Robo-Call Blockers

3,042 Views | 29 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by KidDoc
Tater Salad
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Does anyone know if there are any robo-call screener/blocker apps that actually work? I have tried numerous free ones, but none of them seem to be able to do anything. I currently am getting 10-15 such calls daily on my cell phone, as well as another 10-15 daily on my landline. The landline phone has a function that allows one to "flag" unwanted numbers that prevents them from ringing in the future, but the robo-callers seem to be able to generate new phony numbers just about as fast as I can block them.

This is beginning to drive me nuts!
eric76
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AG
Tater Salad said:

Does anyone know if there are any robo-call screener/blocker apps that actually work? I have tried numerous free ones, but none of them seem to be able to do anything. I currently am getting 10-15 such calls daily on my cell phone, as well as another 10-15 daily on my landline. The landline phone has a function that allows one to "flag" unwanted numbers that prevents them from ringing in the future, but the robo-callers seem to be able to generate new phony numbers just about as fast as I can block them.

This is beginning to drive me nuts!
The FCC has mandated that the telephone companies handle this problem this year. It will be interesting to see how well it works.
CubbieAggie
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Hiya has worked for me for the mobile robo-calls. It's not perfect, but it's been pretty effective. The issue I've been running into now is robo-texts. Pretty much every day at 10 AM, I get a text about some sort of payday loan. Super annoying. That FCC mandate will be very interesting.
Caesar4
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Robokiller works pretty well for me. I think the charge for iphone is ~$4/month.

https://robokiller.com/

And, if the caller hangs on, RoboKiller will record the call (where it behaves as "you", the called person) by using a variety of answer bots. Can be pretty humorous and it's somewhat satisfying to make the spam/robo callers endure a fake answerer.
KidDoc
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Hiya works fairly well for me. At least when they spoof a new number you just need to report/block it once.

Annoying though. I pretty much never answer a call if I don't have the contact already these days. I figure if they are real they will leave a voicemail then I can add the contact.
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FatZilla
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https://www.nomorobo.com/
They actually won the competition on this from the govt first to implement it. Works on landline and mobile.
EMY92
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We need to unleash this on robocallers:

Wildmen03
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I hope they figure out something soon. I've been getting calls from California at least once a day for the past 6 months. (951) and (714) area codes. Unfortunately it's on my work phone, which is pretty locked down, otherwise I would have blocked it already.
G Martin 87
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My company pushed AT&Ts Call Protect app to all company phones a few months ago. It took several weeks, but the spam calls went from 10-15 every day to 0-1.

I am seeing an increase in spam texts, though. Maybe this means tactics are switching?
Raptor
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I get daily calls from numbers with the same first 6 digits as my number. I block each one. I only have to do this 9990+ times before my problem is solved.
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labmansid
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Caesar4 said:

Robokiller works pretty well for me. I think the charge for iphone is ~$4/month.

https://robokiller.com/

And, if the caller hangs on, RoboKiller will record the call (where it behaves as "you", the called person) by using a variety of answer bots. Can be pretty humorous and it's somewhat satisfying to make the spam/robo callers endure a fake answerer.

I think my wife uses this one. She has played back some of the conversations it recorded, pretty hilarious. Amazing how long some of the "callers" will stay on the line until they finally give up.

One day I actually got a text from an unknown number asking who I was. I replied back who are you. They then asked if I had tried calling them. I texted back no, it wasn't me, and explained it was probably a spammer that had spoofed, or faked, my number. That seemed to appease them, and maybe I helped educate someone a bit about robocall tactics.
91_Aggie
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I love it when I get a call from my own cell number.
eric76
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Raptor said:

I get daily calls from numbers with the same first 6 digits as my number. I block each one. I only have to do this 9990+ times before my problem is solved.
In my case, 90% of my legitimate calls have the same area code and one of three sets of prefixes including the same prefix as my phone.
CubbieAggie
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You can block that "neighborhood scam" in most call block apps. In Hiya, you can say to block any numbers that start with XXX-XXX. The only downside is it will block anyone with that phone number, even if they are saved in your contacts list. If you want to whitelist a specific number, they have to call you first. You can then tell the app to not block that number.
Bradley.Kohr.II
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I use NumberBarn. I transferred my cell. Number to it, got a new one and set my phone to only ring for contacts. (default ring is silent)

A person has to listen to the message and then press the number the voice recording says, to be connected.

It's not ideal and AI will beat it, in the near future but it works for now.
Aggie63
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I use "CPR Call Blocker"Check it out on Amazon . I like it.
Redstone
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I use the following. No recurring charges.

Hiya
Mr. Number
Exchange Blocker
Call Blocker
Numbo
Call Control

One-time charge -
Wide Protect
Number Shield

I went from 10 a day to 2-3. It would be 0 except for stupid Apple. WP and NS developers need the company to work with them on a phone patch. Now, phone allows for some of the digits to come through (these are only 2 iOS apps that block all area codes).
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
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91_Aggie said:

I love it when I get a call from my own cell number.


How can I not answer it? I long ago made a deal with myself that I would ONLY call myself in emergencies.
jopatura
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At this point, I answer all calls that come in and wait for them to speak. After 30 seconds or so of silence the line disconnects. I've read that's supposed to flag my number in their systems as a bad number. If they hit VM, it's a good number. If it's one of the car insurance/health insurance/life insurance scam adjacents there's usually an opt-out option.

Calls have dropped almost 90% for me. I still might get 1-2 a week but I was getting 15-20 a day at one point.

Redstone
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That's good advice.

I assume most reading are on all federal no-call lists.

Therefore, the domestic "businesses" that either 1). call direct from a purchased list 2). take a transfer from a call vendor after you lie in the screening :
are breaking federal law.

Nicely and firmly get them to email you at a junk email. I.E.
"Yes I appreciate the working capital offer. Our printing business is expanding after doing the 15k a month revenue I told you about. But I am very strict about reviewing offers in writing. I first need the email summary..."

Then, you aggressively let them know about the breaking of federal law, and their responsibility in that, both "business" and personal.
KidDoc
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Hiya recently changed to a sub model $2/month. It pops up the number then says it can identify it if you upgrade to premium! I uninstalled it today trying Call Control next.
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Wildmen03
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Quote:

I answer all calls that come in and wait for them to speak. After 30 seconds or so of silence the line disconnects. I've read that's supposed to flag my number in their systems as a bad number.
I've been doing this for the past week, so far so good. I notice that there's a short tone when the line disconnects, I assume that's the machine flagging the number.
Beezy2389
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I've set my phone to "do not disturb" but added an exception for contacts and if they call twice in 15 minutes. Of course it doesn't stop them calling but I don't get a ring or anything really on my end.
TexasRebel
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The answer is going be to charge $.01 - $.05 per outgoing call. With a refund scheme in place for legit communications.
G Martin 87
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TexasRebel said:

The answer is going be to charge $.01 - $.05 per outgoing call. With a refund scheme in place for legit communications.
That's no better than the status quo. Who determines whether the call is "legit"? The caller? Everything will be legit. The called party? How, unless the called party answers the call?
Phat32
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Robokiller
TexasRebel
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That's what needs to be solved.

A substantial monetary penalty for a volume of calls is what will kill the scam.
Redstone
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2019 is the year that all carriers have to have a program to combat the scams, the most common of which are "neighborhood" (same area code or six digit exchange), and the random domestic area codes, mostly from India.

Verizon is probably full of **** as usual, but they told me March is the month for their feature of corporate blocking. We will see. Let's just say they will be hearing my opinions, regardless.
Redstone
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Related, our carriers are mostly the enemy here. They could have stopped these scammers - mostly - like AT&T has mostly done this last year.

They didn't want to. Now they have to. It's not hard, for example, to allow all numbers in a given area code go to voicemail unless it's a contacts number.

Stay on their nuts about this. It is one of my personal crusades to get scammers nuked to orbit.
KidDoc
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Redstone said:

Related, our carriers are mostly the enemy here. They could have stopped these scammers - mostly - like AT&T has mostly done this last year.

They didn't want to. Now they have to. It's not hard, for example, to allow all numbers in a given area code go to voicemail unless it's a contacts number.

Stay on their nuts about this. It is one of my personal crusades to get scammers nuked to orbit.
I have AT&T and get daily robocalls still. They appear to have done nothing in the past year.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
KidDoc
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Just updating that AT&T still doing nothing. I've had 5 calls from different local numbers asking me about my health insurance inquiry which I clearly did not make since I have employee insurance.

Call Control app is working ok, just ads but that is ok. So I only have to block each number once but still annoying.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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