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The only advice mentioned that is smartphone specific is the app suggestion. The rest are things like don't answer and register on the donotcall list which can

by dabber 9y ago

The only advice mentioned that is smartphone specific is the app suggestion. The rest are things like don't answer and register on the donotcall list which can be done with a rotary phone. As for Verizon not blocking the number without charging you. Why not just switch?

tgb 9y ago
Yeah if only the do not call list worked...
- bluGill 9y ago
  It doesn't work, but you should register anyway and report all instances. The people who maintain that list and abuses of it need to know how badly it is ignored. They need data on how big the problem really is. If they get only a few reports of it not working, well that is statistical noise and can be ignored. If everyone on the list constantly reports unwanted calls that is data that it isn't working and a sign they need to do something about it. One obvious thing they can do about it is pressure the phone companies to stop allowing caller id spoofing. It isn't hard, if the number is from North America, then the phone companies verify it (if it is from a cell phone overseas they have verified the phone and should have verified the owner of the phone), otherwise it is fraud. Caller id spoofing exists so companies with a private switch can have a bunch of different phones have the same number- but the phone company knows what numbers the company is allowed to use so the rest can be filtered. Mind you the above will take a few years to implement. However nobody is working on it because if even one party that needs to do work doesn't the whole thing falls apart.
  - tgb 9y ago
    So is there an easy way to do it? I've reported repeat callers a number of times, and they just keep calling so I get weary of filling out forms online and stop. I want a big ol' button on my phone that I can slap whenever I'm dumb enough to answer.
pavel_lishin 9y ago
> don't answer Plausible, and kind of works, except when you get regular phone calls from real people whose numbers you don't yet have in your phone. Luckily, this would likely work okay for my mom. > register on the donotcall list Which I'm sure Indian call-centers respect. (Sorry to keep harping on the Indian call-center thing, by the way; I don't mean to show any disrespect to any Indians, but these things do seem to operate largely out of India, much like the 419 scams seem to be forever embedded in the cultural mindset with Nigeria.) > Why not just switch? Two year contract that's expensive to get out of. My advice to her was to report the calls as harassment to Verizon every time; I believe they can't charge you to block harassing calls.

by dabber 9y ago

tgb 9y ago

Yeah if only the do not call list worked...

bluGill 9y ago
It doesn't work, but you should register anyway and report all instances. The people who maintain that list and abuses of it need to know how badly it is ignored. They need data on how big the problem really is. If they get only a few reports of it not working, well that is statistical noise and can be ignored. If everyone on the list constantly reports unwanted calls that is data that it isn't working and a sign they need to do something about it. One obvious thing they can do about it is pressure the phone companies to stop allowing caller id spoofing. It isn't hard, if the number is from North America, then the phone companies verify it (if it is from a cell phone overseas they have verified the phone and should have verified the owner of the phone), otherwise it is fraud. Caller id spoofing exists so companies with a private switch can have a bunch of different phones have the same number- but the phone company knows what numbers the company is allowed to use so the rest can be filtered. Mind you the above will take a few years to implement. However nobody is working on it because if even one party that needs to do work doesn't the whole thing falls apart.
- tgb 9y ago
  So is there an easy way to do it? I've reported repeat callers a number of times, and they just keep calling so I get weary of filling out forms online and stop. I want a big ol' button on my phone that I can slap whenever I'm dumb enough to answer.

pavel_lishin 9y ago

> don't answer Plausible, and kind of works, except when you get regular phone calls from real people whose numbers you don't yet have in your phone. Luckily, this would likely work okay for my mom. > register on the donotcall list Which I'm sure Indian call-centers respect. (Sorry to keep harping on the Indian call-center thing, by the way; I don't mean to show any disrespect to any Indians, but these things do seem to operate largely out of India, much like the 419 scams seem to be forever embedded in the cultural mindset with Nigeria.) > Why not just switch? Two year contract that's expensive to get out of. My advice to her was to report the calls as harassment to Verizon every time; I believe they can't charge you to block harassing calls.