Hello Chayisun,
I can understand the frustration. I think everyone is rather fed up about getting SPAM and SCAM calls from spoofed numbers. Unfortunately, there currently isn't much that any of the mobile providers can do to prevent them. Since the spammers/scammers use spoofed numbers, it is not possible to identify the true spammers' number. The numbers shown on caller ID do not belong to the spammers. They often belong to innocent, unsuspecting people. Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to prevent numbers from being spoofed. In some instances, the spammers/scammers will use the recipients' own phone numbers to make the calls. Even the RCMP are not immune to being spoofed (see here).
Mobile providers and landline providers simply cannot block a number without absolute proof that the owner of the number is engaged in nefarious activities. If the spammers chose to spoof your number. I think you would agree that if they blocked your number simply based on its apparent use to make SPAM calls or send SPAM SMS, you would not be impressed.
The mobile providers have implemented Universal Call Blocking which is meant to block calls from malformed phone numbers. That said, I'm doubtful whether it will have much of an effect on the amount of SPAM or SCAM calls since many of them appear to have properly formed phone numbers. In addition, a new technology, STIR/SHAKEN (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited/Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using Tokens) is being adopted to further reduce the amount of nuisance calls (see here). However, I have my doubts as to whether those measures will reduce the amount of SPAM calls. My understanding is the STIR/SHAKEN will only identify possible SPAM calls and mark the calls as suspected SPAM.
Unfortunately, until the technology to unmask the true number of spammers/scammers is readily available (not simply the number shown on the caller ID), the only solution currently is to block the numbers on your phone.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello again,
As mentioned above, the owner of that phone number is not likely the person who is making the SPAM calls. Spammers/scammers likely have spoofed that phone number to hide their true identity. One of the tactics of the spammers/scammers is to use phone numbers from the same networks or with similar area code and prefixes to try to trick people into thinking the calls are from someone they might know. All phone numbers -- whether landline or mobile -- are in databases which are readily available online. Certain prefixes are designated as landlines, others as Rogers, Fido, Bell, etc (see here).
In addition, as you noted, the phone number is a wireless phone number. Most spammers/scammers won't likely actually use a mobile device to make the calls. It is much more likely they use computers to dial using IP phone services.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello again,
Unfortunately, blocking the phone number on your phone only prevents the calls from ringing your device. It does not prevent the call attempts or prevent the callers from leaving voice messages. The only way to prevent the calls from actually reaching your phone would be to block them at the network level. As mentioned previously, the mobile providers cannot block phone numbers on the networks without absolute proof of criminal activity.
If the calls are made with spoofed numbers, the number showing on your caller-ID is not the origin of the calls. The number may show as a Fido number from Toronto, but tracing the phone number would only lead to the owner (likely unaware their phone number is being used) of the phone number and not the spammers/scammers. That's why preventing the calls is so difficult.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
