# Catching Fraudulent Telemarketers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446 "2011-12-16T20:28:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/1 "2011-12-16T20:28:44Z")
I’ve been getting an unusually high number of calls from the fraudulent telemarketers, Cardholder Services. It happens quite often on a near daily basis. I’ve just gotten two calls in 15 minutes. Is there any particular technology that would allow tracing of the physical location of these criminals? They call so regularly, it seems like it would be trivial to catch these people. I seem to recall that some asshole using this technique was convicted within the past 5 years or so, resulting in a huge drop off in this chicanery. Also, are all these employees such dirtbags that none of them have the ethics to report the company after they find out what the jobs entail? Do Visa or Mastercard take any actions to catch these jerkoffs? I’d be happy to take be given a fake Visa card number and give it to them where they could flag any activity on it and catch the douchebag. OK, I’m out of profanities for now. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/2 "2011-12-16T20:35:24Z")
How appropriate. I literally just received a robocall from one of these credit card places (not related to any credit card I actually have), saying something like “this is the second and final call, and press 1 to lower your interest rate and take advantage of the financial stimulus” or some crap like that. This pisses me off. I’ve had a land line for three months now. (Was cell-only for years). Only two people know the phone number, me and my wife. We’ve twice registered on the DNC list, once right when we got the phone, once a month later. And, yet, every day, I get at least two calls from some telemarketing bastard. Today it was the credit card and somebody about a free roof inspection. I give up. How do I stop these people? ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/3 "2011-12-16T20:37:16Z")
“Cardholder Services” isn’t a single outfit… it’s a generic name used by multiple telemarketing companies. [The FTC](http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/06/asiapacific.shtm)is actively working against these sort of operations. As to the OP’s questions, 1) typically they block caller ID, and even if they don’t, the person on the other end is likely a freelancer routed through a call center. 2) Not really appropriate for GQ, but again, these aren’t companies in the sense that you imagine. 3) Yes, through the FTC. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/4 "2011-12-16T20:43:02Z")
Also, is there any way to stop “Blocked” calls from AT&T or the iPhone? Every single day, without fail, I get one or two calls from a blocked number. This has been happening for the last month or two. I refuse to answer blocked numbers. Is there any easy way to block this, given the provider I have and the phone I have? So far as my research indicates, there isn’t. This seems like it should be trivial technology. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/5 "2011-12-16T21:19:04Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > “Cardholder Services” isn’t a single outfit… it’s a generic name used by multiple > telemarketing companies. [The FTC](http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/06/asiapacific.shtm)is actively working against these sort of operations. > > As to the OP’s questions, 1) typically they block caller ID, and even if they don’t, the person on the other end is likely a freelancer routed through a call center. 2) Not really appropriate for GQ, but again, these aren’t companies in the sense that you imagine. 3) Yes, through the FTC. I know the FTC is heavily invested in fighting this crime. Surely the FBI has technology to circumvent call blocking, or maybe not? OK, I’ve written my ccngressperson and contacted the FTC with my suggestion for catching them. Hopefully, they will let me be a soldier in this war. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/6 "2011-12-16T22:20:15Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Catching Fraudulent Telemarketers That would imply that there are non-fraudulent ones – an unsupported assertion. Can you cite one that is NOT fraudulent? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/7 "2011-12-16T23:32:23Z")
My husband got a voicemail from “Cardholder Services”. When he dialed the number, he got a recording claiming to be the Do Not Call people and inviting him to press buttons to get on the list. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/8 "2011-12-16T23:42:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Also, is there any way to stop “Blocked” calls from AT&T or the iPhone? Every single day, without fail, I get one or two calls from a blocked number. This has been happening for the last month or two. I refuse to answer blocked numbers. Is there any easy way to block this, given the provider I have and the phone I have? So far as my research indicates, there isn’t. This seems like it should be trivial technology. I have an android phone and use an app called “blacklist” that blocks calls and/or sms from any number you want, apparently you can block private numbers, but i haven’t tried it ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/9 "2011-12-16T23:45:02Z")
I’ve heard many people express many contradictory opinions about the effectiveness of putting your number on the Do Not Call registry. Apparently some people have much better success with this than others. I wonder why. My experience, FWIW, has been positive. I used to get junk calls waaaaaaaay too often. After signing up on DNC, they gradually tapered off over a period of about six months. I get junk calls only quite rarely any more. So my take is, it works. So, for the post above who has had a landline for three months: Does it seem that DNC is working at least a little bit? If so, perhaps you will find that it will work even better in another 3 months, at least according to my experience. That said, there are failures. My last phone number (before the current one) was plagued by incessant calls that appeared to come from ONE source (I didn’t have Caller ID at the time), that I could never get rid of. I finally had to change phone numbers to get rid of that. ETA: And don’t even fantasize that you’re going to get any help from the phone companies, at least from AT&T. I’ve had occasion to try that too. (Has anyone had a positive experience trying to get help from AT&T or any other telco?) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/10 "2011-12-16T23:57:17Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > That would imply that there are non-fraudulent ones – an unsupported assertion. Can you cite one that is NOT fraudulent? I worked as a telemarketer in college for a windows and siding company that wasn’t fraudulent. They were maybe annoying with the cold calling, but they’d actually put siding on your house and install new windows for you. It wasn’t a scam. ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/11 "2011-12-17T00:09:49Z")
Thanks for reminding me about these guys. I was getting calls from them almost daily a couple months ago, and finally I gave up and pressed “1” or whatever to talk to a “consultant,” and when he came on the line, I politely asked, “What do I have to do to get you assholes to stop calling me?” The conversation went downhill from there, as I was telling him to fuck himself, and he was telling me that he was going to “visit” me, reading off my correct name and address, so I told him great, I was going to leave the garage door open, and to come inside and knock on the inside door to my house when he “visited,” because it was VERY IMPORTANT to me that he be fully inside my house when I greeted him. He hung up at that point, and the calls actually stopped, but I made a mental note to check my credit report after a couple months, to make sure he didn’t try to retaliate by signing me up for a bunch of stuff. Like most of my mental notes, I forgot about it until now. So thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/12 "2011-12-17T00:42:45Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > That would imply that there are non-fraudulent ones – an unsupported assertion. Can you cite one that is NOT fraudulent? Yeah I get a call about every three months from Bell Canada wanting to come back (I left about 4 years ago). They may be dirtbags, but they are not fraudulent. I always ask if they know why I left and they never do. ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/13 "2011-12-17T00:48:08Z")
The place to file a complaint is here: [http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm](http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm) I work in telecom and I know for a fact that all phone networks are able to get the origin of the call regardless what is shown in your caller id. Where things get tricky is when the telemarketers use VOIP. In that case the telco will only be able to give the FCC the line where the VOIP call entered the telco network. It can still be traced though as long as the VOIP provider cooperates (which they should). ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/14 "2011-12-17T01:47:57Z")
> [@zwede](#): > > The place to file a complaint is here: > > [http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm](http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm) > > I work in telecom and I know for a fact that all phone networks are able to get the origin of the call regardless what is shown in your caller id. Where things get tricky is when the telemarketers use VOIP. In that case the telco will only be able to give the FCC the line where the VOIP call entered the telco network. It can still be traced though as long as the VOIP provider cooperates (which they should). Thanks, I figured this had to be the truth. I’m a bit paranoid and I assume every call can be monitored. Frankly, I’m a bit concerned that I’m being monitored even more due to my FCC complaint, but well, in my moment of piss-offedness, I did it. So it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/15 "2011-12-17T12:29:18Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > My husband got a voicemail from “Cardholder Services”. When he dialed the number, he got a recording claiming to be the Do Not Call people and inviting him to press buttons to get on the list. I had this happen to me once and when I looked up the number it was an FTC number. That’s some balls there, using an FTC number to spam people. I’ve been on the Don Not Call list since it first came up, my calls stopped for a long time, then in the last year or two they’ve really started to get a lot worse. I’ve even re-registered my numbers. 99% of them though are the robo callers and I report every last one of them. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/16 "2011-12-17T12:38:25Z")
The problem is the FTC allows people to call once you have a “business relationship” with the company > [@](#): > > My number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. After I bought something from a company, a telemarketer representing that organization called me. Is this a violation? > No. By purchasing something from the company, you established a business relationship with the company. As a result, even if you put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, that company may call you for up to 18 months after your last purchase or delivery from it, or your last payment to it, unless you ask the company not to call again. In that case, the company must honor your request not to call. If they subsequently call you again, they may be subject to a fine of up to $16,000 . > > An established business relationship with a company also will be created if you make an inquiry to the company, or submit an application to it. This kind of established business relationship exists for three months after the inquiry or application. During this time, the company can call you. > > If you make a specific request to that company not to call you, however, then the company may not call you, even if you have an established business relationship with that company. You should keep a record of the date you make the request. You will note, charities, political groups and surveys are not covered by this law > **[National Do Not Call Registry FAQs](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/national-do-not-call-registry-faqs)** > > Advice to help you stop unwanted calls, and information about the National Do Not Call Registry. A lot of people on public aid and parolees are also employed by telemarketers as well as credit collectors. Parolees and welfare recipients (some but not all) have to have jobs to continue to get food stamps, aid or to remain on parole. So these jobs are taken just to satisfy the work requirement. They don’t care to be polite or if they are violating law That’s what you get for having an opt out policy. I believe a lot of European countries have an “opt in” policy where they can’t phone unless you ask them to. ---
**Author:** ![ZaphodBeeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ZaphodBeeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZaphodBeeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/17 "2011-12-21T14:05:06Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I had this happen to me once and when I looked up the number it was an FTC number. That’s some balls there, using an FTC number to spam people. > > I’ve been on the Don Not Call list since it first came up, my calls stopped for a long time, then in the last year or two they’ve really started to get a lot worse. I’ve even re-registered my numbers. 99% of them though are the robo callers and I report every last one of them. Maybe this site [http://www.tellows.com](http://www.tellows.com) will help you with your decision about answering or ignoring a phone call. In addition to a risk rating they provide an approximate location of the number calling. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-fraudulent-telemarketers/606446/18 "2011-12-21T15:28:18Z")
I’ve shifted everything to google voice. It only rings the phone for people I’ve oked. If I see a call in the list from someone I never want, I manually block all future messages from them (not even voice mail). If it is from a vendor I deal with, but don’t want to talk to, I send them immediately to voice mail (which gets transcribed and emailed to me). Works well.