Cell Phone Question

[jasonxctf]

So I probably get 5-10 calls a week, from cell phone #'s that are very similar to mine. Same area code and first 3 numbers. No one is ever on the other line and the more I block them in my iPhone, the more different numbers start to populate.

One time I called the number back, and some girl answered saying she didnt call me and she's been getting return calls with questions like mine all day from other people.

Any idea what this is all about???

[southsider2k5]

2 minutes ago, jasonxctf said:

So I probably get 5-10 calls a week, from cell phone #'s that are very similar to mine. Same area code and first 3 numbers. No one is ever on the other line and the more I block them in my iPhone, the more different numbers start to populate.

One time I called the number back, and some girl answered saying she didnt call me and she's been getting return calls with questions like mine all day from other people.

Any idea what this is all about???

Cell phone spoofing.

https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/news-releases/16670-a-new-kind-of-phone-scam-neighbor-spoofing

[Dick Allen]

2 minutes ago, jasonxctf said:

So I probably get 5-10 calls a week, from cell phone #'s that are very similar to mine. Same area code and first 3 numbers. No one is ever on the other line and the more I block them in my iPhone, the more different numbers start to populate.

One time I called the number back, and some girl answered saying she didnt call me and she's been getting return calls with questions like mine all day from other people.

Any idea what this is all about???

Its robo calling. It's one way they mask their identity. 

[jasonxctf]

Thanks. What I dont get, is when I actually answer the phone... no one is ever on the other line? It's always dead silence for 5-10 seconds. Time and Time again.

[Brian]

Same here. They all say they are from Algonquin, IL

[southsider2k5]

Step one is don't answer.  That information gets sold.

[Harry Chappas]

I hate cell phones.....purchasing/upgrading a cell phone is worse than buying a car....and I am talking about buying a car 20 years ago, not today.  Today it is rather easy. 

[soxfan49]

Aren't they recording your "hello" so they can use it to scam your friends/family?

[Iwritecode]

On 9/6/2018 at 11:33 AM, jasonxctf said:

Thanks. What I dont get, is when I actually answer the phone... no one is ever on the other line? It's always dead silence for 5-10 seconds. Time and Time again.

Once you answer, it confirms that it's a real phone # that belongs to a real person. Then they just sell your # to other spammers.

[Yoda]

This isn't happening to me, but out of curiosity did you purchase something recently from say TV or online? A purchase that asked for your phone number? Both my parents were getting similar calls earlier this year right after they purchased some kitchenware off the TV. It took probably a good 4-5 months till the calls stopped.

[Iwritecode]

24 minutes ago, Yoda said:

This isn't happening to me, but out of curiosity did you purchase something recently from say TV or online? A purchase that asked for your phone number? Both my parents were getting similar calls earlier this year right after they purchased some kitchenware off the TV. It took probably a good 4-5 months till the calls stopped.

This is exactly why I keep a landline. 

[bmags]

Everytime comcast calls me the number now has the same first 6 digits as my own. Is that legal?

[MEANS]

We moved from IN to PDX over the winter (sold/bought a house)...etc. Ever since then I've been receiving these calls too. 75% are IN numbers with the same 3 digit combo that I have. Most are health insurance, car warranty, or even Windows computers calls. (I always laugh at those b/c i've never owned a PC in my life, Apple's since '87). I usually don't answer but sometimes I do. I always block that callers number after they call but that doesn't seem to stop them from trying different numbers.