# I pit robocall credit card scam artists **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 24, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273 "2013-02-24T18:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/41 "2015-06-03T04:52:19Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/42 "2015-06-03T05:02:41Z")
According to their website, nomorobo is not even available on wireless phones. ---
**Author:** ![norvalnormal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@norvalnormal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norvalnormal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/43 "2015-06-03T17:23:00Z")
Mama Zappa: I have had nomorobo for over a year and, to my knowledge, have gotten only a single “false positive”–when a friend attempted to phone me in the midst of an incoming flurry of robocalls. Granted, their system isn’t foolproof but I work from home and get dozens of nuisance calls per week, so until something better comes along … God knows, registering on the No Call List years ago didn’t do bupkis … ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/44 "2015-06-03T21:16:42Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > The first “Bank Card” was the BankAmericard - and it was a hit. They sold the business to someone who renamed it VISA. Bit of trivia - the predecessor to VISA in Canada was Chargex. I still remember their jingle - “Will that be cash or Chargex \\?” (the last part being the sound of one of those manual gizmos for printing the information on a charge slip). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/45 "2015-06-03T21:21:47Z")
It occurs to me that this situation creates a golden opportunity for the government to improve the public image of its surveillance and drone-strike programs. Not suggesting anything; just saying… ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/46 "2015-06-04T01:38:17Z")
Been a little over a week now with nomorobo and I like it. I think my own blocker is getting half of them and nomorobo is getting the other half. Some bozo from Windows Support slipped through on Saturday evening, but that’s far fewer junk calls than before. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/47 "2015-06-04T15:38:45Z")
Looks like the feds finally bagged at least one of the scammers. [Court Finds Defendants in FTC’s Treasure Your Success “Rachel Robocalls” Case Liable for $1.7 Million](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/05/court-finds-defendants-ftcs-treasure-your-success-rachel) > [@](#): > > Universal Processing Services (UPS) of Wisconsin, LLC, a payment processor, and telemarketer Hal E. Smith and his company HES Merchant Services Company, Inc. (HES), defendants in the Federal Trade Commission’s case against a deceptive robocall credit card interest rate reduction scheme, were jointly ordered to pay $1,734,972 to the Commission by a Florida district court. The money will be used to provide refunds to defrauded consumers. > > “The defendants blasted thousands of people with illegal robocalls and lied about helping relieve their credit card debt,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Now they’re out of the robocall business. The court’s decision also shows that it’s bad business for payment processors to help scammers take people’s money.” > > The final orders announced today against UPS, which did business as Newtek Merchant Solutions, Smith, and HES follow the court’s November 2014 order granting the FTC’s motion for summary judgment against these three defendants who took part in the Treasure Your Success (TYS) scheme. The rest of the defendants had previously agreed to final orders settling the agency’s charges against them. In recent months the most frequent scam call I’ve been getting has been from “the National Center for Aging”, promising me a medic alert pendant and coupons worth $3,000. They motivated me to get NoMoreRobo. The problem with NoMoreRobo is that wireless phone companies don’t support it. Even though cell phones aren’t supposed to get robo calls, mine had one just yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/48 "2015-06-04T21:38:45Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > The problem with NoMoreRobo is that wireless phone companies don’t support it. Even though cell phones aren’t supposed to get robo calls, mine had one just yesterday. This appears untrue. I logged into my nomorobo account just now, and you can add wireless phones from numerous carriers (ATT Uverse, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) Perhaps I missed something? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/49 "2015-06-04T22:06:35Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > This appears untrue. I logged into my nomorobo account just now, and you can add wireless phones from numerous carriers (ATT Uverse, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) > > Perhaps I missed something? Does it actually work though? Because right in the middle of their main page it says “Unfortunately, Nomorobo is not available on traditional analog landlines or wireless phones at this time.” ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/50 "2015-06-05T02:45:27Z")
I cannot vouch for it working or not, but you may add several phone numbers, and the first menu pull-down asks you to choose VOIP/Landline or Wireless, and in the second menu pull-down you select the carrier. I will take another look, but from what I see, as long as your carrier participates, you can add your phone number regardless of wireless or no. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/51 "2015-06-05T04:32:52Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I cannot vouch for it working or not, but you may add several phone numbers, and the first menu pull-down asks you to choose VOIP/Landline or Wireless, and in the second menu pull-down you select the carrier. > > I will take another look, but from what I see, as long as your carrier participates, you can add your phone number regardless of wireless or no. This list of supported carriers on the nomorobo page: AT&T U-verse (this is not AT&T wireless) Comcast Xfinity Time Warner Cable Verizon fios (This is not Verizon wireless) optimum ooma premier broadvoice sonic SureWest voip.ms Voipo Vonage 1-voip Non of those are wireless carriers, some are part of companies that own or partner with wireless carriers. On the other hand I can choose type wireless and there is a big list of cell phone carriers. This website is very confusing. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/52 "2015-06-05T18:52:00Z")
For Android smart phones there’s the Call Control app. I’m not sure if they make an iPhone version. For my home land line I use the CPR Call Blocker device. It has a big, red button on it. If you don’t like who is calling, just hit the red button. You can also manually insert numbers if you notice that some telemarketer called while you were gone. It holds up to 1000 numbers. Also you can block all the 800, 866, etc numbers or any area code that you don’t want to hear from. Both of the above devices are going to be well used with the upcoming election season in the USA. Charter Communications allows you to block only 12 numbers, but that’s better than none. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/53 "2015-06-06T02:27:21Z")
Clearly nomorobo is no-frills. But it works. I have had several calls blocked over the past few days by them 🙂 As far as compatibility, what is really needed is the ability to configure your telephone service to ring an alternate number simultaneously with your own line. As long as that feature exists, you can configure your system to ring both the nomorobo number and your own simultaneously; nomorobo checks the CID and acts if needed. I thought that they would simply pick up and disconnect, but others above are saying that nomorobo gives some sort of “prove you are a human” test to let false positives go through. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273/54 "2015-06-11T00:28:38Z")
> [@norvalnormal](#): > > … > Granted, their system isn’t foolproof but I work from home and get dozens of nuisance calls per week, so until something better comes along … God knows, registering on the No Call List years ago didn’t do bupkis … Sure it did - it guaranteed that most of the calls you get are scams 😃 I do get the occasional commercial call from local businesses - typically roofers or home repair companies. While they might not be places I’d choose to do business with (if I need roof repairs or whatever, I’ll ask neighbors and call someone myself), it’s a) always a human, and b) at least on paper, a legitimate business. They’re always a bit shocked when I point out that the call is in violation of federal law. The DNC list was well-intentioned, but almost immediately overtaken by technology to mask who’s really calling, sigh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-robocall-credit-card-scam-artists/651273.md?page=2)