What does the future hold to protect consumers against unwanted spam/fraud?

[JOEOKC]

Yes, thank you for finally admitting that I'm 100% correct.

[jav6]

If I receive an incoming call from a number I don't recognize, I answer but silently.  I don't say anything for 3-5 seconds.  If it is a spam/robo call, it generally hangs up before I say hello.  Once you answer and immediately say hello or something, it knows your number is and you are available for spamming and you will probably continue to get more and more of them.

[vzw_customer_support]

boringusername, thank you for your feedback.

JOEOKC, I can understand how getting these unwanted calls can be an annoyance. Most spoofers are operating from computers outside the US. They cannot be traced by cell phone or landline companies due to the calls originating from the internet. The calls can also be masked so it appears they are calling from a specific number while they are not. There is no company that can police the internet to stop these nuisance calls.

There are a few things you can do to minimize these calls. Have you applied your mobile number to the National Do Not Call Registry? We also have a newer feature Caller Name ID that allows for an extra layer of protection against spam calls. 

GinaU_VZW
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[JOEOKC]

Another Joe, hiya
I have some ways I combat this too. And I really do appreciate you responding, but I'm tired of having to deal with it every day when there should be something that can be done to solve the root of the problem. I think the single biggest problem in this situation is that our caller ID system can be spoofed, so nobody is held responsible if they are conducting poor business practices or even fraud (have had people try to get personal info out of me) on the phone.

[JOEOKC]

I do appreciate your reply.  And I have indeed employed a number of measures over the years/decades to include being on the Do Not Call Registry. Every phone that I have had since that registry started has been registered. It's worthless, however without proper enforcement. Complaints about it are worthless since people can just spoof their caller ID information so you end up filing a complaint about a phone number that belongs to someone who has no idea their number is being used.
I don't expect Verizon or any company to be the entire police for the internet.  I absolutely DO expect Verizon and other phone providers to take steps to protect their customers. There are a number of things that can be done (I'm currently running this list through several government agencies including the FCC, the FTC, The House of Representatives, and The Senate)
I've discovered another ID technology out there called Automatic Number Identification (ANI) that is used on 800 and 911 numbers where you cannot spoof your caller ID. I'm unsure if ANI can be also spoofed, but sure there is a technology out there that will see if caller ID is spoofed. If it is, just drop the call. OK Maybe I'm ok with people making anonymous calls. But I should have a right as a customer to protect myself and automatically have ALL calls rejected with spoofed (or blocked) caller ID. Can we not just compare the number on the caller ID with the ANI and reject the call if it doesn't match. How about a recording on my inbound line that asks people for a PIN to reach me. If they don't put in the correct PIN, they don't connect.
How about Verizon (and other telcos) watching for outbound calls and stopping those that make a lot without a valid reason. These are just a few options I came up with over the past couple days. I'm sure people that have the knowledge and access to the technology can come up with more. If not hire me, I'm a computer programmer that has worked on large government systems. I'll work on it.
I'd read recently that this last suggestion has already been approved by legislation and implemented by some telcos.
It's time to put an end to this. It's been going on before the advent of the internet and cell phones. Caller ID was supposed to end it, until people figured out how to spoof it.

[boringusername]

JOEOKC wrote:

Another Joe, hiya
I have some ways I combat this too. And I really do appreciate you responding, but I'm tired of having to deal with it every day when there should be something that can be done to solve the root of the problem. I think the single biggest problem in this situation is that our caller ID system can be spoofed, so nobody is held responsible if they are conducting poor business practices or even fraud (have had people try to get personal info out of me) on the phone.

Don't answer these kind of calls adn they can't get ay info from you

[glitchedpixel]

Spoofed calls will end the moment people stop using the internet. Considering that will never happen, what is needed are stronger tools to combat the problem.

I work in an industry where things such as private callers will still show us the actual phone number. Consumers should have the right to the same courtesy of knowing who is calling them.

[JOEOKC]

"Consumers should have the right to the same courtesy of knowing who is calling them."
Yes exactly this!
People are using tech to circumvent the caller ID system, we should be using tech to stop them from doing that.
I'm not even advocating for stopping people from blocking caller ID, but I should have an option of automatically rejecting all calls that do not have a valid caller ID, and i should also be ensured that if my caller ID says its a certain number that is calling me, then that is indeed who is calling.

[kathy65793]

Thank you for your service Sir.

As far as this problem with fake calls I too get them on my cell and landline.The ones on my cell are less of a problem to me because I just don't answer them and then block the number after they hang up On my landline how ever is really a pain. I too have been getting a lot of calls for insurance also. If like they say that most of these calls are thru the internet then why can't they figure out how to stop them. I am not that tec savoy but I am sure there is a difference between a internet call and landline call. Verizon and other carriers have a service you buy from them that is supposed to block a lot of these calls.Weird but I just had a call on my landline as I was typing this. Bottom I line I think that in this day and age they have a answer for this and like you said we just have to make them hear US. I am on the Do Not Call List also but that is just a joke and our representatives just need to make it a tougher bill with stronger consequences and penalties.  .

[urbhusker]

You don't recognize the number or it's a number using your prefix but don't recognize the last 4 you don't answer.  If it's legit they will leave a VM.  Not too hard to not answer the phone.  It happens to me 2x-3x/day but I don't let it ruin my life.