spoofed local number robocalls

[DukeHazzard]

I have been getting a ridiculous amount of calls from spoofed numbers with the same area code and prefix of my phone.  About half of my incoming call volume are these robocalls.  The prefix is exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers in my area so is there something Verizon can do about it?  Because I a lot of people I know have this same prefix for their Verizon phone I can't categorically block it.  I hate ignoring all unknown numbers from my own exchange because I have missed legitimate calls but at this level (5 fake calls already today) I finally had to shut the ringer off.  If anyone has any other suggestions I am listening. 

[boringusername]

Until recently no they could not. The FCC recently changed a rule that will allow carriers to block unassigned numbers. Of course if a robocaller is spoofing a number that is actually in use then there is nothing Verizon can do about that.

[DukeHazzard]

A good point about the FCC.  In this case the numbers are (or at least appear to be) unassigned; when I dial them back I only get a busy signal. 

[vzw_customer_support]

DukeHazzard, we completely understand how it feels to receive unwanted calls on your device. We always want to do everything in our power to assist our customers and ensure that they’re able to enjoy their wireless service without any hassle. There’s a few things that we’d like to review with you to better assist.

Spoofing occurs when someone is deliberately falsifying their number. The number you’re seeing on your caller ID may not be the actual phone number the call is coming from. If you’re receiving these types of calls, we definitely recommend having this reported to the FCC for further handling. You can learn more about this at https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id

A great way to prevent these types of calls from happening in the first place is to ensure that your number is safe and secure. You’d never want to provide your phone number to an untrusted source or site. We’d like to suggest making sure that your number is listed on the Do Not Call Registry (https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx) to help avoid any additional unwanted calls as well.

Once you’ve made sure these measures are put in to place and if you find that you’re still receiving unwanted calls from these numbers, we’d like to suggest blocking the number to avoid any inconvenience and in extreme measures, you may want to consider changing your phone number. Here’s how you can accomplish these two items: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/block-unblock-services-faqs/#how-to-block and https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/change-mobile-number-faqs/

Additionally, if you can confirm the make/model of your device, we’d be happy to review other built-in options that may be available to assist with call blocking right from your device.

SamanthaT_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[DukeHazzard]

[removed]

My number has been listed on the Do Not Call registry nearly as long as the registry has existed.  I reported many of the calls on the FCC website but I simply don't have time to fill out the form for all of them.  Because they are "spoofed", it's not helping anyway.

My number is "safe and secure", thank you very much.  These are auto-dialed, random calls.  Everyone in my area with a Verizon phone gets them; I suspect this is true everywhere else as well.  Because the number is different each time blocking the numbers would be useless.  I would eventually have to block every unused number in the xxx-813-xxxx exchange.  Why can't Verizon categorically block unused numbers?

If I have to change the phone number that I've had for more than a decade, the number that friends, family, customers and suppliers know to contact my with, I will be changing providers at the same time.

Content modified as required by Verizon Wireless Terms of Service​

[boringusername]

DukeHazzard wrote:

Why can't Verizon categorically block unused numbers?

The FCC only recently gave carriers permission to do this. I'm sure it takes time to implement this.

Latest FCC Action

On Nov. 16, 2017, the FCC adopted new rules to allow voice service providers to proactively block certain types of robocalls that are likely to be fraudulent because they come from certain types of phone numbers, including those that do not or cannot make outgoing calls. For example, perpetrators have used IRS phone numbers that don't dial out to impersonate the tax agency, informing the people who answer that they are calling to collect money owed to the U.S. government. Such calls appear to be legitimate to those who receive them and can result in fraud or identity theft. Service providers now can block such calls, as well as calls from invalid numbers, like those with area codes that don't exist, from numbers that have not been assigned to a provider, and from numbers allocated to a provider but not currently in use.

Stop Unwanted Calls and Texts | Federal Communications Commission

[Widowed07]

Sadly it's not just unused numbers.  I've received at least 3 "call backs" from people who I "called".  So I know my number is being spoofed for the same purposes.  About half of the calls I get have a name attached to them, suggesting they are active numbers being spoofed.

[nordicblue]

Love the Verizon answer "Don't give your number to unwanted companies" LMAOO!!!!!! Like that's how they're calling me. They looked me up from the vehicle database and started calling for car warranty EVERY fudging DAY from another number in my exchange. For the love of God, Verizon, start blocking numbers that do not originate from anywhere. It's an easy check for you in this technology driven world we live in. 

Also, you really think these persons care two cr*ps about the do not call registry? Another huge LOL!!!

This is on you, Verizon, fix the issue! AT&T provides better filtering tools than you do. 

[dwt12777]

Add my vote to getting some attention paid to this problem at the carrier level.  It seems like lately I get two to five of these calls a day.  But blocking them does no good, because they use different numbers every time.  If I do answer them, no one says anything.  However, within a couple minutes, I invariably then receive a second call from a different number trying to sell me something or phish information.  It's as if the first call is just being used to see if someone will answer.  If yes, the second call gets generated.

If the carrier has the ability to detect and stop this activity - they need to do it now.  If this gets to the point where I need to change phone numbers as the support person previously suggested, I will change carriers at the same time.

[jav6]

If I get a call from a number I don't recognize, I don't say anything for 3-5 seconds.  Generally, if it is a 'robocall' it hangs up if there is no response.  If you answer it with a voice immediately, that might be triggering it to continue and mark your number as a good one to use again.

[jaysteag]

Me too! I get around 3 calls/day from a different spoofed number every time. There has to be a way for Verizon to identify a call coming from a spoofed number and a way to not allow it. I’m thinking of switching to AT&T over this issue.

[jav6]

You might want to check with friends that have AT&T or visit AT&T forums to see how or if they know how to handle these types of calls.

[Xarcon]

AT&T programmers have already programmed their system to drop Robocalls and will roll it out after their 4 Feb 2018 Super Bowl commercial airs.  Verizon didn't see the marketing potential to their customers and will probably loose thousands of customers to AT&T.

It's so simple a 5th grade programmer can do it.  The call routing machines (routers) get the actual information for where the call comes from and it's called the ANI.  CALLER ID is not ANI.  Caller ID was a paid service, back in the day, that was laid over top of call routing information.  All the routers have to do is a simple logic check.  If ANI is not equal to CALLID then DROP/ Terminate. Another way of putting it.... if ANI=CALLID then send to next router. Bam...no more spoofed calls.

For you geeks who want to know the underlying details:

Automatic number identification - Wikipedia

[boringusername]

Xarcon wrote:

AT&T programmers have already programmed their system to drop Robocalls and will roll it out after their 4 Feb 2018 Super Bowl commercial airs. Verizon didn't see the marketing potential to their customers and will probably loose thousands of customers to AT&T.

It's so simple a 5th grade programmer can do it. The call routing machines (routers) get the actual information for where the call comes from and it's called the ANI. CALLER ID is not ANI. Caller ID was a paid service, back in the day, that was laid over top of call routing information. All the routers have to do is a simple logic check. If ANI is not equal to CALLID then DROP/ Terminate. Another way of putting it.... if ANI=CALLID then send to next router. Bam...no more spoofed calls.

For you geeks who want to know the underlying details:

Automatic number identification - Wikipedia

So at&t has this feature and COULD deploy it but choose to let's it's customers suffer on purpose so they can air a SB commercial? I'm curious as to how you know Verizon is not working on a similar feature. Also just like unlimited data if Verizon starts losing customers on masse because of this they will implement regardless. Verizon will not tolerate customer loses for any length of time.

[MiltonHotard]

If this doesn't get fixed soon, I'm switching to AT&T.

[Bob_D1]

It seems to me that the switch that routes the calls would know a call from outside Verizon is coming in with a internal Verizon number.  This ought to be a red flag.

In this day and age, do we not have computers fancy enough to detect this condition and deny the incoming call any access to the  Verizon network?

[jav6]

If it were only that easy, it would be done.  There are undoubtedly other factors coming into play.

[Icetub]

I am with you.  19 out of my last 20 calls were spam/spoof/garbage.  All carriers need to step up their game and put an end to this stuff.  I get a ton of calls from a 201 area code that have the exact same message and yet the rest of the number is different every single time.  I cannot block 10 million numbers with that area code.  I am looking for a setting that allows me to do outgoing calls only because I am that frustrated.  I am close to getting rid of the phone service itself if this stuff doesn't stop.  It's gotten to the point where I never answer my phone unless that person is in my contact list but the number of calls I receive a day from this truly interrupts my daily work.  Ok I am done venting but I am fed up and Verizon needs to fix this mess.

[vzw_customer_support]

Icetub, 

We understand how frustrating it is to receive unwanted spam calls, especially when it's interrupting your work and personal life. We can see that you are aware of the option to block the calls but you are right, it can seem impossible to block them when the numbers keep changing. The alternate option would be to change your phone number. While this isn't the most popular approach, it can provide some relief from the calls that are becoming a nuisance to you. For information on how to change your phone number for free, see topics 1 and 2 on this link http://vz.to/2dGWaYv.

Shawnte_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[Icetub]

Changing my number is unacceptable.

Thanks,

Matt

[rupunzlkim]

Can you please explain how changing my number stops robo calls?  Won't they just call me on my new number?