Hang ups......

[mefgames]

This morning, my wife and I were awakened by the phone ringing at 6:00 AM. Does anyone else get phone calls that when answered the line just goes dead ? I've been getting these types of calls for years, only on my land line. Yes, I still have a land line. My wife insists we keep it because in 2017 that's how we were contacted to evacuate due to the fires. Anyway, the phone will ring, I see an area code I don't recognize, I answer it to see who it is, and then the line goes dead, beep, beep, beep, dial tone. WTH ? Is there a purpose to these calls ? I'm not talking about car warranty calls or infected computer calls, just ring me, then hang up calls. I usually just block these numbers after. I can't be the only one !! Any thoughts ?

 

[BigDaddyLH]

If I don't recognise the number, I let the answering machine take the call. No message >90% of the time, a threatening Chinese message more often than you would think!

 

[arlum]

Same hear. Unless we recognize the callers number or we're waiting for a return call from a builder / dealer / seller we've contacted recently and left a message with the phone does not get picked up. Let the answering machine do it. I've written down caller codes and phone numbers and then looked them up afterwards. I seems I've received calls from more than one country in Africa, calls from Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. I don't know anyone or any company from any of these locations.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I see a lot of 8xx and 9xx numbers. Those are never worth picking up.

 

[idjster]

We let caller display decide if we're going to answer. If it isn't a recognizable number we just let it go to answer. They rarely leave a message. I just ignore them on my personal iPhone and recent calls shows calls from some of the most exotic places where I know no one. But I do hate it when they get the time zones confused. Phish, phish, phish...

 

[11 Gauge]

I wonder if they just want to see if someone answers, and then the number gets tagged as being active, and then it's included in a list that gets sold/distributed?

I still have my landline because the provider insists on it being included as part of their bundle. I think we still have one phone connected, but the ringer has been turned off for years. Anyway, if I went to check messages, I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority are just hang-ups.

With my wireless phone, I have both a spam blocker and a messaging system that routs spam calls to the appropriate folder. So with the remaining calls that have a number that I don't recognize, I can safely ignore over 90% of them. It's really only if there's something exceptional, and I'm expecting a call from someone for a help desk ticket or something that I'll end up answering.

I also occasionally wonder if some of those calls actually are intended to be dumped to voicemail, because the telemarketers expect most people to hang up anyway. So when you pick up the phone and say hello, their standard thing is to then just hang up.

 

[Dismalhead]

I wonder if they just want to see if someone answers, and then the number gets tagged as being active, and then it's included in a list that gets sold/distributed?

I still have my landline because the provider insists on it being included as part of their bundle. I think we still have one phone connected, but the ringer has been turned off for years. Anyway, if I went to check messages, I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority are just hang-ups.

With my wireless phone, I have both a spam blocker and a messaging system that routs spam calls to the appropriate folder. So with the remaining calls that have a number that I don't recognize, I can safely ignore over 90% of them. It's really only if there's something exceptional, and I'm expecting a call from someone for a help desk ticket or something that I'll end up answering.

I also occasionally wonder if some of those calls actually are intended to be dumped to voicemail, because the telemarketers expect most people to hang up anyway. So when you pick up the phone and say hello, their standard thing is to then just hang up.

Pretty sure that's exactly what it is. Thought my dad was calling from a new number a week or so ago. Picked it up, they hung up. Blocked the number but they're still calling multiple times a day.

 

[Peegoo]

^^^ That is exactly what it is. It's an automated scan to see which numbers are in service and active which are not. These lists are sold to marketing goobers.

From a marketing perspective: when you're not buying anything YOU are the product.

 

[brown2bob]

If it's important they'll leave a message. I add everyone I contact to my phone list and don't answer if I don't recognize them.

 

[telleutelleme]

My land line is for my house and fire alarm only. I'm tempted to change the answer machine to "Unless you are breaking in or have started my house on fire, please leave a message".

 

[Killing Floor]

I am stuck in 2022 so we haven’t had a land line in well over 10 years.

 

[brookdalebill]

I immediately block any annoying and unwelcome callers.

 

[johnny k]

This morning, my wife and I were awakened by the phone ringing at 6:00 AM. Does anyone else get phone calls that when answered the line just goes dead ? I've been getting these types of calls for years, only on my land line. Yes, I still have a land line. My wife insists we keep it because in 2017 that's how we were contacted to evacuate due to the fires. Anyway, the phone will ring, I see an area code I don't recognize, I answer it to see who it is, and then the line goes dead, beep, beep, beep, dial tone. WTH ? Is there a purpose to these calls ? I'm not talking about car warranty calls or infected computer calls, just ring me, then hang up calls. I usually just block these numbers after. I can't be the only one !! Any thoughts ?

I got it here. I thought it was to check if you were home so that telemarketers know when to call. I could be wrong.

 

[Short on cash]

"Leave a message, I will respond acordingly."

 

[Lotek]

The telephone has become pretty useless. I block a new # nearly every day. I'm shocked when I see a craigslist posting saying "call, e-mails will be ignored" which I see regularly. They must have far more patience than me.

 

[memorex]

I don't worry about spam callers because I've learned to hang up on people without regret, or even saying goodbye. I keep my cell phone far enough away from the bed so I won't hear it if it rings during the night. I have a MagicJack line connected to a digital answering machine for family and friends to leave messages, but I have voicemail disabled on my cell phone. I don't answer my cell phone when I'm driving, either. I consider phones to be a minor inconvenience, which I can use if I want, or ignore if I want.

 

[P Thought]

I wonder if they just want to see if someone answers, and then the number gets tagged as being active, and then it's included in a list that gets sold/distributed?

That's a Bingo, I think.

 

[trapdoor2]

My phone somehow recognizes and tags some calls as "potential spam" (which Miz Diane started calling "your girlfriend"). She calls daily, sometimes several times a day.

I block 'em. Calls I don't recognise, I let roll to voicemail. Since we're new to the area, I will answer local prefixes as they're usually relevant (and I add them to my contacts).

A former charity (Purpleheart) from Alabama still calls regularly. I made some donations 15yrs ago and they started incessantly calling. I don't know how many source numbers they own but I swear I've got a hundred in my block list.

 

[kuch]

I have a land line because it's cheaper to have for our alarm system than the upcharge for going cell/mobile with it.

I picked up a 4 handset digital phone answering system/intercom from costco and the settings allow you to block any call that isn't on your contacts list. It rings once for any incoming call and disconnects anyone not on the list. Works great.
I also use the land line to make outgoing calls since the reception is better than my cell at times.

 

[rcole_sooner]

Just fishin to see if there is a live person on the other end. Probably a robot. A person may call back, or they may just add your number to a list for later.