Fraudsters Abusing Canada's Do-Not-Call List 229
J ROC writes "Phone numbers on Canada's Do-Not-Call registry have apparently been sold to off-shore telemarketers, scam artists, and other ne'er-do-wells, according to reports in the Globe & Mail and CBC News. The CRTC, which runs the registry, sells lists of phone numbers online for a small fee; making it available to anybody who might be interested in buying it, including con artists. I guess this explains why, ever since I added my number to the registry, I've been getting phone calls from 000-000-0000 trying to interest me in some free vacation scam. Canada's Privacy Commissioner is currently investigating."
And here I thought I was imaging it (Score:4, Interesting)
Wow, good job CRTC.
My telemarketing calls went from about 2 a week to 6+. Good thing I'm rarely home and they get the answering machine instead.
Re:What Idiots (Score:3, Interesting)
The penalties for telemarketers are far too low.
Make it punishable to try to market anything using hidden of forged numbers, and let that punishment also propagate to the company whose product is promoted.
Re:I saw that one coming...(I'm in Canada) (Score:3, Interesting)
Not much different in the U.S. (Score:4, Interesting)
To DNC registry worked well for a while. But then unscrupulous telemarketers started figuring out how to issue bogus number identifications so you can't issue complaints against them, and using an automated system, claiming to be about your auto warranty, or your "credit card company" (not by name), and try to get you to press 1 - at which point you then establish a business relationship with the telemarketer/vendor and they are then exempt from harassing you forever more.
Lately, we have been getting numerous phone calls from "Texas Guaranteed". And now, I'm getting phone calls from a "white pages/yellow pages" company to continue a listing for my fictional company which has never had a listing in any pages since it isn't really real. The funny part is these are from a real person, who gets rude when my wife says that she won't talk to them.
Re:Take control yourself (Score:4, Interesting)
Oh, right. That feature that my telephone company wants me to pay extra for...
How about the telco refuses to pass calls with invalid caller ID numbers?
Re:What Idiots (Score:2, Interesting)
I used to work as a caller for a marketing research company in Canada (read: surveys - NO sales), and we called the U.S. more often than not. We ran into a lot of people that would honk on mightily about their rights regarding the do-not-call list, not realizing that - at the time, at least - we were exempt by virtue of our business: opinions, not sales.
I can't imagine ever telling a person that 'the US list doesn't apply to us'. I wonder if they were actually in Canada, or just saying so (the telemarketer equivalent of a maple leaf on their backpack.)
It doesn't do any business any good to ignore the local laws. The logic of a previous post applies: - if people don't want to be talked to, why bother badgering them? There's plenty of other people to talk to.
However, it would have been nice (and more effiicient) if people realized that the do-not-call list was limited to sales. If they want it changed, they should talk to the people in charge of the legislation. If what people want is "no businesses I don't know may call me, EVER", they need to write a law that states that.
Re:Double Up (Score:5, Interesting)
No.... What we need are callerID numbers that are always transmitted and accurate. We need carriers to be held liable for bogus caller ID info transmitted on their networks. No exceptions.
This makes it a little harder for voip termination providers, but it can and needs to be done. Make it a criminal penalty to knowingly use bogus or forged callerID (allowing the loophole to use a number that BELONGS to you.)
Currently, (and I've mentioned this several times in the past) I use Asterisk for my phone system. In fact, I've been using it for over 5 years now (It is ROCK SOLID)
I've also had a few simple rules setup. First, I have a white list of close family and friends (those calls always go through, with callerID name re-writing so I see it's Bill and not "Wireless Caller".) Second, local calls are allowed during waking hours to get right through. At night, they have to press 1 to leave a message or press 5 to ring through. Third, tollfree numbers and NO callerID ALWAYS have to press 5 to ring through. Finally, the blacklist which just gives a disconnect tone sequence and phone company like message that the number is disconnected :-)
What have these rules done for me?
First, telemarketing calls are all blocked - along with charity solicitations and political crap. The sole exception (due to my rule set) was a couple calls from LOCAL political volunteers (I actually don't mind those - at least they are HUMAN.)
Second, wrong numbers in the middle of the night totally stopped.
I have my phone back. I can have dinner in peace. I sleep at night!
The best thing you can do for telemarketers (Score:1, Interesting)
Is take the call, feign interest, and give slightly wrong information. i.e. if your address is 222 SW Mirrison street, you would say 666 NW Devil Street. repeat. When the credit card part comes up, keep giving them a number that starts with your bank code (the first four,) but make up the rest. This eats into their time and costs.
Re:CRTC Garbage. (Score:3, Interesting)