Spam Calls over and over and over again....

[RobertY462118]

We get 8 to 15 spam phone calls Monday through Friday! We don't have caller ID so we answer the phone, almost every call starts with a recording and then we are transferred to a "specialist". Since they wasted my time I stay on to waste their time and when I tell them to quit scamming people and get a real job they either hang up on me and about once a day they start swearing at me. These calls are mostly for Medicare part C, but are also med health, extended auto warranty, "you've been in an auto accident", ect, ect. Every call is from an off shore call center and the accents are so heavy they are hard to understand. Sometimes we even recognize the voice from an earlier call. We are on the national do not call list but that doesn't seem to help.

So my real question is what can AARP do to help with this situation. I understand from other AARP members and similarly aged people that they are having the same issue. 

[JDrysdaleJr]

I've been getting a ton of these spam/scam calls, as well.  At least 20 per day.

Or, I _was_ getting 20 per day.  I'm now seeing about 3 a day.  And I think I'm getting closer to a solution.

First off, if none of your phones have CallerID (I assume land-line phones?), then be sure to buy a CallerID box that goes inline between your phone and the wall plug where the phone gets its connection.  This is going to be really helpful.  I don't think they cost that much, but buy one for each phone.

If you get a call and there's nothing but silence, I believe this is a robo-dialer that is randomly dialing numbers and marking the number as good if it hears a human voice (live human voice, or an outgoing message recording of your voice for voicemail.)  Then I believe it sends all the "good" numbers to all the scammers.  I think this is how you wind up getting 20-30 scam calls a day.

I've tried cussing them out, I've tried hitting MUTE and setting the phone down until they hang up, I've even gone so far as to buy a air horn and use that whenever I hear that thick accent.  These all just confirm that your phone number is a valid phone number.  And the cycle continues.

Now, when I see a number that I do not recognize, I answer and then immediately hang up.  For some robo-dialers, they'll try to call three or four times thinking that there was an issue with the line.  But even if it doesn't call more after that, I believe it marks your number as "bad" and it gets ejected from the list of "good" numbers.

Just my two cents.

[JDrysdaleJr]

UPDATE:  Well, the answer-then-immediately-hang-up ploy is no longer working.  So I've switched strategy.  Now, I answer the call and immediately hit the MUTE button.  Then I listen.  99 times out of 100, it's just silence and eventual hang up on their end.  But they also like to use AI interactive scripts with a somewhat human sounding voice saying "hello".  Not going "hello?" like a real person would.  It's a stated "hello."  Just keep listening.

[ValerieO96268]

I recently joined AARP and now the multiple calls/day have started on my cell number that NEVER got spam calls prior to joining. Is AARP selling our numbers? I have had two other friends tell me that robocalls started only after they joined as well.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Thank you for your membership, @ValerieO96268. I'm sorry to hear you're receiving spam calls, I can understand your concern. AARP is committed to maintaining your trust by respecting and protecting your privacy, you can find our AARP Privacy Policy here: https://www.aarp.org/privacy/privacy-policy/?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=18205567808 - Diana G.

[GailL1]

Never had this problem but haven’t been a member since about 2010 - but what you can do if you have an iphone (maybe even an android) is turn on your “Silence Unknown Callers” - This setting ensures that numbers not saved in your contacts will automatically be silenced, sent to voicemail, and appear in your Recents list, while calls from your contacts, recent outgoing calls still ring.

The best of all worlds !  You know about them but then again don’t have to listen to them.  

[KellytheBelly]

I don't understand this! I've had the same number for many moons and never get these type of calls. Do you have to be of retirement age to get them? Really, this has never been an issue for me. Emails are more common to receive spam, that is. I think it all has to do with AARP, soliciting calls and email [cannot believe the emails I get from AARP, not including newsletters]. They are a business doing business solicitations, all the time, every day. Gives them a bad rep, in my opinion. 

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@RobertY462118 wrote ‎06-10-2025 08:19 PM:

We get 8 to 15 spam phone calls Monday through Friday! We don't have caller ID so we answer the phone, almost every call starts with a recording and then we are transferred to a "specialist". Since they wasted my time I stay on to waste their time and when I tell them to quit scamming people and get a real job they either hang up on me and about once a day they start swearing at me. These calls are mostly for Medicare part C, but are also med health, extended auto warranty, "you've been in an auto accident", ect, ect. Every call is from an off shore call center and the accents are so heavy they are hard to understand. Sometimes we even recognize the voice from an earlier call. We are on the national do not call list but that doesn't seem to help.

So my real question is what can AARP do to help with this situation. I understand from other AARP members and similarly aged people that they are having the same issue. 

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What if it all works out?

[AARPConsumerCare]

KellytheBelly If you're receiving unwanted email communications from AARP, you can update your preferences here - https://aarp.info/3kl1ANP - If you'd like to stop receiving phone calls from AARP, please send us a private message, and we'll be happy to help. If you haven't yet enabled private messaging, you can find the instructions here - https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 - Christy C. 

[KellytheBelly]

Christy,

That's very kind of you to offer! At the moment, I'm all set, but it's good to know you're there if something comes up. 😌

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@AARPConsumerCare wrote ‎06-13-2025 09:06 AM

KellytheBelly If you're receiving unwanted email communications from AARP, you can update your preferences here - https://aarp.info/3kl1ANP - If you'd like to stop receiving phone calls from AARP, please send us a private message, and we'll be happy to help. If you haven't yet enabled private messaging, you can find the instructions here - https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 - Christy C. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

We understand your concern, @RobertY462118. We have an article with helpful tips: https://aarp.info/3eoYlkD

Also, we invite you to check the AARP Fraud Watch Network for information about the most recent scams, you'll find tips to stay safe and how to recognize a potential scam: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=17273132320 - Diana G.

[Winter2025VA]

Robert @RobertY462118 , I luv my CALLER ID & BLOCK THEM LIST.

Be "careful" with "speaking" to them. Some scams are based on "recording" YOUR VOICE.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

[RobertY462118]

Blocking them doesn't really work because they use a random number generator. I get about a dozen calls a week on my mobile phone and the numbers are always local. If you call the number you will talk to a person who has no clue why you are calling them and they speak understandable English.

[Winter2025VA]

Robert @RobertY462118 , you are correct but "knock" on wood [probably jinx myself], THIS YEAR 2025 I have NOT had any robocalls. GRATEFUL my block list has accommodated all the numbers I have blocked so far. I NEVER call them back as with SPAM email, you are "confirming" for them that your contact info is good = to be sold to OTHER spammers.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

[GiannisK745032]

You're absolutely right. They record your voice, clone it with AI and use it to scam your loved ones. 

[nctarheel]

NEVER, NEVER say the word YES.

I jerk these people around.

I tell them that they are on a live podcast (they usually hang up then).

If they don't hang up I start asking them questions. As every call, whether they are using the "border scam, the Social Security scam, the Amazon scam, the grandchild scam" or whatever is likely from the same location based on the "hold" music and "hold" voice, I ask questions using language considered inappropriate in their home country. Some of these idiots go ballistic at this point so I know I am hitting home.

There is a joy knowing I am wasting their time.