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Getting spammed constantly :(

Dux

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So this is a non PC related question, but perhaps some of you can help me.
Few days ago i started getting insulting SMS and one ring calls from range of numbers all starting with +178. This is scammers or whatever. Idk how they got my cell phone number. I use it for two factor verification on Steam, origin and Twitch. So either they found it there somehow or just sending SMS and calls to a range of numbers. I can block every single number. But it's not helping since this garbage is using a different number each time. I don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cell phone. Anyone knows if there is a way to block this permanently? Like entire +178 range of numbers?
 

eidairaman1

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So this is a non PC related question, but perhaps some of you can help me.
Few days ago i started getting insulting SMS and one ring calls from range of numbers all starting with +178. This is scammers or whatever. Idk how they got my cell phone number. I use it for two factor verification on Steam, origin and Twitch. So either they found it there somehow or just sending SMS and calls to a range of numbers. I can block every single number. But it's not helping since this garbage is using a different number each time. I don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cell phone. Anyone knows if there is a way to block this permanently? Like entire +178 range of numbers?
Where are you located?
 

eidairaman1

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eidairaman1

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could you switch to google fi? they screen for that type of stuff calling and/or messaging.
 
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normally ya can call your carrier and block all numbers beginning with .....
 
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So this is a non PC related question, but perhaps some of you can help me.
Few days ago i started getting insulting SMS and one ring calls from range of numbers all starting with +178. This is scammers or whatever. Idk how they got my cell phone number. I use it for two factor verification on Steam, origin and Twitch. So either they found it there somehow or just sending SMS and calls to a range of numbers. I can block every single number. But it's not helping since this garbage is using a different number each time. I don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cell phone. Anyone knows if there is a way to block this permanently? Like entire +178 range of numbers?

You can ask your carrier to block land codes yes.

For some countries they already do by default, most notably a few African ones. Nigerian Princes, and all that. Ethiopia, Tunesia...

On most Android phones you can block prefixes (+178*).

Ha nice!
 
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So this is a non PC related question, but perhaps some of you can help me.
Few days ago i started getting insulting SMS and one ring calls from range of numbers all starting with +178. This is scammers or whatever. Idk how they got my cell phone number. I use it for two factor verification on Steam, origin and Twitch. So either they found it there somehow or just sending SMS and calls to a range of numbers. I can block every single number. But it's not helping since this garbage is using a different number each time. I don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cell phone. Anyone knows if there is a way to block this permanently? Like entire +178 range of numbers?
using android? you could block the call
i dunno from where they get your phone number, maybe from some web that you visit or in here i suspect some phone counters collect the number and sell them to advertising company
 

Dux

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Guess there's nothing i can do. I can block single numbers on my phone. Which is useless in this case. And my provider customer service is unavailable because of corona "shituation."
 
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doesnt your provider have call center which you can contact and request +178 prefix to be blocked.
btw what is the next digit after +178 is it always constant or it varies.
 

Dux

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doesnt your provider have call center which you can contact and request +178 prefix to be blocked.
btw what is the next digit after +178 is it always constant or it varies.
+1780. After that the numbers vary. Here are some of them... +17804467169, +17806680170, +17806907816, +17807421587....
 

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Would of helped to mention the make and model of phone. Nobody is going to laugh at you. One of my uncles is still using a Nokia 8310 or 8310i. It works and the battery lasts a week between charges.

If your device is android based. you could look into an app called 'TrueCaller' It basically functions as an an anti-spam call filtering network. People who get spam report the number and TrueCaller block the number for everyone using their app
 

Dux

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Would of helped to mention the make and model of phone. Nobody is going to laugh at you. One of my uncles is still using a Nokia 8310 or 8310i. It works and the battery lasts a week between charges.

If your device is android based. you could look into an app called 'TrueCaller' It basically functions as an an anti-spam call filtering network. People who get spam report the number and TrueCaller block the number for everyone using their app
As i wrote in the first post, i don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cheap cell phone. Model is Nokia 105. Not that i can't afford a smartphone, i'm just a weird individual who hates cell phones (and cars). Not a problem to buy another phone. Problem is getting another number because this one i'm getting spammed is used for private contacts and work. Tried calling my provider today, but they can't solve this kind of problems now because most of them are off work until Corona situation gets under control. That is the only solution i see. Aside from getting a new SIM card.
 
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Settings > calls > additional settings > call restriction

That's according to some guide on Google.
 

Dux

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Settings > calls > additional settings > call restriction

That's according to some guide on Google.
Hmmm. i know about that. That's where i filtered all those numbers. Now i added the number +1780 to the list. So we'll see if the phone will filter everything starting with that number. But i doubt it.
 
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780 is area code of alberta (ca) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_780
so +1 is North america 780 is alberta after that 2nd 3 digit group of all numbers you've posted points to edmonton erea. may be edmonton Police department has online report form and if you like you can report those messages to them.
 
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Idk how they got my cell phone number.
They may not have got it from anywhere. Spammers often just call random numbers - by the 10s of 1000s.

Two years ago, after I discovered my old cell phone would not stay put on my truck bumper for a 10 mile ride, I got a new phone and decided to get a new phone number too. On the way home from the phone store, I got spam call! :mad: :mad: :mad:

All you can do is block them but frankly, that is an endless battle because they will just spoof another number to call or text you from.

The ones that really p!$$ me off are those that go straight to voice mail. I guess some carriers lets you block that from happening but apparent, Cricket doesn't. :(
 
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So this is a non PC related question, but perhaps some of you can help me.
Few days ago i started getting insulting SMS and one ring calls from range of numbers all starting with +178. This is scammers or whatever. Idk how they got my cell phone number. I use it for two factor verification on Steam, origin and Twitch. So either they found it there somehow or just sending SMS and calls to a range of numbers. I can block every single number. But it's not helping since this garbage is using a different number each time. I don't have a smartphone. Just an ordinary cell phone. Anyone knows if there is a way to block this permanently? Like entire +178 range of numbers?

If you have an Android phone there are plenty of apps which can filter any numbers and spammers. If you have an iPhone - you're SoL.

Blocking numbers one by one might become a nightmare if you really leaked your number.
 
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If you have an Android phone there are plenty of apps which can filter any numbers and spammers.
This is true, but none are anywhere near 100% effective. Most rely on other users reporting those numbers - which means they are not immediately be filtered/blocked. And the problem is, the bad guys know this so they use one number for a few minutes, then use another.

What we need is for the carriers to hurry up and implement caller ID verification. But I recognize this is a challenge as many companies have legitimate reasons to spoof a different name and number. A large medical clinic, for example, may have 100s of numbers but want all outgoing calls to display one clinic name and the number to the receptionist on caller IDs.

Probably the best solution for us users to set up our phones to only let through calls from our contacts. But that can be a real pain keeping our contacts list current.
 
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I get spam calls that go in spurts. They spoof numbers to match your local phone numbers in hopes you'll answer because the call shows up as local.

Any number that shows up on my phone that I don't know, I let it go to voicemail. 99.9% of the time no message is left, then i block the number.

I can go a few weeks without a spam call, then one day I'll get 4 or 5 spam calls and it'll be like that for a week or so. Then no calls for a while. The do not call list doesn't stop these calls.

I think the most entertaining calls i got for a while were ones out of New York. Claiming that I had warrants out for me and to call them back to pay, otherwise they would send the NYCPD to my house to arrest me.....I sure am glad I've never been to NY and that the NYCPD has no jurisdiction in MN. I got these spam calls over the course of 5-6 months.

Hopefully they'll slow down for you.
 
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Yeah, the Do Not Call list is really a farce. It started out with good intentions. But it really works on the honor system. So only the good companies would honor our do not call requests. The badguys, spammers and scammers are going to ignore, and laugh at those lists. If anything, the Do Not Call list is a list of legitimate numbers! :( And the other problem is many (if not most) of the spam calls and texts actually originate in other countries where the US has no jurisdiction to stop those offenders. :( And the local authorities either don't have the resources, or their pockets are getting lined to turn a blind eye.
 
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