i never get telemarketing calls on my cell, ever, but the home line is a diff story

and dont be stupid people, banks/credit card companies will never need to call you, so when one claims they are, hang up asap please

or you can just do this for shits and giggles

Same

yup it is, I don't even know why I bother picking up. As soon as I hear the horn, I hang up :lol

Bump

same. that actually started for me in November.

explain the foghorn call?

I don't really want to get into the nitty gritty of this (for many reasons, you can PM me) but this is the short and simple answer:

Telemarketers have the ability to purchase this information from cell phone companies, telephone companies and what have you (aka other various sources like phone book databases etc.) They will pay a price for this information and will get what they want which is why I encouraged people to put their numbers onto the Do Not Call list.

I know some of you did your duty of Googling and concluded it was a hoax. It isn't. Again, that's just the simple answer. Some of you mentioned that you received more telemarketing calls after signing up. Well, bad news for you. You must have, at one point, given your number out to somebody, some where, at some time, and at some place. It's as simple as that. And once that telemarketer got their hands onto that list of phone numbers, they will keep calling you.

I've registered my entire family's phones onto the DNCL. Has it worked? Yes. I even unlisted my land line number (I know, ghetto) and it made a huge difference. The house is quiet now. :D

Just a tip for all of you: When you go to a store or go out shopping, never ever fucking give your real phone number out! Make up a bullshit number or give your enemy's number. Hell, don't even give them your real address! If it's a reputable store, ask the sales associate if your information is protected or not and/or if it is shared. If it is, simply decline. And don't go singing up for those stupid "WIN ME!" contests for a free ice cream or whatever it is. Your information will be sold! Be prepared to give out a fake phone number and address. Hell, I don't even like telling Ikea what my postal code is at check out!

As for those of you getting calls with the fog horn. Seriously. Don't pick up the phone especially when it's a "Private Number" or a number you do not recognize. I cannot stress that enough. These are automated computer aided dialers that will dial the full 10K of each NPA-NXX. What I mean by that is, they will take an area code (i.e. 604) and an NPA (i.e. 251) and dial every number in the 604-251 range (i.e. 604-251-0000 to 604-251-9999.) They will continue going on and on and on and if you don't pick up, it will realize after some time that the number does not exist or it is not in service. The computer doesn't know any better so please DO NOT answer the phone! You will thank me later.

Have a nice day. :)

^what do you mean unlisted your landline?

i have an intercom for when people come over to apartment and it's new and is technically a landline. that's the only place i seem to get some telemarketers. i wonder if i can eliminate them somehow on that...

You can pay your phone company a small free ($2/month IIRC) to have your phone book entry unlisted from their online database and the white pages.

Your phone number is otherwise listed by default. This does not apply to wireless phones.

I have recently changed 2 numbers bout 6 months ago. I now get telemarketers calling me at least 5 times a week on both numbers. I am very careful with my number and never give it out. I even give my banks the wrong number to avoid their shitty insurance calls. I think rogers has sold their cell phone lists to telemarketers cause it makes no sense otherwise..... fuckin aggravating

The person who owned your phone number gave it out.

I've been getting cruise ship winning calls for years, but only a couple and those stopped a long time ago. I think because my cell number is so old and from a company that barely exists anymore, so I'm probably one of very few people left whose number has that NPA

This morning I got a text from a UK e-mail address telling me I won a $2,500,000 grant and to e-mail my cell number back to that e-mail address to claim it :suspicious: