Is this a new phone scam?

[zuul]

Someone keeps calling my cell phone and letting it ring once before hanging up. They never leave a message and there is no identification, just the number, which is local.

I wonder if it's a scam to make me curious so I'll call back, which I haven't done and will never do.

It's infuriating because my AC repair company is supposed to come to my house tomorrow morning and they have told me in the past that they can't reach me by phone, even though everyone else in the free world can.

[Clash City Rocker]

1. Have you tried doing a reverse phone number lookup?

There are websites that do that sort of thing. Or you could just pull up a search engine and put in the phone number. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it does.

[zuul]

2. I tried. No luck.

[Xavier Breath]

3. Not that it will help you with an answer

but, out of curiosity, how frequently is this occurring?

[zuul]

4. A couple times a day. If they call again and pull the same shit, I think I'll block the number.

Of course, if it's a scam they'll call again from a different number.

[whistler162]

20. Have you tried calling the number?

[zuul]

21. No no no no no.

I’m worried that might be the way they scam people . . . Make you curious so you call the number.

[Lulu Latech]

5. Does your cell plan include a robo blocker?

You may have agreed to it at one point or another. It blocks robo calls but they ring through once. Just a possibility

[zuul]

8. I think so. I don't get robocalls.

[Lulu Latech]

22. Then it's probably a blocked robo call

Many times robo calls are from local numbers and the call blocker will make it seem as if the caller is hanging up with one ring or partial ring. Just block the caller if it annoys you.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. I get those, too. Dunno fer sure, buI heard somewhere that...

it's just to find real phone nos to sell

[zuul]

12. I wonder how that works.

Why would they need to keep calling to make sure it's a real number?

The phone call is disconnected about half way through the first ring. I wouldn't have time to answer it even if I wanted to, so how do they know it's a real number?

[TreasonousBastard]

17. First, the rings you hear are not always the same as heard on the other end...

Just for fun, try calling another phone on the area and counting the rings you hear on your end and on the called phone.

Then, if you call a dead number, you almost immediately get an announcement that it is dead. Even if it
sorta rings once or twice before the recording, that "doesn't count" as a real ring.

If someone picks up, it's definitely a live line, and live numbers can be sold.

[Ziggysmom]

7. I'd ask the AC company what numbers they call from. Enter those in your phone as contacts.

I had to do that with some contractors I used. Told them I don’t answer calls outside my contact list.

[zuul]

10. I called them. They haven't tried to reach me today.

[NCjack]

9. Hope this helps.

1. Relatives, friends, and vendors want you to pick up their calls. So, they send their ID information with their calls and they leave messages; today's scammers usually don't.

2. If you want more evidence that the caller is a scammer, when the call comes in, pick up before your phone transfers to message function. Hold the receiver to your ear and listen but not speak for 10 seconds. If you do not hear a human voice, you are likely being called by an autodialing machine that listens for you to say something, such as, "hello". (If you say something, such as "hello", the autodialer connects you to a human scammer in the bull pen.) You defeat the autodialer when you do say nothing. If the caller is an acquaintance or vendor, that caller will think that you said "hello' too faintly to be heard, and the caller will say something to initiate the conversation.

[zuul]

11. The caller hangs up before the first ring finishes.

I couldn't answer it in time if I was holding the phone in my hand.

[multigraincracker]

14. I got those a few months ago.

Blocked the # and they stopped.

[doc03]

13. I have got those and when I call back

It is an unworking number. I still get calls that the extended warranty on my 2011 Chevy Cruze is running out. I traded that car off 6 years ago and never had an extended warranty. Maybe someone else answered before you.

[Midnight Writer]

15. The scammers automatically dial multiple numbers at one time.

If someone answers one of them, the others disconnect.

Then, when they finish their "business" with the person who answered, they redial the numbers and wait for another fish to bite.

That's why your rings cut off abruptly, and then rings again from the same "number". (This "number" is probably spoofed)

[zuul]

18. Aha! That makes sense.

[Runningdawg]

16. I don't get calls but EVERY day for the last week - from different sources

A text message has woke me up with "Lose 50 lbs of ugly fat when you follow me for 30 days."

[GoodRaisin]

19. If you have an Iphone you should be able to block the number.

I do that with my Iphone, no problems. Easy to Google instructions.

[Skittles]

24. if someone really wanted to reach you, they would leave a message

block the number

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

25. Some ideas for you...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2020/06/04/kim-komando-has-5-tips-block-hide-your-number-when-making-calls/3138344001/

You can try calling from a land line. Block your home number using call blocking (*67). Or call from a phone at work.

I have a Blackberry running on android. One of the settings under "Do Not Disturb" is "Priority Only" which only rings my phone for numbers in my contacts list.

Good luck.