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call from 545-454-5454 ? and a robo-call?

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03bluecoupe

Guest
So, I get this call with a caller-id of 545-454-5454. Right, I'm going to answer that. Did some searching on the number but didn't turn up anything definitive on it. Anyone have any info on it? Has to be a scam of some sort.

But that got me to thinking about the calls you get and answer but there's no one there, just silence. No one hangs up, the line is just silent. Any clues what these callers are trying accomplish? I know the possibility of just seeing if someone is home, but not with the number of times this happens.

No biggie, just curious if anyone knows.
 
Thanks, I saw those kind of entries I just thought maybe someone had some additional info. I mean who's stupid enough to wanna spoof a phone number and simply alternate 5's and 4's.

I still can't find out what the ones accomplish when you actually answer and there's no one/silence.
 
People do answer those calls. I forget the percentage, but even a quite low one makes a profit.

I read some security fora - there are a few tech savvy readers who fall for the malware or Microsoft scam.

The local news is warning people about emails and phone calls supposedly from the IRS. Savvier people have fallen for those, too.

You can make your phone number show up as private on the phone. Our office phones used to show "Unknown, Private, all 0s, all 1,2," if there was no ID.
You can spoof any number if you know how, so some might think a friend that knew how to spoof might be having fun with them. 555-1212 is common.

If a legitimate place you give your number to gets hacked, it's known you have a live number and spammers sell lists. If you answer one of these numbers, you have a live number. They also robodial.

You need to read TOS. I have caught some with opt-outs for themselves but have affiliates you CAN'T opt out of that get the info including phone number.

We had spammers on the phone before the DNC and we were in the phone book. I got tired of being interrupted while tending the kid. Businesses do not do Do Not Call. Some days most of the calls would be spammers. We did more business by email for record purposes. I just got tired of hearing the damn phone ring. I have separate ringtones for friends and businesses I use. Unknowns use "Cocaine"

I don't use a blocker as I don't have VM. I just have a contact on the phone named Spammer. The number goes there with a silent ring. I don't get that many calls. Most of them are because I hold the account, not the Vulcan. He rarely gets a spam call.
 
The autodialers are silent as they can dial numbers faster than the chimps on the other end can take them.
 
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