How To Spot An Annoying 'Spam' Phone Call? Police Offer Numerous Helpful Hints

Written by Naugatuck Police Department Lt. Bryan Cammarata,

**INFORMATION ON UNWANTED SOLICITOR CALLS**

Greetings all!!

I wanted to share with everyone an email I received from a resident concerning what were “spam” phone calls he received early this morning.

The citizen emailed me to say that he had been receiving in excess of 10 calls per day from a number displaying “000-000-0000” on his caller ID. He went on to tell me how that in the not –so –distant past he had received a call from the Naugatuck PD regarding a police report and recalled that the number displayed as “0000”, and thought the calls were coming from the NPD.

I explained to the individual that the calls coming from “000-000-0000” were definitely not from the NPD (… and … just to be clear … If the NPD wants you that badly, after about the 2nd or 3rd call … we show up at your door … we don’t like to call any more than we have to!!) … I further explained to him that the calls had all the makings of a “Spam / Solicitor” type call …. I then offered him some advice that I would like to pass to all of you as well!!
… Now, before we begin … I want to start by telling all of you …
I felt his pain … in two regards…

FIRST – I get these darn “0000” calls constantly … They drive me nuts … … … Unfortunately the “0000” calls are in fact from the Naugatuck PD … and since I work there … its kinda’-sorta’ my job to take these calls …. So … I guess ... in the context of helping all of you … it’s not really the same … I get it ... So, Lets move to SECOND! …

SECOND … I also get bombarded with these "robotic - Solicitor - automated calls ... They drive me equally nuts as the pasky "0000" calls that I'm forced to have to answer!! ...
So, let me explain the "0000" call vs the "000-000-0000" calls ...

A call displaying “000-000-0000” is different than the “0000” you may get from the Naugatuck PD in that the NPD uses the four-zero’s display (“0000”) when making calls out from the NPD due to the amount of phone numbers associated with the NPD. The “zero” based numbers were utilized several years back as an identifier number because many blocking systems at the time did not (and many still don’t) allow blocks of “zero” based numbers – which can be helpful in emergency situations where seconds count and we are trying to return a call…

Well… in doing some checking around on the “000-000-0000” number series, I found that those annoying “solicitor / spam” phone calls we all seem to get constantly now a days are starting to smarten up to the fact that the “zero” based numbers are still not blocked by many carrier systems …. This is why they have started to use “zero” based numbers …

… Much the same as people are starting to find those annoying spam calls coming in displaying their local area codes and town prefix exchanges ( such as a Naugatucks “203-720”, “723” or “729” exchanges) … these calls of course lead us to believe that the calls are a local call and not a “solicitor / spam” call and we pick up

…. And then of course get hit with the spammed (usually pre-recorded type) message … VERY Annoying! … modern technology –right?! … all of these tactics have the same goal - to get us to ANSWER the phone!

… So, If you see a call from “000-000-0000” know that it is likely a scam … and more likely than not is an overseas generated solicitation call … so - how do you stop them??? ....

Here are a few general tips in dealing with ALL unwanted phone calls, including the “000-000-0000” based calls;

1) If receiving a robotic type call HANG UP! … NEVER press #1 or any other selections that would take you to a live operator, or any choices that will “take you off the list” – typically all of these selections are SCAMS that will only help to allow the calls to continue!

2) If you are getting repeated calls, contact you phone service provider to block the number(s) and / or ask if they offer a service to block unwanted calls.

3) Report repeated calls to the Federal Trade Commission at; complaints.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

4) If you have not done so already - Register your numbers on the national DON NOT CALL List via internet or your phone by:
a. INTERNET - To register via the Internet, go to www.donotcall.gov .
b. BY PHONE - Call 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). *You must call from the phone number you wish to register.

5) … And of course, if you receive calls that are harassing in any way and you are unsure of what to do – contact the police for help and guidance!!

Thank you everyone … and remember … we will be here … we may need to call you back from a “0000” number … but … we will be here!!