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I have been getting calls that immediately start with, "Thank you for choosing Marriot Hotels!" for a couple years now. The message goes on to say how I am getting this great offer because I am a valued customer. On a couple occasions, I stayed on the line to get a human, they ask yes/no questions (are you over 28? do you have a valid credit card?). I just replied with questions of my own, and they immediately hung up. I can continue to ignore the calls, but they are always from a random local number and I get nearly twice as many of these calls than I get legitimate calls.
I did a search and found this has been around for a while and Marriot is aware:
http://news.marriott.com/2015/05/marriott-international-responds-to-continued-phone-scam-updated-oct-20-2015/
I have deliberated about posting, but I don't see the FCC [US Federal Communications Commission] as being able to act unless I can provide them something more than the spoofed phone number. Providing the number(s) probably won't help as they are spoofing the caller ID. I know that this is a long shot, but is there anything anyone can suggest beyond creating a spreadsheet of phone numbers, dates, and times to log these calls? Would that even be useful?
It seems that something is fundamentally broken with the current phone system, if this spoofing is even possible. But that is a side topic here, the real question is, what can I do, if anything, to get the data the FCC would need to shut this down?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by mth on Wednesday March 15 2017, @11:16AM (4 children)
It is ridiculous that caller ID spoofing is so easy. I understand that some organizations have legitimate reasons to report a different number than they're calling from, but there should at least be some kind of check that the number reported is owned by the caller. When these systems were designed that may have been too complex for the technology of the day, but there is no good reason not to implement some sanity checks today.
I know this is not the answer you were looking for, but I've read so many stories about phone fraud and spam that I don't think going after any singular offender is going to improve things much.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Arik on Wednesday March 15 2017, @12:32PM
Nope. Simply no reason to do so.
Phone companies make lots of money from telemarketers and telescammers. You expect the phone company to work against their best customers?
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by MrGuy on Wednesday March 15 2017, @01:04PM (2 children)
The incoming chairman of the FCC recently proposed new restrictions [arstechnica.com] that would address spoofed ID robocalls.
An NPRM (Notification of Proposed Rulemaking), which is the first step in putting new regulations in place, is currently pending. [fcc.gov]
I don't agree with the new FCC Chairman on much, but this seems right on to me.
(Score: 4, Informative) by martyb on Wednesday March 15 2017, @09:16PM (1 child)
I saw that story on ARS. It sounded good, but the comments tore it apart... basically, telemarketers would be forbidden from using invalid phone numbers for caller id. So, instead of seeing: (000) 000-0000 (as just one example of an obviously spoofed caller id), you would see only valid-format phone numbers. So, the simplest workaround is to provide a caller id spoofed to match your area code and exchange and then use a random 4-digit number at the end. There is NO requirement, as far as I can tell, that they number presented needs to be their phone number; just a valid phone number. :(
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Wednesday March 15 2017, @10:01PM
I saw that story on ARS. It sounded good, but the comments tore it apart... basically, telemarketers would be forbidden from using invalid phone numbers for caller id. So, instead of seeing: (000) 000-0000 (as just one example of an obviously spoofed caller id), you would see only valid-format phone numbers. So, the simplest workaround is to provide a caller id spoofed to match your area code and exchange and then use a random 4-digit number at the end. There is NO requirement, as far as I can tell, that they number presented needs to be their phone number; just a valid phone number. :(
I've already seen this. Most of the time, the scammers use an out of town area code, but now and again I'll get a few calls in a row from a local number. It's the same scam, just different spoofed (valid) numbers. :( indeed.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr