Hijacked cell phone number

[TractorGuy]

A lot of the "this is your credit card company" calls I get are spoofed numbers that have the same area code and prefix as my own. Most of these go to an out of service number if you try to call them back but I suppose it's inevitable that they spoof a working number from time to time. It's almost a waste of time to block them because they have a way to rotate and change the reported number. I am glad I don't get them often.

I know these CAN'T be MY credit card company because I only have one card and it is paid in full every month. My credit union called one time to ask about suspicious activity on my debit card and identified themselves properly. They simply asked if I had any recent transactions in a particular town. THAT was a good call since my card had apparently been skimmed and 3 transactions had been made within a few minutes after. Their system picked it up because I had just bought gas with the card in my town and these other transactions were hundreds of mikes away.

I got a call from someone once that said he redialed the number that just called him. When I told him it didn't come from my phone he was insistent so I took a screen shot of my history with his number showing only one incoming arrow and texted it to him.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Telemarketers have kicked it up a notch recently with phishing and they can be calling from India or anywhere and your caller ID shows a local number. Yesterday I get one that was one digit off from my neighbor's number so of course I answered.
But here's what I started doing. Many will think this is crude and mean...but telemarketers ripping people off in my opinion is light years worse.
A few weeks ago I started engaging them in a conversation. Yes I need the student loan, credit card debt relief, home improvement or back brace (all scams).
After wasting 10 minutes of their time I mention I'm alone and confined, no radio or t.v., this phone is my only contact with the outside world. Then I get back to their subject at hand a few more minutes...then I ask "Are you naked?" Then quickly say, I love all the calls I can get...I'm so lonely.
Then I say "please put me on your hot list so I get calls from every telemarketer".
Sometimes then I say very crude things involving baseball bats and orifices!
It's strange. After that the calls got fewer and fewer.
I figured out if you're short with them, curse and hang up in retaliation they call over and over again. Wasting 10-15 minutes of their time talking to some Looney tune nut and THEY put you on their not to call list.

 

[Zick]

If you can get the guys real number, pass that along to the callers. Maybe its a close number with a transposed digit by mistake. Many of those callers track the calls and note when they have a valid number so if they get his real number it might gradually clear up.

I wonder if the guy that is giving out your phone is making an honest mistake or picked a random number to give so he doesn't get contacted?? It is fraud on some applications to knowingly give false information..

I'd file a complaint with your state's Consumer Protection Agency. Consumer Protection | Wisconsin Department of Justice

What kind of website is your number showing up on? You can do a Whois search and find the owners of the site and send them an email Better Whois: The WHOIS domain search that works with all registrars.

Another option is to have an attorney send this "person" a cease & desist letter.

Thank you for some helpful responses.

 

[Gem99ultra]

So for about the past year I've been getting these random phone calls to my cell asking for a particular person. Thinking it was just the typical spam calls I've been ignoring them.
Recently I decided to google my phone number and discovered that my number is now showing up on multiple websites and has this same persons name listed on it.

When I googled this persons name, I found they actually are a real person living in my same town.

I have contacted a couple of these web sites and managed to get my number removed but it seems new sites have popped up recently w/ the same info. These sites say they get their info from another party but don't list who it is so I can't go straight to the source.

I'm not sure if this person is maliciously listing their phone number as mine to hid their real number (noticed they have a Foreclosure case against them which has been ongoing since about a year ago).

Without going to this persons house and talking to them directly (which I would rather not do), what other course of action can I take?

I have a similar problem... Old Bitty that had my number is STILL giving it out as her's. And without a doubt, she owes everybody in the country and pays none of them. I tracked her name down and discovered that she actually lives in the same town as I do. I've come close to going over and confront her, but later thought better of it.

I'll be watching for your resolution.

 

[teejk]

If it is a collection agency there are federal laws regarding harassment. Debt Collection | Consumer Information


Buried in that article is this...Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.

 

[TheMan419]

I have a similar problem... Old Bitty that had my number is STILL giving it out as her's. And without a doubt, she owes everybody in the country and pays none of them. I tracked her name down and discovered that she actually lives in the same town as I do. I've come close to going over and confront her, but later thought better of it.

I'll be watching for your resolution.

I would tell the debt collectors that it is not her number but given them her new address. She will get found by them more quickly at that point. So at least she is getting what is coming to her.

 

[teejk]

I would tell the debt collectors that it is not her number but given them her new address. She will get found by them more quickly at that point. So at least she is getting what is coming to her.

You have to understand debt collection. These people failed at used car and insurance sales jobs and are too lazy to become ambulance chasing lawyers. They will not accept any explanation that they have the wrong person. That's why the federal government had to step in. If you have the phone numbers of the callers (surely you do on a cell phone...not so sure about a land-line), turn it over to your state attorney general office who might refer you to a separate agency that regulates these people.

 

[PhysAssist]

You could also set a special ring tone for friends, clients, and family and only answer when that ring tone is used.

How do you know this person, and what did you do to "tick" him off- 'cause if you don't know him, and you didn't P-him-O, then why/how did he "get your number" [to coin a phrase] in the first place?

 

[TCJatko]

Not relevant, but over forty years ago I lived in Portsmouth, NH, ZIP 03801. I got a new phone; the number was 436-0380. Yes, I got so many calls for city hall I had to change the number! People read the ZIP from the envelope and dialed. Stupid is definitely not a new invention.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have a similar problem... Old Bitty that had my number is STILL giving it out as her's. And without a doubt, she owes everybody in the country and pays none of them. I tracked her name down and discovered that she actually lives in the same town as I do. I've come close to going over and confront her, but later thought better of it.

I'll be watching for your resolution.

I wished I could be that lucky...I'd have a blast. When debt collection called I'd change my voice "Yes this is Mary Bitty. What's the address to send money to?". Or give a fake cc#, check is in the mail, etc.
Or simply say " this is Mary Bitty's lover...she croaked yesterday so you're out of luck!".