Finding spam callers
January 28, 2015 8:03 AM Subscribe
I've been getting spam robocalls to my personal cell phone from numerous different numbers across the US for the last several months for one particular "loan service". How can I find out information on the company that is using these numbers so that I can lodge complaints aganst them, to the FCC or something?
I've never answered a call but they've not let up at all. I get 4 - 8 a week and the numbers change as quickly as I add them to my reject call list. Just today I've had two different numbers leave me the same message within an hour of each other, one from El Campo, TX and one from Camden, NJ. I know that these are probably VOIP numbers but they have to lead somewhere. How can I get the information on who they are registered to so that I can complain? I would at least like to start a record of complaints against these people.
I've never answered a call but they've not let up at all. I get 4 - 8 a week and the numbers change as quickly as I add them to my reject call list. Just today I've had two different numbers leave me the same message within an hour of each other, one from El Campo, TX and one from Camden, NJ. I know that these are probably VOIP numbers but they have to lead somewhere. How can I get the information on who they are registered to so that I can complain? I would at least like to start a record of complaints against these people.
If you are on the "do not call" list, you can report whatever numbers they're using, even if they're all different.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:27 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:27 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Caller ID spoofing. Those numbers you've been blocking aren't really where the calls are coming from.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:32 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:32 AM on January 28, 2015
The short answer is that you probably can't get that information.
These usually work one of two ways. The numbers may just be spoofed so the number on your Caller ID is not the one you're being called from; or some scams operate out of "third party" calling banks where they just rotate legitimate numbers among different scams. The benefit of the second method is that those "third party" phone banks then charge your carrier for delivering Caller ID data, so they actually make money just by harassing people, and any successful cons are just gravy. (And they're not really third parties. They're just networks of con artists.)
You can still report them, even without full information, to the national Do Not Call complaint database, and, if you have one, your state one as well. If they get enough complaints about a specific scam, sometimes they'll go after them. (The Microsoft tech support scammers finally got busted recently, for example.)
One other thing you might try is just searching on the numbers the calls are coming from. There are several online reporting sites (1800notes is the most comprehensive) that collect information on these, and every now and again, one of the other commenters will have more specific information about a particular number. As a community service, you can report your own calls there as well.
But it's actually pretty rare that you'll get a name of a legitimate business this way. These people are criminals and con artists, and even people with a lot more access to resources have a hard time tracking them down or holding them accountable.
posted by ernielundquist at 9:20 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
These usually work one of two ways. The numbers may just be spoofed so the number on your Caller ID is not the one you're being called from; or some scams operate out of "third party" calling banks where they just rotate legitimate numbers among different scams. The benefit of the second method is that those "third party" phone banks then charge your carrier for delivering Caller ID data, so they actually make money just by harassing people, and any successful cons are just gravy. (And they're not really third parties. They're just networks of con artists.)
You can still report them, even without full information, to the national Do Not Call complaint database, and, if you have one, your state one as well. If they get enough complaints about a specific scam, sometimes they'll go after them. (The Microsoft tech support scammers finally got busted recently, for example.)
One other thing you might try is just searching on the numbers the calls are coming from. There are several online reporting sites (1800notes is the most comprehensive) that collect information on these, and every now and again, one of the other commenters will have more specific information about a particular number. As a community service, you can report your own calls there as well.
But it's actually pretty rare that you'll get a name of a legitimate business this way. These people are criminals and con artists, and even people with a lot more access to resources have a hard time tracking them down or holding them accountable.
posted by ernielundquist at 9:20 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
If they are trying to claim you owe money, you can also report them to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but yes it is hard to find out an actual phone number or company name to report them under because they are faking them. I've been following a district court case against one of the companies that was harassing me about some non-existent debt and the case keeps getting postponed because the lawyer can't find anybody to serve notice to.
I was able to find a little information by googling the call back number they give you and the name of the company, but I'm sure it's all fake and they are operating out of some basement somewhere.
posted by interplanetjanet at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2015
I was able to find a little information by googling the call back number they give you and the name of the company, but I'm sure it's all fake and they are operating out of some basement somewhere.
posted by interplanetjanet at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2015
And to echo the others on what a widespread problem it is, even the FTC is frustrated by this and has been crowdsourcing solutions because these people are just so impossible to find. One such project is Zapping Rachel, named after the fictional Rachel from Cardholder Services who I think has called everyone in the US at least a dozen times. They invited hackers to develop ways to identify robocaller information and tactics to help them investigate.
Haven't seen any more updates since last fall, though.
I've just gotten to the point where I've turned the ringer off. I only get texts, anyway.
posted by mochapickle at 10:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Haven't seen any more updates since last fall, though.
I've just gotten to the point where I've turned the ringer off. I only get texts, anyway.
posted by mochapickle at 10:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I don't think you need actual, legal company names or addresses. The FCC asks for the following info:
- your name and address;
- the home phone number where you received the solicitation;
- identification of the individual or company whose products or services were being advertised or sold, and any phone numbers included in the call;
- a description of the call;
- any phone number provided to allow you to “opt-out” of future calls;
- whether you or anyone else in your household gave the caller express prior permission to call;
- whether you have an EBR with the caller (existing business relationship)
How much of that is in the message they leave? If you can't get the advertised company name from the message, answer the phone once. Then go to fcc.gov and fill out a complaint form for every call.posted by soelo at 8:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]