Multiple scammers: "We will walk you through . . ."

[blackxacto]

I get 4-5 calls a day with mostly the same message, but the key phrase is "We will walk you through . . ." your tax issues, car loans, second mortgages, etc. etc. etc." They call constantly. My iPhone security answers and forces them to leave a voice message. But holy cow it's annoying as heck. They use random phone numbers. I'm tired of blocking all their numbers because it doesn't stop them.

Does anyone know of a way to permanently block this freaking scamming blast?

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UPDATE: I have changed the setting "Screen Unknown Callers" to SILENCE, from Ask Reason for Calling. Hope it helps.

 

[Ruggy]

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[Brettka7]

I used my Verizon app to send all known scam calls straight to voicemail, then used iPhone settings to screen all calls that get through.

I simply don’t receive scam calls any more. It’s great!

 

[NoBoMac]

It takes some effort, some possible inconveniences, and mostly time imo.

What worked for me but took time to get it to a blip every now and then:

• Friends, family, and most important entities (eg. doctors' offices) get cell
• Google Voice number to give to everyone else and that has DnD turned on 24/7
• ATT call blocker: block all categories of spam, block private numbers; use app to report spam when do get it
• Silence Unknown Callers turned on 24/7

Sure, might "miss" a call with Silence Unknown on, but if important or someone you forgot to put into Contacts, odds are will leave a VM: can add that number to Contacts after the fact.

Took a few years but did slowly, steadily drop in frequency. Even the Google number rarely gets spam these days. Guess my numbers are flagged as "don't bother" in the spammer-verse databases/lists.

Basically, don't engage or give them any hit that you are engaging (read: use things like call announce).

ADD: and conspiracy theory guy in me says to not sign up for the national do not call list. What stops a spammer of getting that list of number which basically confirms that one's number is active/real. I tried it when it first came out but have never updated in the many years since and coincidentally the number of spam calls have dropped.

 

[BSDnostalgia]

Does anyone know of a way to permanently block this freaking scamming blast?

I used my Verizon app to send all known scam calls straight to voicemail

Cell service providers offer a first-level service you can turn on. It doesn't catch everything.

I simply don’t receive scam calls any more. It’s great!

I set my iPhone to go straight to voicemail if the number in question isn't in Contacts. There is a problem with this: medical orgs, specifically large clinics, rarely call out from unique numbers, and, usually, force you to call in to the one big switchboard number where they tell you to call 9-1-1 for emergencies and otherwise stall to encourage you to hang up. So, expecting an important call, you have to turn off screening.

But, the real problem is that there is no way to similarly screen SMS messages. I get tons of these, now often with the latest trick of "inviting" you to a "meeting". That is my current problem.

 

[blackxacto]

Silencing may work. I need to wait a few days to see what happens. Thanks for everyone's advice.