Telemarketer PITA

oldbloke · Guru

Telemarketer PITA

Bicyclecamper · Guru

I had a nuisance phone caller threatening us for 2 years. Got the police onto it, as well as a Testra Investigator, eventually, we caught them, they were dealt with harshly, and we were given another number. It is really a weird number, unlisted everywhere, but no unwanted calls in the last 5 years, so one thing that .....head did do good for us, was gave us the most safest phone number ever. Obviously these numbers are out there to be used, but I gather the only way to get one is to have trouble like we did.

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 22nd of May 2022 10:21:55 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Firstly I don't answer the phone if I don't recognise the number.

Then I have set the phone to ring for 30 seconds instead of the default 10 seconds, and then divert to 0418 707 301. If they stay on their phone they get the message that my, 'this number is not available on this network'.

I still get a few SMS with no message, but it has reduced a lot of the nuisance calls.

Are We Lost · Guru

If they are real telemarketing calls and not spammers, the "Do Not Call Register" should stop them. Charities and polls and a couple of others are exempt. I have been on that register for a few years and very rarely get such calls. Scammers, yes, but not real telemarketers. Check that your number has been recorded correctly.

Check your number in Do Not Call Register

If it is a legitimate telemarketer. raising a complaint at the same site will stop them.

Blues Man · Guru

If the number isn't in my contacts i don't answer it .

oldbloke · Guru

Blues Man wrote:
If the number isn't in my contacts i don't answer it .

Yes, that was my strategy for past 2 or 3 years. But they just kept coming.

This way stops them. You simply don't get the call.

mixo · Senior Member

my wife talks to them in her native language, she never gets spam calls...

As for spam SMS, I'm on telstra network and I still get them after they said they would stop them.

mixo

Wanda · Guru

You need to register your number on the "Do not call registry" it works.
We rarely get any calls from telemarketers and have'nt for many years.
The only thing to remember is you have to redo it annually, not hard but worth it.
Don't worry if you forget to re register, your first telemarketers that get through usually is a good reminder to re register, simples!

cheers

Ian

Are We Lost · Guru

Wanda wrote:
You need to register your number on the "Do not call registry" it works.
We rarely get any calls from telemarketers and have'nt for many years.
The only thing to remember is you have to redo it annually, not hard but worth it.
Don't worry if you forget to re register, your first telemarketers that get through usually is a good reminder to re register, simples!
cheers
Ian

No you don't.

Registration is now permanent.

For those who advocate not answering unknown callers as the solution, I do that too. With no telemarketing calls anymore, the rest of unknowns are 90% scams. Stopping the real telemarketers calling in the first place is far better than just not answering them.

It works .... very, very well. Just do it.

On the link above, read about some of the penalties on telemarketers who ignore the rules.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Monday 23rd of May 2022 10:50:46 AM

littledick · Senior Member

And don't forget the TXTs that we constantly get as well reminding us that a package is waiting to be picked up when we haven't ordered anything.

Pretty constant. furious

Dick.

Corndoggy · Senior Member

As for letter box drops, if you have a "no junk mail" clearly displayed on your letter box and they keep dropping, you can contact someone (cannot rememder who right now but start with Australia Post) and those that drop will be fined. A few fines and it will stop. Wife and kids used to do letterbox drops for the club they are in and were told no flyers in any box that has a sign on them.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I don't get telemarketing, probably because I'm on the do not call registry, but I do get spam calls. It depends on my mood. I will either: act dumb and have them on the phone for as long as I can until I get bored, usually they hang first; or I make it quite clear to them that I'm not happy about being called.

The scam phone calls have stopped but I do get the scam texts. I immediately block and delete them.

I hope that this new Federal Government is going to sort this very annoying scamming stuff out. Surely there are some people who fall for the scams?

Wanda · Guru

Are We Lost wrote:
Wanda wrote:
You need to register your number on the "Do not call registry" it works.
We rarely get any calls from telemarketers and have'nt for many years.
The only thing to remember is you have to redo it annually, not hard but worth it.
Don't worry if you forget to re register, your first telemarketers that get through usually is a good reminder to re register, simples!
cheers
Ian
No you don't.
Registration is now permanent.
For those who advocate not answering unknown callers as the solution, I do that too. With no telemarketing calls anymore, the rest of unknowns are 90% scams. Stopping the real telemarketers calling in the first place is far better than just not answering them.
It works .... very, very well. Just do it.
On the link above, read about some of the penalties on telemarketers who ignore the rules.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Monday 23rd of May 2022 10:50:46 AM

Well that is good news!!

My wife handles most of the phone stuff, I know you "used" to have to redo it approx each year.

Like you said, just do it, it really does get rid of most nuisance calls

Ian

StewG · Senior Member

Like others here, I don't answer any unknown numbers calling. If it is important/genuine they will leave a message and I can call back. As for the spamming/scamming SMSs, report, block and delete. The Do Not Call only stops the honest callers. I'd say we get one spam/scam call per day on average - unconfirmed because they don't leave a message...

Whenarewethere · Guru

A friend used to put their public relations department on the phone. Their two year old.

the rocket · Guru

I am up to 6 calls a day n occas. Night. Doing my head in. I will reread what everyone said to do. i usually do not answer but today mmm. Bit cranky so answered n said a few expletives. They rang me straight back on a diffeent mobile number. Did not answer it. These scammers r everywhere. Perth, sydney, moroco, tyrendara, bunbury, iran, denmark, phillipines, melbourne, malaysia, united states, united kingdom, liverpool, hiroshima, australia, germany, new castle, wagga wagga to name a few. such is life, with all these low lifes.

oldbloke · Guru

Are We Lost wrote:
If they are real telemarketing calls and not spammers, the "Do Not Call Register" should stop them. Charities and polls and a couple of others are exempt. I have been on that register for a few years and very rarely get such calls. Scammers, yes, but not real telemarketers. Check that your number has been recorded correctly.

Check your number in Do Not Call Register

If it is a legitimate telemarketer. raising a complaint at the same site will stop them.

Do not call register ONLY works for AU callers. The vast majority are from over seas.

Are We Lost · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Do not call register ONLY works for AU callers. The vast majority are from over seas.

Not true. International companies that want to do business in Australia have to follow the same set of rules. Scammers tend to not follow the rules but real telemarketers do. Maybe the calls you are getting really are scammers, not telemarketers. From the FAQ on that website ....

oldbloke · Guru

Are We Lost wrote:
oldbloke wrote:
Do not call register ONLY works for AU callers. The vast majority are from over seas.
Not true. International companies that want to do business in Australia have to follow the same set of rules. Scammers tend to not follow the rules but real telemarketers do. Maybe the calls you are getting really are scammers, not telemarketers. From the FAQ on that website ....

OK, explain me being on the register for 5-6 years, but got 7 - 8 calls a week?

Mike Harding · Guru

I don't, and never have, received more than a couple of spam calls per year.

Guess what: I don't give my phone number to anyone except friends or businesses who **really** need it and I trust.

Are We Lost · Guru

oldbloke wrote:

OK, explain me being on the register for 5-6 years, but got 7 - 8 calls a week?

I can't. The service works beautifully so something is wrong.

I have a White Pages listed VoIP number and an unlisted mobile number, both on the register. But I doubt if I have had a single telemarketer call in the last year, apart from a local real estate agent wanting to tell me about listing a neighbour's house. Enough spam callers to my mobile to be annoying, mostly with spoofed mobile numbers.

Have you checked your number is correctly recorded on the database? Are the calling numbers visible or blocked? Valid telemarketers are not allowed to hide the phone number. Give a couple of examples of who calls you. Maybe you should occasionally let them do their spiel, and my guess is you will discover they are scammers. If they really are telemarketers, make a complaint.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Monday 23rd of May 2022 10:27:08 PM

oldbloke · Guru

oldbloke wrote:

Ive been the target of these low lifes for about 5 years now. About 7 or 8 calls a week on average. Seems once you get on some database your buggered.

Are We Lost · Guru

From that description it seems the calls are from scammers, not telemarketers.

The DNC register does nothing about them because it does not actually stop any calls. If works by letting legitimate businesses know the numbers they should not call. Nothing prevents them from making those calls other than the disincentive of being fined for doing so.

I'm not sure if it's Google, my Telco or the version of OS on my newish phone, but it identifies a reasonable percentage of the scam calls with a big red warning panel saying "Potential Spam Call" (or similar wording). Might be time to look for an app to block unrecognised numbers.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Tuesday 24th of May 2022 12:00:25 AM

Blues Man · Guru

the rocket wrote:
I am up to 6 calls a day n occas. Night. Doing my head in. I will reread what everyone said to do. i usually do not answer but today mmm. Bit cranky so answered n said a few expletives. They rang me straight back on a diffeent mobile number. Did not answer it. These scammers r everywhere. Perth, sydney, moroco, tyrendara, bunbury, iran, denmark, phillipines, melbourne, malaysia, united states, united kingdom, liverpool, hiroshima, australia, germany, new castle, wagga wagga to name a few. such is life, with all these low lifes.

Reminds me of a song i once heard " I've been everywhere man" biggrin biggrin

Tony LEE · Guru

":42 AM May 23, 2022 As for letter box drops, if you have a "no junk mail" clearly displayed on your letter box and they keep dropping, you can contact someone (cannot rememder who right now but start with Australia Post) and those that drop will be fined. " You do realise that most of this junk mail is personally delivered by Australia Post?