FTC Offers $50,000 For Best Way To Stop Robocalls 614
coondoggie writes "It's not clear if the Federal Trade Commission is throwing up its hands at the problem or just wants some new ideas about how to combat it, but the agency is now offering $50,000 to anyone who can create what it calls an innovative way to block illegal commercial robocalls on landlines and mobile phones."
DId you see the part about the prize? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Solution (Score:5, Informative)
Our phone carrier (Bell Canada) sometimes calls from a number where the number is listed but the organization name is not listed. I assumed it was a telemarketer or something because it was an 800 number. When I finally picked up after numerous calls from the same number it was them (or at least somebody claiming to be them). Seems I forgot to pay the bill. *Then* they asked for my credit card details to collect payment.
I asked to speak to a manager and ask about how that correlates to the fact that their website says that their Website [support.bell.ca] says "Do not give out your personal information. Legitimate companies will never call or e-mail their customers requesting information such as passwords, bank account information or a credit card number, unless they are responding directly to an inquiry you know you have made (See Bell’s Privacy article.)".
Nobody seemed to have anything to say about it other than that it was standard practice for them to make such calls. I had no way of knowing with certainty that it actually was Bell Canada and not some other organization performing a phishing attack.
Re:Solution (Score:5, Informative)
Whenever you get such a call, you should immediately hang up and call the company at a known good phone number. It's the only way to verify, as the caller could have spoofed their caller ID.
Re:Death Penalty (Score:5, Informative)
PEOPLE. PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS BEFORE POSTING!!!
YOU MAY THINK THAT SOMEONE IS CALLING YOUR SPECIFIC PHONE NUMBER.
THEY DID NOT. THEY DID NOT CALL YOUR NUMBER SPECIFICALLY.
YOU WERE RANDOMALLY "ROBO" CALLED WITH A SPOOFED PHONE NUMBER ON A CALLER ID FOR A SCAM COMPANY.
Important message to all those that have received a call from this number:
There are several companies engaged in scam business using auto dialers. They are ALL scam outfits. They spoof phone numbers of victims all the time. Sometimes, they spoof non-working phone numbers. The phone number you searched for is just another victim of these scumbags. I've done a lot of research of these companies. Actually, there are several affiliated companies, that try to scam innocent victims. They are either owned by the same people, or they sell their business model to other crooks.
One scam is about auto warranties. The other is about credit card debt relief. They even have scams about dish television, home alarms, carpet cleaning, political surveys, free cruises, and more. Their MO is the same. The use an auto dialer, and call thousands of random numbers. They have no regard to the do not call lists. Your demands or complaints to them are worthless. They will continue to call you.
They will not remove you from their call lists. Why? BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MAINTAIN ANY. THEY ARE CROOKS. THEY HAVE NO REGARD TO THE MANY LAWS THEY BREAK.
BEING ROBO CALLED BY A COMPUTER IS A FEDERAL CRIME. NEED WE SAY MORE?
If they call about a car warranty, the message says something as "This is the second notice on your extended vehicle warranty. Press one now to speak to a representative..." The message about credit debt mentions "This is Account Services. We are calling to lower your credit card debt. Press one now to speak to a representative..." or "The is an important call from your cardmember services. This is your Final Notice. We have been trying to contact youâ¦." The message about carpet cleaning begins "This is Diane, would like your carpet professionally steamed cleaned?"
These crooks can be beaten! Here is an example of what happens if ALL OF US contribute to taking them down by following the steps below:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/press/2012/02-09-12.html [justice.gov]
So, now you want to get these crooks. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? If you want to stop these crooks do the following:
:
1) You need to speak to one of their customer service representatives. Pretend to be interested in either lowering your credit card interest rate or a car warranty, having your carpets cleaned, etc. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY REAL INFORMATION. Do not ask how they "got" you number. (Remember, your number was randomly dialed by a computer)
Tell them you have $20,000 in credit card debt. Give them a fake credit card number, a fake name, and a fake SS#. If the call is about the auto warranty scam, tell them you own a Ferrari, or a 1937 Dodge (however, if you really own one of those two, tell them you own a Buick). Give a made up VIN number. Or tell them you have 15 rooms of beautiful plush wall to wall carpet. If they ask for your name and phone number, give them the info for the person you hate the most.
Your goal is simple. You want to engage them in friendly conversation to keep them on the phone for as long as possible. Be nice and friendly. Your goal is twofold. You want to learn as much as possible about them. They will refuse to give you a website, phone number, or maybe even a real company name. They will attempt to give you a generic name such as "Account Services," "Financial Services," or "Dealer Services." This is done for a reason, to throw you and the government off their tracks. Do not accept this. Keep pressing for info during casual conversation. You will need this (see below). Often when pressed for questions, they will hang up on you. Remember, they are instructed to do this. That is why you must not be confrontational. Be fr