Minimizing Robo & Scam Calls & Ways To Save Money On Cell Service

MINIMIZING ROBO & SCAM CALLS & HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON CELL SERVICE ~ Easy Steps You Can Follow…. (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Probably one of the most annoying things in today’s World is the robo call. These calls emanate from various domestic, or international places and quite often originate from people working from home to make a few extra bucks. Some such services use a live person to interact with you while others have automated prerecorded pitches. They use fake caller ID numbers, or in many cases no caller ID number at all. Your number is obtained from various lists complied from data bases obtained by hacking legitimate services, or vendors you have dealt with in the past who legitimately have your number. In some cases, your number may be sold to services marketing specific things you’ve expressed interest in with previous vendors. How can you minimize answering such calls? Be very careful to whom you give your number to and if possible, request that your number not be provided, or sold to others. Yes, some companies will comply with such requests. Secondly, maintain an accurate personal contact list on your phone’s contact app. Incoming phone numbers are automatically linked to your contact list first so you can see that the call is from someone that you know, otherwise, if the caller is legitimate their caller ID will automatically kick in and be displayed. If, however, the ID information is not displayed, or simply shows a city, or country of origin, or a number you do not recognize, simply do not answer the call. Be aware that some scammers will purposely engage in a conversation with you and ask a question that requires you to answer YES to it. This answer is recorded and used later to indicate your approval to something they are illegally attempting to gain your approval, or acceptance of. If you also have a landline with an answering machine connected, here’s a message you may wish to record: “Hello, you’ve reached 000.000.0000. If this is a solicitation call please be advised that this is a do-not-call number and violators will be reported! To leave a message please wait for the tone and then state your name, purpose of call and your phone number. Thank you for calling and have a nice day!” It’s been my experience that this message causes most such callers to hang up. If it is indeed an important call, the caller will leave a message so you can call them back. You can register on the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY, a FREE service, by visiting https://bit.ly/3O8fLS2 In 2019, Congress passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, to attempt to curtail illegal robocalls and prosecute/penalize scammers with fines up to $10,000 per call. You can report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission, the primary government agency that collects scam complaints. To report robo calls visit: https://bit.ly/3mT9ONk or call 877.FTC.HELP. You can also report and file an informal complaint with the FCC about robo & scam calls. Call 888.225.5322, and be sure to include your full name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible.

Now a quick word about how to save on cell-phone service. There are several smaller cell-phone service providers who offer very attractive rates. If you have an Apple iWatch, or other such device that links to your cell phone service, be sure to ask if the provider you are speaking with supports such additional add-ons. Currently, most do not. Cricket Wireless, h20 Wireless and Consumer Cellular use the same towers as AT&T. Metro by T-Mobile, Visible, Total Wireless, Twigby and Xfinity Mobile use Verizon’s towers. So, check the coverage of AT&T and Verizon first to see who offers the best coverage and rates, then contact the smaller carrier to possibly save money. Graphic credits: THE GADGETEER Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore