So Many 603 Phone Calls

Submitted by WarlockTank t3_z7vlkw in newhampshire

Has anyone else been getting spammed with 603 numbers? I pick up each one, thinking it may actually be a job opportunity or a friend whose number I've lost, etc. Each time I pick up, the "person" on the other end hangs up almost immediately.

This isn't the same number each time, either.

Has anyone else been experiencing this in NH?

The other interesting thing to note is that all the Indians that WERE calling me with scams have stopped.

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beyond_hatred t1_iy8wf3x wrote

Don't pick up unknown numbers. It's a self-reinforcing cycle as others have pointed out.

Anyone worth talking to will care enough to leave a message.

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RelativeMotion1 t1_iy90kdg wrote

I’ve had the opposite experience. If I have the time (like while I’m driving), I’ll string them along for a little while and fuck with them, and then berate them. Did that for about 2 years. I now receive very few scam calls. Maybe 1 unknown number a month, tops?

From what I’ve seen in various scammer YouTube videos, they share a bunch of data with each other, including who is an easy mark. I suspect that I am now labeled as something like “time waster who is not falling for it” on a spreadsheet floating around Kolkata.

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Darwins_Dog t1_iy970k5 wrote

Depends on the call, but I think this usually works. Back in the day I worked in a call center and we loved people that would stay on the line. Sales calls are rated by how long they keep you on the line (the assumption being that more time is more chances to sell) but scammers want gullible people.

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Particular-Way-7817 t1_iy9qwrf wrote

Stop. Picking. Up. Unknown. Numbers.

Terrible mistake to answer calls from people you don't know.

You'll only get more spam calls because they know you'll answer. Either don't answer or pick up and scream into the phone until they hang up, that way they'll know they shouldn't call you again.

Reasons why you never pick up these calls:

  • Anyone who you will care to talk to will simply leave a voice message if its important or they know you.

  • They'll text you instead (unless they're still living in the 80s and don't have a smartphone or aren't calling you with one)

  • You would already have them on your contacts if they're someone important.

It is very very very very very rare that someone with a number you don't recognize needs to talk to you. So stop picking them up. Please.

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Cantide756 t1_iyal9sp wrote

It's very common for me for work. Sure I can let them go to voicemail, but they usually call my boss immediately after leaving a message, and he makes that my problem real quick.

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sound_of_apocalypto t1_iyclt9z wrote

On your personal phone?

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Cantide756 t1_iyesehe wrote

Yup. One of the many "amazing" "benefits" of my job

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sound_of_apocalypto t1_iyexhud wrote

Sorry to hear that!

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Cantide756 t1_iyeyyfp wrote

You want to hear the best one? In 2020 they increased the workload by (hours count) 130%. Same basic 3% raise per year and it's just getting worse.

Edit: that's just counting my personal hours.

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spyboy70 t1_iy8c3w2 wrote

I never answer if I don't know the number. If it's important, they'll leave a message.

I also run RoboKiller on my phone to screen calls. If I know someone is calling (like for a Dr. appointment) I'll disable it for a few hours to ensure it comes in.

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dj_narwhal t1_iy8g3xq wrote

They spoof the numbers and then their database learns which ones you pick up and which ones you do not and changes the number the next time. Every once in a while you get a lucky spoofed one and they will call you with your own number. Try explaining that to a boomer.

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Vertex138 t1_iy98k4r wrote

Mine gets faked so often because it's really generic (think something like "100-0001"). I actually had a call from a police department telling me that a handful of people in their town reported my number under the grounds of harassment. I had to tell them it wasn't me and that my number was faked. And they claimed that wasn't possible...

I've literally done it before! Just to mess with my brother once or twice by pretending to be his own phone number calling him, and then never again. It's totally possible and frankly easy to do!

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Azr431 t1_iy8m9z0 wrote

People still answer their phones from an unknown caller? lol

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dj_narwhal t1_iya6ga7 wrote

How else is the hiring manager going to get a hold of you after you walk into his office with a copy of your resume and demand an interview?

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draggar t1_iy8bgxf wrote

Phone number harvesting.

A list of active phone numbers (that are answered) is more valuable than a general list (like email address lists).

.. and it's easy to get a 603 number either via VoIP or spoofing local numbers (illegal in NH - but can't really be enforced).

My general rule - if I don't recognize the number I let it go to voicemail.

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Vertex138 t1_iy97qtp wrote

So the way that phone scams tend to work is the following:

  • they spoof (disguise themselves) as a legitimate NH number when they call any phone number with a 603 area code
  • they'll usually call a hundred numbers at a time to see if they get a response. They usually only have about 10 callers working the phones during this time, since not all 100 phonecalls will be picked up
  • they'll also usually call a few hundred numbers in bulk, record the brief response of whoever answers (when you say "hello?"), hang up, and save those audio clips to be evaluated later (checking the age, gender, etc. of the person who answered, or if the location is a business, school, etc.)

So what's happening is the following: either your voice response is being saved for evaluation to see if you're easily susceptible to be scammed, or when they call a bulk amount of phone numbers, there isn't an available person to take your call, so they drop it.

They're likely not even based in NH, they're usually based in a country where they can do this under the radar and not have harsh penalties if caught. There's really not much we can do to stop it. Don't report the NH number who called you because it likely belongs to a real person.

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Particular-Way-7817 t1_iy9pp8p wrote

Yeah this is why I hate phones. We own a house phone and I'm getting rid of that fucking thing pretty soon we got several phone calls a day yesterday and a few today. Hearing a phone ring is starting to turn into a trigger for me.

Telemarketers are the worst and if you pick up most of the time they'll use your voice for some other shit. Its bullshit. Fuck phones and fuck the phone companies who allow it.

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PolarBlueberry t1_iy9hgg8 wrote

This is fascinating. Sometimes when I'm bored I'll answer with a silly voice just to see what happens. 9/10 its silence.

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warren_stupidity t1_iy9ij9g wrote

Also this is considered legitimate by the phone companies. It’s a feature they maintain as it generates lots of revenue. We are just a crop they harvest for gain.

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clarenceisacat t1_iy8bc8d wrote

'I pick up each one'

This is a big part of the problem. You've shown whoever is doing this that you'll answer calls from a 603 area code.

I've stopped answering phone calls from numbers I don't recognize and get a bit fewer spam calls.

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TheBeesBestKnees t1_iybdir9 wrote

I live in 603 but don't have a 603 number. My spam calls all come from the state my phone number is from...all 19 of those area codes. I just don't answer them.

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SquirrellyDog2016 t1_iybglga wrote

Same. My original state has about a dozen area codes. For OP: good rule of thumb is, if you don't recognize the number, don't answer it. If someone legit is trying to get a hold of you, they'll leave a message.

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kathryn13 t1_iy8gm41 wrote

I haven't been on the receiving end, but I have received two calls from people who thought I called them. And I did not. But they had my number to call me back with...so I'm assuming my 603 # was used/spoofed to call these folks.

They were elderly. I tried to explain. I'm not sure they were convinced. lol

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[deleted] t1_iybaqdh wrote

Everyone with a telephone has been experiencing this, my dude. Has nothing to do with NH... Plain old telephone service goes back a century. Its design flaws have been exploited for decades now (phreaking). Now we have the internet and VOIP and it's all a giant mess. I hope I live to see the day we (intentionally) pull the plug on all that ancient fucking garbage and just run it over the internet instead.

Spammers spoof phone numbers to match your area code, so you think it might be a job opportunity or whatever. That's the whole point...

If it's someone important, they'll leave a voicemail or text you. Just ignore the unknown calls. It's never that important. I think we should bring back the old norms around the answering machine... This idea that everyone must always be available 24/7 is so pathological. We need to start pretending that the legacy phone app is often unavailable again.

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thishasntbeeneasy t1_iy8r1k7 wrote

Once you pickup, they know you are willing to answer a random call so you will get a lot more.

Either just never pickup unknown numbers, or next time you pick up and find it's a robot then just mash on the keys until it hangs up and there's a slight chance they will assume it's not a good number to call.

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MommaGuy t1_iya20nt wrote

It’s gotten to the point where if I don’t recognize the number I don’t answer. If it’s important they can leave a message.

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Hutwe t1_iy9ihds wrote

If you have an iPhone, go to settings > Phone, then scroll down and select “Silence Unknown Callers”, flip it to Yes.

(You can also just search for “Silence Unknown Callers” at the top of settings)

This will automatically route unknown calls to vm.

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r_hove t1_iy9qqwk wrote

Just turned that setting on, thanks

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Squirrel_Toboggan t1_iy8qhj0 wrote

I got a call from a spoofed number once that was a friend's cell number. I answered it thinking it was Joelle, nope! Spam call.

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ThunderySleep t1_iy8wguj wrote

I got a call once from a guy angry with me demanding I take him off my call list. He didn't know number spoofing was a thing, and thought I was some spam company calling him.

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sound_of_apocalypto t1_iycmkwa wrote

I’ve had that happen as well. It was actually a distant relative telling me to stop calling him. I explained about spoofing but he still just insisted I stop calling him, lol.

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thread100 t1_iy9gum7 wrote

I also get calls from people who want to know why I called them. This has to stop.

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Particular-Way-7817 t1_iy9p5ln wrote

What the fuck?

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Alezomp t1_iyad22o wrote

Most likely got their number spoofed by spam/scam callers. People get upset and call back.

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Cantide756 t1_iyalyn5 wrote

Which is the worst thing ever to do. There were a few that worked like pay per minute porn calls and billed your phone company.

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Terrible_Handle_8375 t1_iycw8c1 wrote

Its spam calling to see if s person answers then that working number is placed on a list which is then sold to spam callers who then spam all the working numbers

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SheeEttin t1_iy8qdjm wrote

Yes. And I don't even live in NH right now!

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Vertex138 t1_iy98roi wrote

If you still have a 603 number, you'll still get scam calls from 603 numbers. My girlfriend has lived in NH for over 3 years and she still gets scam calls from her phone's area code (860).

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PolarBlueberry t1_iy9h7ga wrote

I live in MA but have a 603 cell phone for work. I get 2-3 603 calls a day and every one of them is spam. I know just filter out anything from603 area code, if it were real, they'd leave a message.

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AirshipThyme t1_iy9qt3c wrote

I get several a day. Perks of a Google phone, is having the virtual assistant answer for me and it gives a transcript of what is said, if anything.

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movdqa t1_iya1wfx wrote

I get these regularly but it's basically 50/50 on whether they are real or spam.

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Stickyfynger t1_iyatkq0 wrote

The do not call registry actually works. It’s free but you have to re-register every couple years. I know it’s time to redo when the spammy calls start up again. national do not call registry

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ForklkftJones t1_iy8hd6o wrote

My phone is still tied to NY and I get NY (EDIT) area codes mainly.

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thishasntbeeneasy t1_iy8qw4t wrote

Ditto. Though it's awful trying to tell local places a 607 number because half the time they instinctively write 603.

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ForklkftJones t1_iy8wh1y wrote

I believe it. They probably just think you're having a brain fart. Lol

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ThunderySleep t1_iy8wah8 wrote

What I wonder is what did I do that got my on the list for all this 603 spam?

I've lived in other states for years without getting spam from that state's area codes. In fact, it was handy to distinguish something important vs. spam based on whether it's from my current area code or one I hadn't lived in for 5+ years.

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Darwins_Dog t1_iy97gg0 wrote

The only thing you did was enter your number into a form online somewhere.

I read something about new regulations around call spoofing being the cause. They aren't actually in NH, but they can disguise their number to look like it. If you lived somewhere else, they would look local to that area.

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WarlockTank OP t1_iya2hzl wrote

Thanks for all the responses, everyone. I'll force myself not to pick up moving forward.

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zdiggler t1_iyacw2t wrote

Did you call or text someone who uses those free phone service things like "text now" etc? Someone I know use those service whenever they text/call me followed by spam calls with local numbers a few days later.

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Cantide756 t1_iyakv8i wrote

That's why they are free, they farm all the numbers and all them

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boarderline5152 t1_iyayxf2 wrote

They sure do. My girlfriend gets about 20-30 scam calls a day and that's just between 8an-11am. She signs up for all this free crap that obviously isn't free.

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pfroyjr t1_iyahtmv wrote

I use the app Hiya to screen calls. It's pretty good at catching spam calls before the phone ever rings. Personally, I think it's worth the $20/yr.

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skigirl180 t1_iyb2p9j wrote

It's called "local dail" and some sales platforms offer it. It has phone numbers queued up with the same zip code as the person they are calling.

Here is info on it: click here

That and the double call are the worst. If you don't pick up they call you right back so you think it is something urgent and pick up.

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[deleted] t1_iyba4kj wrote

That's for mostly-legitimate businesses. Spammers don't bother with that. They just spoof phone numbers instead to match your local area code.

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vegirobin t1_iy8umm2 wrote

I literally just got one

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SolitudeNH t1_iy92fgo wrote

I managed to avoid this by ignoring them all for years. Now I’m GC-ing my house and have contractors and bank and random involved people calling me from unknown numbers, and I’m terrified the scammers are gonna find out and start taking advantage again

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NotARobotDefACyborg t1_iy9j0cc wrote

603 area code, 203 prefix, by chance? It's student loan "forgiveness" people.

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oswald_dimbulb t1_iy9k1i3 wrote

Not necessarily. My wife's cell phone has a 203 prefix. As far as I know, she isn't running any phone scams.

There are a lot of scams that are spoofing actual phone numbers. We've gotten quite a few that are supposedly from our own town, including two that had us as the caller ID.

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Cantide756 t1_iyalqlr wrote

I don't know why damn spoofing isn't blocked at the carrier level. I've had a scammer that spoof my kids school number, answer and it's an irs scam

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Areaofunknown2 t1_iy9twik wrote

I’m on the do not call list so not really

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PtrWalnuts t1_iyab5u9 wrote

First question is that the same number each time? Second have you look at the number up to see if it was being reported? Third have you bought any kind of tools to stop yourself from getting these calls?

They have very sings like Nomo Robo.

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