Sonic.net

I asked if Sonic could provide some kind of challenge to callers to prove they're human or use voicemail to collect callback numbers that could be reported to the IRS or FTC hotlines.

My inlaws recall at some point their phone company did offer such a challenge -- it would have been from a phone company in South Dakota or Colorado.

So it can be done.

Please block (415) 255-1941. This number belongs to a Felix Garduno of San Francisco, who has a criminal record. I do not know him, and I don't want to. Thank you!

Please block (585) 633-3346. There are many complaints online about this number belonging to Scammers. Thank you for blocking.

8189382583

*69 led to "Your call cannot be completed at this time" recording.

Say, question for Sonic folks:

I get a lot of cellphone robot junk calls too.

Am I right that cell phones will accurately display the calling number?
If so, would it be helpful to collect those calling numbers, on the assumption they're using the same phones for robocalling landlines as well?

ankh wrote:... cell phones will accurately display the calling number?

Only to the extent that the accurate CID is provided to the cell carrier. That's the same challenge that landline carriers face. Unfortunately, the protocol used to transmit CID (SS7) was developed long before VOIP was developed, and it never considered that calls would be injected into the PSTN from non-telco entities.

Drat. Thanks.

Ya know, the CIA or NSA ought to be working on this. I'm sure nobody would complain about privacy violations if they'd just publish some foolproof way to identify the botspammers.

Please block 415 279-7288. The unknown caller did not leave a message. This is Spam, a Scam, or a Robocall. Thank you.

VETERANSAFFAIRS (2024956224) Unsolicited voicemail seems to be Chinese language scam robocall. Recipient was neither Chinese speaking nor a veteran.

Received a spoofed call this 6:38AM today from 1-408-371-4582. Left a 10 second message with only sounds.