Annoying calls on our landline

[rwaynemcc]

Hi. Our Verizon landline rings almost constantly throughout the day. Either no one is there when we answer or it's a telemarketing call, live or recorded. We've blocked many of the ones that use the same number each time but usually the number varies, which makes blocking difficult. The calls start early in the morning, often waking us, and continue late into the evening.  We'll sometimes get thirty or forty calls a day and it is driving us crazy.  We're on the Do Not Call Registry but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

I would appreciate any helpful suggestions.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

This is an issue that will be resolved by service providers. Telemarketing calls that originate overseas are almost impossible to resolve by end users.

If the telephone service is originating in a legacy Verizon digital Central Office switch, there isn't a whole lot that can be done other than activate Anonymous Call Rejection.  If telephone service is originating in a packet switch, in addition to Anonymous Call Rejection, telephone numbers can be registered with Hiya (I believe that is the correct service).

Years ago, spam callers were such a problem for me that I installed an Avaya business telephone system here at home. I have all incoming calls answered by an auto attendant while my telephones remain silent. If the caller is legit, they can press the correct digits to be transferred to me.  🙂

[rwaynemcc]

Hi dexman. Thanks for your reply.  I just purchased the CPR V5000 Call Blocker for Landline Phones.  I'm hoping that will solve my problem.  I read some very good reviews on it.

[dexman]

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. Spammers will switch the telephone numbers they send frequently. The number they pass along today will likely be different tomorrow.. Spammers also "spoof" known working telephone numbers. These numbers look legit, so they could slip through. I remember having my own telephone number appear on caller ID a few times. The equipment that telemarketers use has gotten more sophisticated than the systems they used before. A discussion about the primary differences is outside the scope of this forum. ‌😐‌‌

[rwaynemcc]

I realize there is no perfect solution.  The bad guys always seem to stay a step ahead of current technology.  The call blocker promises to allow me to deflect calls from recurring numbers and that will provide some relief.

[Yankee53]

Did the CPR V5000 work for you?  I am about to give up my landline since neither NoMoRobo (at best it gets 1 out of 10 calls) and Call Filter/Anonymous Call Block (what a joke, still get many many many calls from "no name; name unavailable; possible fraud" etc.) work. So wondering if I should give CPR V5000 a chance or just another tool that doesn't work.

[dexman]

For both landline and cell phone service, there isn't a fool-proof way to block all junk calls. The hardest calls to trap are ones that spoof working telephone numbers. The systems will see a call originating from a known good telephone number and pass it along. The trick is to keep the various databases updated so that vacant telephone numbers cannot be used to place calls.

Calls originating from lines with no/unknown numbers should be easier to trap. 

[rwaynemcc]

The V5000 Call Blocker is less than perfect but it has provided us some relief.  It claims to be able block up to 1500 numbers. We've got about 100 of the most recurring numbers blocked so far and that has definitely made a difference.  I would recommend it for anyone who is besieged as we were.