Do Not Call" registry and made sure to enter my mobile number on the list. Anyone that wants to avoid pesky telemarketers should do the same.
The process if fairly simple. Just enter up to 3 numbers and your e-mail address. They will send you an e-mail with a link to click and complete the process. A second after entering my mobile number I had an e-mail in my inbox asking to confirm my phone number. I clicked the link and was told my number is now on the list. I have to suffer through any telemarketers for the next 31 day, however after that I can file a complaint should I receive a call. Yes, complaints can be filed at the same website. I only wish the list was good for charities, political organizations, and telephone surveyors. They still get to call. Bummer!
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