Calls to My iPhone that Hang Up

[j44ke]

Lately I have seen an uptick in calls from unblocked numbers, almost all of them out of state (FL, CA, WY, etc.) that hang up as soon as I answer. These are different from robo-calls where I answer and there is a pause before the robot kicks in to sell me auto-insurance or whatever. The hang up is almost immediate when I answer. Usually I don't answer any call that I don't recognize. In that case, when I get a call like that, it rings once or twice and then stops. But in the last week or two, I've had several calls from places where I knew someone but perhaps not their cell number so answered just in case it was someone I knew. Anyway, more of them lately. What's up with this - someone checking for active numbers? I feel like the up tick started shortly after we visited San Francisco. Like somehow my number showed up on someone's radar or something, or went through a cellular network who grabbed my number for some purpose.

Modern living.

[robin3mj]

I've been getting dozens of calls to my cell from numbers with the same area code and three digit exchange as my cel. They're from "Disney" or "Marriott" but invariably when I press 1 to speak to someone they usually sound Indian. I'm guessing the calls are spoofed and I have no way to stop them other than to block each number as they call. My guess is that they are the type of scam where they benefit from hearing me say my name or "yes" etc. I usually ask them their social security number and generally try to make them miserable enough to move on. No idea how I got on their radar either.

Also been getting a lot of calls from Alabama and Texas on student loan forgiveness and car warranty extensions.

Note that I have no student loans, primarily stay at Starwood locations and haven't been to any Disney park since I was about ten.

[sonicw]

There are apps that supposedly can filter these out--just heresay, I don't have personal experience. One thing I've noticed with these callers is that my caller-ID reports the call origins as states rather than cities. For example, if I receive a call and the ID says Massachusetts rather than Boston, MA, there's a better chance the former is a spam/ghost call.

[bigbill]

I block the number each time I get one. But yeah, most have the same area code and prefix as my cell. I have a WA State area code and I live in NE Texas.

[monadnocky]

I've never understood - what can possibly happen by recording your voice saying "yes?" that couldn't occur otherwise? Anyone?

I get these calls all the time : "I'm sorry, can you hear me clearly?"
"

[nrs5000]

I get these with some regularity. Usually with the same area code + 3 digit as my number. It has gotten to where I don't answer a call from a number I don't recognize. If it's someone I know, they can leave a message or get in touch by some other means. I think this has helped reduce the frequency of these annoying calls, but I can't say for sure.

[SteveP]

i never pick up unless its somebody i know.
thats all.

[randonneur]

I've 'heard' that these calls are essentially about verifying the legitimacy of a phone number, only to create blackmarket telemarketing lists. No idea if that's true or not.

[j44ke]

I usually never answer, but this was a couple weeks where there was the possibility of a call from someone in California, so I answered those. But I've also had calls from other states. All of them are the same. If answered, the hangup is immediate. If I don't answer, the phone rings once or twice then the caller hangs up. So I have no idea why they called at all.

None of them bear any similarity to my phone number either. Just random numbers.

Misdials perhaps. Who knows. It just seems to have increased lately.

[xjoex]

They want to hear you say "yes". Then they'll sign you up for services and play back a recording of you saying "yes" when you try to cancel.

douchebags.

-Joe

[defspace]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

I get 10+ junk calls a day. I don't even bother looking at my missed call log now. If it's someone I know, they'll leave a message or send a text.

I get those "can you hear me?" calls at my work phone.

[C.Dyer]

I get quite a few "stay free at the Marriott" type calls to my employer-issued iPhone, and some but far fewer to my personal. Many are from the same area code and same root exchange as described by others above, and I inevitably decline those calls and block the numbers.

Occasionally I'll answer when the number is totally different than mine and/or if I'm expecting a call. Recently, I did this and was met with a woman on the other end who immediately began yelling at me that she gets 8+ calls from my number daily and she wants it to stop. I assured her I was not making those calls, told her I get a lot of spam calls too, and advised her how to block callers so that she could block mine. The call ended amicably, and I'm certain the call itself was not a scam operation. She sought no info from me and seemed genuinely perturbed and angry.

After the call, I called my IT department at work out of fear that my phone had been taken over and sensitive info potentially compromised. They assured me that "bots were spoofing my number," confirmed that I had no unusual outgoing calls and persuaded me that this was simply an inconvenience, not a threat to my personal or professional information security as long as I continue to handle in the manner that I do.

I don't know man. I still feel pretty unnerved by the whole thing. I don't like it.