lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i dont know if it is ok to post this here. if i didnt have lyme i probably would be able to figure this out on my own.
for a week now i am getting calls from a computer that says it is a t & t and is coming to set up my internet and something else i cant understand. i didnt call them and i have never done businness with them.
i try to follow the prompts-i thought i had cancled more than once by pushing a button but i keep getting the calls. when i try to call the number back i am in a maze of button pushing and never can get to a human or a place toleave a message
yesterday it was different. a human called-said his first name and gave me a number to call back. said he would be at house between 2-4.
he never said an address or which house...he did say my first name.
when i called back-same thing-no answer - no way to leave a message.
he didnt come here. i had my neighbor watch out for him at the mt house and i dont think he went there.
then this morning the calls started again from the computer...
it is not the cell phone at&t ppl and i cant find a way the contact the ones that come to the house.
even typing this is abusive to my hands but so is all the time spent taking their calls and trying to cancle...
does anyone have a clue what to do? i cant be sure what the numbers are except for the man who called and said he was the tech
a friend said it soudns like a sophisticated scam-to figure out when the house is empty to break in...all this techy stuff is too much. i learned to blow a whistle in the phone when telemarketres called...but the computer isnt bothered by the whistle
thanks if you can help me and if moderators have to take this down i understand
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Call AT&T from the telephone book or the main number for the company on the internet. Tell them the story.
They don't want people that are scamming using their name to call people. Never call the number back from the scammer or talk to him. Stick with the main AT&T number. If they won't talk to you, I would call the local police.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
a friend said it soudns like a sophisticated scam-to figure out when the house is empty to break in...all this techy stuff is too much. i learned to blow a whistle in the phone when telemarketres called...but the computer isnt bothered by the whistle
EXACTLY!!!!
Call A T & T!! The real one.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I have a scammer business that called my house for years now. Their line is credit card reduced rates. They lead you to think they are your credit card company.
I've tried everything to get rid of them. Contacted FTC on line. Gave them the list of numbers, they change their numbers and the name on caller ID frequently. Of course I'm on the do not call list....what good that does when you are dealing with scammers.
I have a list of 30 different phone numbers they used in 2 years.
Put that phone numbers in your search engine....I bet you will find hundreds of hits where they are identified as scammers.
I've learned to hit the talk button and put the phone down, so it's costing them money. The reason I don't let the answering machine get it, phone ringing is one of those noises that is irritating to me. Just one of those weird lyme sx.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
well...i felt so stupid not being able to figure this out.
today i called my cell phone company for help(not a t &t) and i looked on line and in the phone book for a number but all i get is the cell phone a t & t and they say they are not involved with the a t & t for houses and no one knows how to get the real number
so im stuck unless one of you knows how to find the number
i dont feel so stupid now that others have trouble too
thank you all.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Do you have caller ID? Put that phone number with area code in your search engine and see what comes up.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
no-i dont
ive been really busy with weather and house and if i get some time i might be able to go back and figure out which "in" calls are them...
today they didnt call....
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Talking with the Atty Gen's office they recommended not answering at all. One it encourages them because someone is there and two, they will sell your number to others because there is someone there.
If I don't recognize the number or the ID I don't answer. Again, though, this goes back to my post about our information being saved to copiers which are then sold to anyone who can afford it.
How much information have you (generic) copied at a supermarket, business, or doctor's office? Your name, social security number, address, perhaps even your credit card info.
Don't answer if you don't know. If it's someone important they should leave a message.
-------------------- I have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 665 | From Lost Wages, NV | Registered: May 2006
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Dogsandcats
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28544
posted
I get the same calls every day, different area code. I even used the prompt to stop these calls.
When I don't recognize the area code I don't answer.
Another thing I do when the call comes in, if there is silence or I hear many people speaking (like a call center), I hang up.
Wish they could stop them.
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i was expecting calls from docs to set up testing and they always come from numbers i dont know...but then i did decide to let it go to voice mail
i deal with telemarketers differently-hang up or blow my whistle in their ear...but these really seemed real. jerks.
thank youfor calling ag office for me and everything...thank you all for helping. i am really dragging these days
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I got a text from att, it in fact was not from them and was a scam. They said there is also a phone scam where they make you a great offer,if your interested in learning more you,ll be asked to confirm your personal info. Watch out
Posts: 137 | From New england | Registered: Aug 2012
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quote:Originally posted by map1131: I have a scammer business that called my house for years now. Their line is credit card reduced rates. They lead you to think they are your credit card company.
I've tried everything to get rid of them. Contacted FTC on line.
- Same here. Annoying...
Kayak.. glad you found out the real scoop!
My husband was called and told we had won Publisher's Clearing House. They sounded legit, but I called our LegalShield and they said very likely a scam. It was.
There again.. we finally looked up the guy's ph# and realized it was indeed a scam.
My mom used the whistle trick on an obscene caller back in the 60's. It worked well!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Local police (or sheriff) departments should also be notified (see their non-emergency listings in the inside cover to your phone book or on line).
IF the scam involves casing the house, this is especially important that they know of this as it's often an effort that blankets a community.
Beyond a "crank" call, this is criminal activity and the intent is likely nefarious, indeed.
[Not too many chances to use one of my favorite words: nefarious. It sounds like what it is.] -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Dogsandcats
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28544
posted
Nefarious..indeed..
I agree, especially after I looked it up!!!
"a nefarious scheme to cheat people out of their money"
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
when i started this post i didnt know if it was "lyme related" but i guess it is a big enough problem for all of us to keep it going...huh?
i thought of calling police but would probably have to call 3 departments-cuz i have 2 houses in my name and my phone is from a different state altogether...right now im too tired...they havent called back
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Because these people use "boiler houses" (with many computers and phones that automatically call numbers)the police, state AG, even the FTC will tell you that it is difficult to trace their locations and shut them down and as soon as they do, they move.
If you get a call from a number you do not recognize put it in your search engine with the word "scam" following and it will show you sites where other folks are having the same problem. That will at least let you know if it is a scam or not.
-------------------- I have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 665 | From Lost Wages, NV | Registered: May 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
tx-thx-that is ez enouth
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I just got one from "Moon Tony" at 602-388-1933 and it is part of a group of numbers from "Diversified". Everyone who talked with them and asked to removed were not. Just best not to answer.
-------------------- I have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 665 | From Lost Wages, NV | Registered: May 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
No these people will not remove you from their list. You can hit #2 to be removed over and over again and they still keep coming.
I've had a group call my house 5 times a day. They will call daily for a couple weeks. Disappear for a few weeks (always my hope they are in jail) and appear again with new number and new caller ID name.
I've lost my cool and hit the #1 to talk to representative nicely to remove my number and I've gone postal on them asking them how it feels to work for scammers?
I've been cussed, called vile names and harassed by these people. The majority of these calls are really from other countries like the Middle East. A snake in the grass is very hard to track down.
It blows my mind that they can actually get people to give them personal info like credit card number over the phone.
Every DOG has their day!
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
My phone company has a service that helps. I punch *60 when I hang up the phone from a crank call. It's supposed to block their calls.
The only trouble is, many just get another number.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Thanks Tutu, I'll have to see if I have that service.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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