It’s amazing how we’ve allowed a lack of regulation to completely destroy a fundamental form of modern communication. You basically can’t call a stranger and expect them to answer the phone, everyone is screening all their calls because more than half are scams!
I have never really liked talking on the phone, even before the advent of cell phones. The fact that it seems to be fading more and more as a common communication tool is something I am honestly pretty happy about. Sure it means I have like 4 messaging apps on my phone, but I don’t really mind. Even work is all text via Teams.
It has probably been at least a year since I have made/received an actual audio call on my phone.
Why would you answer it? If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. I’m not going to pick it up and risk having to deal with a scammer or something like that.
“Hello this is the law enforcement agency that does not exist in your county and we are about to arrest you for tax violations” hangs up
“Hello company you have have never used before is chasing a bill” hangs up
“Hello delivery company not operating in your country has a package for you” hangs up
“Hello road toll company that does not exist in your country has outstanding toll” hangs up
“Hello as a user of a service you have never used we just want to ask“ hangs up
Nah. I’ll keep letting these clowns go to voicemail.
“Years later on his death bed, Lemmylefty discovers he had a distant cousin with no other family connections who’s lawyers had been desperately trying to reach out to inform him that he was the sole recipient of his will … but you can only get access if you pay the legal fees to be paid in $5k of iTunes gift cards.”
I got a call from my area that woke me up in the morning. I’ve got doctors and shit so I answer it.
No sound.
Me, hello?
No sounds. Then like someone trying to move the phone.
Me, Who is this?
Gruff annoyed voice: Who is this?
Me, fuck you who are you?
Annoyed voice: uh… This is the city police fund raiser …
If I don’t know who it is then I’m not answering shit. I don’t even bother looking up the numbers anymore because they all come from spoofed caller IDs now, and if you answer you’ll get 1000 more scam calls immediately because now they know you’re dumb enough to pick up
They’re getting ballsy these days too. I’m required to answer the phone at work because it’s a business line, but as a result we get an absolute ton of spam or empty lines. I’ve had them spoof the local hospital’s phone number several times. I got a call from the motherfuckin’ USDA the other day (allegedly), like the government agency. Empty line. Once I got a call on my cell phone from my own phone number, that was interesting.
When the scammers spoof numbers they usually just get a block of random numbers that are local to where they are calling, then they just try them one at a time. They pick numbers that look local because people are more likely to answer.
They never actually bother verifying whose number they’re using though, so it frequently results in them calling from the persons own number who they are trying to scam, local businesses, and even local government numbers.
I work for the phone company and I’ve frequently gotten calls from people telling me someone just called them from their own number lol
There are filter apps you can put on your phone to help identify them since they’re usually calling voip. I know the FCC is trying to ban spoofing and you can report spoofing on their website
I work in hospice and travel to patient’s homes all day, but my scheduling is done over the phone from a work provided cell phone.
So either I have families/caregivers who never answer the phone and half don’t have voicemail set up or the voicemail is full. On the other hand, I have people that answer every call and now and become targets at a vulnerable time. Scammers fucking suck.
With the growth of the internet… do we even need phone numbers anymore ? I mean my phone number exists just for spam. I’m mostly just paying for my cellular connection to access the internet and not because I need to have a phone number.
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It’s amazing how we’ve allowed a lack of regulation to completely destroy a fundamental form of modern communication. You basically can’t call a stranger and expect them to answer the phone, everyone is screening all their calls because more than half are scams!
phone calls are sus these days
I have never really liked talking on the phone, even before the advent of cell phones. The fact that it seems to be fading more and more as a common communication tool is something I am honestly pretty happy about. Sure it means I have like 4 messaging apps on my phone, but I don’t really mind. Even work is all text via Teams.
It has probably been at least a year since I have made/received an actual audio call on my phone.
Why would you answer it? If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. I’m not going to pick it up and risk having to deal with a scammer or something like that.
Same, I’ll just read the auto transcription of the scam call, bill collector, or my mother later when I have the energy
Starts answering phone like an adult …
“Hello this is the law enforcement agency that does not exist in your county and we are about to arrest you for tax violations” hangs up “Hello company you have have never used before is chasing a bill” hangs up “Hello delivery company not operating in your country has a package for you” hangs up “Hello road toll company that does not exist in your country has outstanding toll” hangs up “Hello as a user of a service you have never used we just want to ask“ hangs up
Nah. I’ll keep letting these clowns go to voicemail.
I just get voicemails in Chinese. If China’s planning on arresting me I’ll never know…
“Years later on his death bed, Lemmylefty discovers he had a distant cousin with no other family connections who’s lawyers had been desperately trying to reach out to inform him that he was the sole recipient of his will … but you can only get access if you pay the legal fees to be paid in $5k of iTunes gift cards.”
Coincidentally, the same amount in cash I just sent my newly found Nigerian cousin…
I got a call from my area that woke me up in the morning. I’ve got doctors and shit so I answer it.
No sound. Me, hello? No sounds. Then like someone trying to move the phone.
Me, Who is this? Gruff annoyed voice: Who is this? Me, fuck you who are you? Annoyed voice: uh… This is the city police fund raiser …
Rude as hell.
Doing this has gotten me off most spam call lists.
If I don’t know who it is then I’m not answering shit. I don’t even bother looking up the numbers anymore because they all come from spoofed caller IDs now, and if you answer you’ll get 1000 more scam calls immediately because now they know you’re dumb enough to pick up
They’re getting ballsy these days too. I’m required to answer the phone at work because it’s a business line, but as a result we get an absolute ton of spam or empty lines. I’ve had them spoof the local hospital’s phone number several times. I got a call from the motherfuckin’ USDA the other day (allegedly), like the government agency. Empty line. Once I got a call on my cell phone from my own phone number, that was interesting.
When the scammers spoof numbers they usually just get a block of random numbers that are local to where they are calling, then they just try them one at a time. They pick numbers that look local because people are more likely to answer.
They never actually bother verifying whose number they’re using though, so it frequently results in them calling from the persons own number who they are trying to scam, local businesses, and even local government numbers.
I work for the phone company and I’ve frequently gotten calls from people telling me someone just called them from their own number lol
Is there a way to figure out who is actually calling? Is there anyway to crack down on this?
There are filter apps you can put on your phone to help identify them since they’re usually calling voip. I know the FCC is trying to ban spoofing and you can report spoofing on their website
You’d be crazy to answer your phone these days
I work in hospice and travel to patient’s homes all day, but my scheduling is done over the phone from a work provided cell phone.
So either I have families/caregivers who never answer the phone and half don’t have voicemail set up or the voicemail is full. On the other hand, I have people that answer every call and now and become targets at a vulnerable time. Scammers fucking suck.
Unless they’re in my contacts AND I want to talk to them I don’t answer
Except that 90% of the time you answer and it just hangs up because it’s testing to see if the line is active to sell to telemarketers
Good thing I don’t answer my phone unless I get a voicemail from the person
Shit, I don’t even answer my fucking door
Anyone who would knock on a door is clearly casing the joint
…you answer your phone? I literally only answer the phone for my spouse unless I am specifically expecting a call. everyone else can leave a message.
Your spouse actually calls you? I just use Line with my partner.
I let my voicemail fill up. Send me a text mofos.
This Is The Way
Yup, all the time.
With the growth of the internet… do we even need phone numbers anymore ? I mean my phone number exists just for spam. I’m mostly just paying for my cellular connection to access the internet and not because I need to have a phone number.
“Like an adult”
An adult does not let their tools control them. And I receive one good call for every ten my phone gets.