Can you prevent spam calls to landline?

[dakotamar]

so 3 calls today alone from 'VISA security'.   I have no call display and this is getting annoying.  we get this call regularly and also 'microsoft'.  I was hoping this was going to stop after reading bell was putting in new software to stop this but I guess that was only on their mobile network as it hasn't made a difference on my landline. (still twisted pair).

any solutions to put a stop to these calls?  it would be nice if bell at least offered free call display if they can't regulate their network.

[dks]

I share your frustration. It gets annoying. Unfortunately, the scammers are well ahead of all of us. The strategies I use include not answering calls except for known numbers or those who clearly use Caller ID. I let unknown callers go to voice mail. They never leave a message, as it is a waste of their time. Their computer just goes on to the next number. It is slim consolation, but you are not alone in your frustration about this. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

There is little you can do to prevent auto-dialers & robocalls.

You have two choices: answer the call or don't answer the call.

If you do not recognize the called number, let it ring. The scammer will move on.

If you answer the call, say nothing. Cover the mic with your palm. Let them talk first. The call is now within your control to decide on what to do next. If unsure, hang up!

Scammers & fraudsters are persistent. Their only hope is to beat you down & catch you off guard. To fake you into a false sense of security.

Say nothing, share nothing!

Take care.

[stuart jackson]

sa scam going on right now. Where 

get around the scam blocks and  fighting business local phone numbers what did you spooked the number in a third world country and then call out in the basement phone number to everybody who is you know potential to be scammed and they get away with it because a person thinks they're business they go *** and they they no icall made that customer   I got a phone call from play Bay and Brewer Street BIA in Toronto. I would have scam call trying to dump an iPhone on me that I won the prize person have very bad English-speaking 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Thank you for your sharing your experience & comments with the members of the Bell Community Forum.

If you do answer the call, listen & say nothing. There is no reason for you to talk to fraudsters. They want to talk to you. They are persistent! There is no requirement for you to connect with them in any way, shape or form.  They want to sell you something, steal something from you or add you to their live contact list! 

Reputable companies such as Bell, banks, utilities & highly regarded services & institutions do not send you messages or make calls such as this! They do not call you asking for you to provide personal information. Hang up! Report the fraud! Delete!

Never share any personal information with anyone you do not know or trust! Do not open web links or messages in emails or text messages!

Thank you once again.

Take care.

[pxfragonard]

I get THIRTY calls A DAY. And that's with "call privacy" turned on.

[NWO]

We have been in contact with Bell regarding nuisance calls. Their only suggestion is to add services like call display. We have had 5 spam calls this morning and if cell coverage was more reliable, we would cancel the landline. It seems that adding call display expense may not alleviate this problem.

[Randy3]

This is the call I got today. Oct. 16 at 12:20 pm. From number 1-416-907-****. He said he was calling from Bell. I told him not to call again. He said he was Michael. He called my home phone. He refused to give me his last name. He refused to give me to his supervisor. He just kept repeated "I am ** " your wife" (with the full word). He just kept repeating it, then it changed from my wife to my "sister". How do I stop this abuse, and get them to stop calling me? I can't block the number (on a home phone), and the number changes every two weeks when they call again anyway.

[Andrew4]

I have just been threatened by a bell employee - how do I make it stop? I receive unsolicited phone calls from Bell all the time, sometimes weekly, recently daily. I have asked to be put on the do not call list on numerous occasions. Today I received an unsolicited call and when I asked - "why do you continue to call me when I ask not be called?" I was told - "Sir, we will continue to call you until you die".

This is abuse - how do I get Bell to stop it?

[dks]

Thank you for your concern. Those calls are not from Bell. They are scammers and fraudsters trying to steal your account and financial information. How do I know? No Bell employee would make a comment like that. The easiest answer is not to answer calls from numbers you do not recognize. Have your  caller leave a message and you call them back. They don’t leave messages. Remember, your phone and you are in charge. 

[hrz42]

What can I do to stop unwanted calls? Two days ago I started getting calls from what seems to be an auto-dialer. The calls start around 8 a.m. and stop at noon, then start again around 1 p.m. and stop around 9 p.m.. I get a call continuously every 20 to 35 minutes during these periods and each call presents a different North American area code and phone number on call display. I have tried answering the calls, but no one answers when I pick up and say hello (even when I repeat hello numerous times). When I don't answer the phone, it rings three times and stops ringing. I have also tried just picking up the phone and hanging up immediately. Nothing seems to stop the calls from coming.

I tried to set up Call Privacy to send unacceptable calls to my Call Answering service and then to block all unacceptable calls. Neither works like the Bell instructions say they are supposed to. I have found a reference to this problem in this forum that says the Call Privacy feature doesn't work with Bell Fibe internet phones. What can I do to stop these infuriating calls?

[BellPatricia]

Hey there @hrz42 

Thank you for reaching out to the Bell Community.

Call Privacy blocks incoming calls from private and unknown phone numbers. It also features Peace & Quiet allowing you to temporarily direct all incoming calls to your voicemail. You can also use Call Screen to block up to 12 numbers from unwanted callers.

Can you share what happens when you set up call privacy/ Do you get an error message on the line when you follow the step by step instructions?

@BellPatricia 

[hrz42]

Hi @BellPatricia 

I got to step 2 of setting up Call Privacy a couple of days ago. When I dial *11 now, I get a message saying that I am now blocking all calls from unidentified callers (which is not true because I'm still getting calls from my robo-dialer, though now from 20 minutes to several hours apart). Then I am presented the Main Menu again with choices 1 to 4 and 0 to return to the main menu. I have selected #3 numerous times and all that I get is a  confirmation of my choice and then I am returned to the Main Menu where I started again. There is no option to create a Selective Acceptance list as per the Call Privacy setup instructions. If I press 1 after I press the 3 from the Main Menu as per the instructions, I am told that I am now sending all calls to Voice Mail (choice 1 from the Main Menu). I have gone back and selected 3 from the Main Menu and left it at that again for now.

[BellPatricia]

Hi @hrz42,

Thanks very much for your reply.

Does the callers phone number appear via Call Display, or does it say Unknown/Private caller? Only callers with a caller Id of “UNKNOWN NUMBER” or “PRIVATE NUMBER” would be blocked. 

I would also just like to clarify, when you dial *11 from your home phone, and then select 3 > 1; You are not prompted to add a number to the selective acceptance list. But instead you hear a message indicating that you are now sending all calls to Voice Mail ?

@BellPatricia 

[hrz42]

Hi @BellPatricia 

When these calls come in, my Call Display usually shows a blank screen on the first ring, followed by a 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx number just before the second ring (a different 10-digit number each time).Occasionally, "Unknown" is presented on the first ring followed by the number.

With respect to the *11 functionality, when I select 3 from the Main Menu, I only get a confirmation that I have blocked all calls from unidentified callers and I am returned to the Main Menu. If I select 3 and then press 1, I get a confirmation that I am sending all calls to my voicemail (as if I had selected 1 from the Main Menu). I am never prompted to add a number to the selected acceptance list. 

In the meantime these phone calls continue, but they are less frequent and more random in time sequence.

[BellPatricia]

Thanks very much for reviewing again for us @hrz42 

We have checked into this further and confirmed that those are the normal functions when using Fibe Home Phone. You will be able to: Turn Call Privacy service on or off.
Select the treatment that unidentified callers are to receive, and set Peace and Quiet time (only available if you also subscribe to Call Answer or Call Answer Message Manager)

Please reach out to us if you have any further questions.

@BellPatricia