Random numbers keep phoning

[silverpig]

My wife and I keep getting calls on our cell phones from seemingly random phone numbers. The one that just called was 1-866-428-1469. We used to answer these calls but there was never anyone on the line. It's particularly annoying because sometimes we get called 5-6 times a day, and while the same number often repeats a few times, we get calls from many different numbers. Usually they are from 800-numbers (866 is the most common), but I have several from other area codes as well.

If you call the numbers back, usually no one answers, however sometimes the call is picked up but no one speaks. I've taken to putting the phone numbers into google to see where they come from and find that other people are getting the same thing and are making lists of numbers that call. Apparently sometimes when you phone them back someone picks up and says they're from a marketing firm, or an advertising agency or something. The people on these sites also say that there's nothing your phone company can do.

I find that answering the calls just makes them call more, so I have taken to not answering any calls from numbers I don't recognize. The only problem is now I miss a lot of calls from places I may be applying to for jobs, from businesses, or from people I know calling from a number I don't know.

Oh, and I think these numbers are somehow immune from the "do not call list" as they aren't allowed to call cell numbers. Also, I'm in Canada and while we have many similar laws to the US in terms of telemarketing, I don't think they are exactly the same.

Anyone else having this problem? Is there any way to make it stop?

 

[coldmeat]

I used to get random calls all the time on my cell phone. They would leave a couple seconds of voicemail, but nobody would talk on the other end, it just sounded like a party. Apparently it was TD Insurance calling for some reason. I've never even been in a TD bank. Now I'm starting to get a different number calling.

 

[hclarkjr]

have you recently answered some sort of online survey or give away? if you did and provided your phone number your going to get all kinds of calls like that

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: hclarkjr
have you recently answered some sort of online survey or give away? if you did and provided your phone number your going to get all kinds of calls like that

Nope never.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
I used to get random calls all the time on my cell phone. They would leave a couple seconds of voicemail, but nobody would talk on the other end, it just sounded like a party. Apparently it was TD Insurance calling for some reason. I've never even been in a TD bank. Now I'm starting to get a different number calling.

That's another thing I've come across people having said, that a lot of times it's reputable companies calling.

Oh! I remember now. My wife had BMO call her over and over again. She has an account with them and they have her number. When she called and asked them about it I recall them saying that their phone system was a little wonky and was randomly calling people. At least, that's what they claimed.