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

Text message spam about so-called quick, easy loans.

they leave no message!!!!!!

My cell is on the DO NOT CALL list.  I do not want calls from this number

Have been getting calls on my cell every day from this number ... tried calling back, to no avail.  My cell is on the Federal Do Not Call list!

got a call from this # this morning. When I tried to call the # back I got a recorded message saying it was unreachable. Whats going on?

did not answer phone and no message left. possibly a telemarketer. will never answer unfamiliar numbers

Stop calling me.

i've gotten the same calls for weeks!!!!
automated message saying: "are you one of the millions without health insurance?..."
tried to call back and the # is unreachable.

bring these guys down!!!!!!

call the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint @ 1-877-382-4357

and

call the Federal Communications Commission to file a complaint @ 1-888-225-5322

I keep getting calls from that same idiot despite my home number being on the Do not call list, which is worthless as the Government does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when you make complaings about these solicitors that call you non-stop. I actually think the Government sells the Do not call list to these solicttors!! My number was actually "pimped out" by a person claiming to be from  the State of Florida HRS and offered to "get me affordable health insurance". These people had ALL MY INFO when they called and knew I needed the insurance. I agreed to accepting their help, after all they are the State of Florida and I should be safe...right? I have been getting non-stop phone calls and emails from these bloodsucking Insurance Sales people that don't take the hint when you hang up on them, cuss them out, call them names, call block them with the phone's call block feature...one idiot called 6 times in 10 minutes and the phone's call block kept hanging up on him after a half ring..long enough to show caller ID for the phone to recognize the number. The moron actually then emailed me and asked for a "better number to call me at" as there could possibly be issues with the number he has...what an IDIOT! When I called him and told him he was an idiot he claimed he was "only trying to help me"...right! Wake up Government..do something about these solicitors that know you won't do anything to them even with a complaint from us and modify their tactics to give them tyhe advantage. Do your damn jobs or resign and let someone have your job that will actually do something besides collect a paycheck!

I just Called the FCC and the FTC. Bothy passed the buck like the last time I called and actually told me I needed to "call my phone company"!!! They could care less tghat I'm on the Do not call list and said that these were "Computer generated scams" and that my phone compant could tell me the IP address that was being used to call me and that they use a different number "everytime they call".I informed the woman at the FCC that I had written down all 31 phone numbers that these spammers as they called them had used to call me. I was still told that there was nothing that could be done. I will enter these numbers into MS Word and copy and paste them here so you all will have these numbers. If the Government doesn't want to do a damn thing lets see what we can do!!!

Here are all 31 numbers that have been calling me and harassing me from automated calls that when I attempt to call back I'm told that the number isn't a valid number or or is "disconnected". Neither the FTC nor the FCC will do a thing about these numbers  despite me being on the "Do not call list". I hope they don't investigate the "No fly" list the same way!! Lets whow these pointed head Government Bureaucrats how to conduct an investigation and see if we can make these bloodsucking solicitors beg us for mercy! I highly recommend anyone replacing a wornout cordless phone to get the Panasonic KX-TGA641 as a replacement as it has a "30 slot Callblock" feature that used the caller ID. I have filled up the callblock feature on these idiots and can still tell how often they call because the phone will ring a half a ring, just long enough for caller ID to trip the block feature. Comes in handy to keep track while not wanting to be bothered. Here are the numbers calling me...many of them the same ones calling you. Goodluck!:

214-654-7896
561-826-4533
561-826-4534
561-826-6558
561-826-6560
561-961-8957
561-961-8959
702-853-1730
786-227-5200
786-362-6839
740-236-4133
406-351-4131
414-236-0954
425-573-0491
512-647-6364
616-604-0394
800-798-9115
800-984-9115
817-555-1234
866-849-0469
866-849-2438
866-392-2178
866-682-4994
877-894-0625
303-557-0565
813-849-9012
978-570-2309
925-948-3578
951-240-1397
954-858-5751
909-499-3575

got call from 951-240-1397

I got a call from this number. Did not leave a message.

Received a call from this number, 951-240-1397, but no message was left.  Called back using Skype (Our Skype phone blocks caller ID even on 1-800 numbers) and received no answer.  Just got a recording saying, "The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time"... Then it went on in Spanish, followed by some sort of code number.

I think that we should organize a time for us all to call these numbers, starting with the 951-240-1397, and call it...all at the exact time or as close to the exact time as possible...and ask for "Frank" . After about 30 minutes or so of this someone call them and say, "Hello....this is Frank. Have you gotten any calls for me?" I think to would blow their minds!! I had one sales person trying to sell me insurance and they refused to accept "no" for an answer from me.so I started answering the phone when they called and I talked very loud with a voice like a deaf person....sorry and no offense intended towards anyone that is hard of hearing.....but, anyway, I started to only answer the phone like that when they called. I also repeated EVERYTHING that they said to me back to them. They started hanging up on me and I could hear them cussing and calling me names when they were hanging up on me. I continued to do this and after 3 days they stopped calling me and haven't tried me back for nearly a year now. It was funny to hear them get mad and I wish I had recorded it because it would have been funny to listren to...maybe I could have sold it for money like those guys do...I forget their names but they made a fortune pranking people on the phone. They will stop harassing you via the phone when you return the favor.

Why me?

Thanks for all the information. I realize that reporting them is next to useless. I am able to block calls like this, so I did.

Unsolicited calls to an unlisted phone number registered with the national Do Not Call list.

i get calls like this all the time and it doesnt help to change your number because they will only find you again.so now when they call i answer in spanish or ill have my husband to answer if he's at home when they do call.i have to say it has worked a little

This number keeps calling me but person is on the phone

I received  a call from this number but wish not to be contacted, they don't leave a message nor answer when you call back

Many, many calls to my cell. Can't call back. Why can;t this be stopped? Donot call list is useless.

STOP CALLING......................................................

My cell is on the no call list too but I have found that I get more of these kind of calls than I did before I registered my number.

I got the same 951-240-1397 call as well.  
I think your idea of doing it ourselves is teh better way to go.  If there is no business for them then they will go away possibly quicker than a do not call lsit can.

No message was left called them back and got voice mail with no voiceIp

called, but I didn't answer the phone.

LOTS OF CALLS

I don't want the calls from this number