I am considering getting rid of my land line phone and just having a mobile phone.

Shirley I was advised by Telstra that the way you can tell if they are scammers is when you pick up the phone and answer it there is a definite pause before someone replies to you. This is because the calls are computer generated, in their thousands, just waiting for someone gullible to answer.

I now leave the answer machine on all the time with a message telling callers that I am monitoring the call and if they are someone known to us they should speak up so I can answer them....

We have had no scam calls since I started doing this.

Huge hugs and Merry Christmas

I'm like you Shirley I like a landline. I also get a lot of these calls, when I notified Telstra they lodged a complaint for me and said to ring the complaints dept. each time they ring me with the number they called on. I'm hoping it will eventually work. As for a Silent Number I was told not to bother with that these call centre's are probably using old phone books so they have your number anyway.

I do not know anybody with a land line anymore!!!!******

4 comments

by airyfairy 13 Dec 2018

I still love my landline

by toogie 13 Dec 2018

So do I

by killiecrankie 14 Dec 2018

If you have a 2 storey house or want to have 2 or more phones sharing the same number ,its the only way.As it is ,my husband often manages to misplace our phone,just as well there is another elsewhere in is holder

by gerryb 14 Dec 2018

I have one. I like my land line. And, by the way, we have a set of 3 (same line) portable for the land line. About a yr. ago I misplaced one of the hand sets! Let the battery run down before I started looking for it! I just KNOW it's out there in my sewing room under something!!

This has been happening to us, but it is robo calling ,if you leave the phone ringing they hang up before the answering machine kicks in.
The NBN box is on the footpath in front of our place ,so if there is a real person is on the other end, I am going to ask if they want to speak to the man who is outside working on the box.I bet they hang up real quick.

1 comment

by killiecrankie 13 Dec 2018

Being listed in the phone book just makes it easier for them.
Being on the do not call list doesn't work.
We have a sign above the door bell ,saying no door knockers but they are all obviously illiterate ,the dog gives them a good barking to .Saw one couple read the sign & turn away & put something in the letter box ,but that is very rare

we get these phone calls also in Vic., solar panels too, now when I here the little beeps first no speaking I hang up ...wendy

2 comments

by shirley124 13 Dec 2018

Yes we get the solar panel and taxation ones as well. Very annoying.

by killiecrankie 13 Dec 2018

We had the taxation ones but it was the end of April ,USA eofy not the Australian eofy.

Oh how I love to hang up on some of those people who call from early morning to night trying to scam unsuspecting little old ladies.

2 comments

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

Yes they are just so annoying. I feel like telling them to get a honest job.

by gerryb 14 Dec 2018

I answered one other day that I knew was a spam...said, in a fairly deep voice, "Sheriff's Dept; Fraud Division." They hung up.

There is a way to block them all my son did it to my phone *****

2 comments

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

Some phones you can but mine is a older model and does not give me that option. I do not like the newer ones as they are too small for me to handle. Hugs

by marianb 13 Dec 2018

No way to block them. There is a Do Not Call Register but that doesn't work, you then get people saying they are from there who then tell you you've a card expiring soon I just hang up.

Same here.........Dear Customer, you internet will be .........
I leave my answering service on and when it is a caller I need to speak to I answer the Phone.

3 comments

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

I do not have that sort of answering machine. It would have it's uses though.

by sewist1 13 Dec 2018

Same here. Caller ID is also very handy.

by marianb 13 Dec 2018

That's what I do now also.

I get between 6-8 calls a day. Have been in touch with telstra re these calls & they say they are aware of them & are working on them. The numbers are randomly generated by computer & because they are overseas they only way they can do anything at the moment is to block my overseas calls which is not going to happen as I have many OS friends I like to keep in touch with so I keep ranting at these people (to no avail) or hang up. Very frustrating

2 comments

by irenewayne 12 Dec 2018

Also meant to add that friends are now getting calls on their mobiles

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

It is very frustrating to say the least. If you block your number to overseas calls it then makes your number a silent one and you get charged a monthly fee. I know because I had mine blocked at a previous address. At least with a mobile number if you do not have the number in your contacts you can just ignore it. The land line phone I have does not give me that option.

That's a good idea Shirley. Mum was saying she's getting lots of people ringing her saying she's got a problem with her Windows! (Computer) She just tells them that her "windows" are fine as they've just been washed!!! Ha ha ha, gotta love senior citizens!!!!!

The problem with these "scammers" is that they hassle the vulnerable and a lot of elderly people are falling for their scam. There are some nasty people out there doing this sort of stuff, especially in Australia. I don't know whether it's happening in the northern hemisphere. Love Chris

1 comment

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

Good for your Mum to say her windows are fine. he he
It is about time these scammers found something better to do with their time.

Hang in there they will move on and bother someone else next week before coming back to you.

1 comment

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

The sooner the better, I say.

I got caught once. The next time I put the phone next to the TV with a Japanese program on. they never called back. Lol

1 comment

by shirley124 12 Dec 2018

I did the same thing once but on my ipad. They soon hung up.