Been getting weird calls, did research and I'm still weirded out.

[Guest okamhunite]

So I've been getting weird calls, when I answer the phone music plays on the other end. It was happening for awhile so I blocked the number, then a different number called, I've blocked them multiple times and still get similar calls. I got one call for someone who had a scheduled court date that wasn't me. The thing that weird me out is this, I did some research and found some people on here who had similar calls like two years ago about a collection agency calling them about past bills. The thing is, I'm 19, I've never been in the hospital, I have never taken out a loan, I don't have a credit card, and I still need to get a job. Why the heck and I getting these sorts of calls!? Do they have the wrong number? I've never stayed long enough to hear if another person picks up because it creeps me out...

Edited January 30, 2016 by okamhunite

[Lady Florida.]

There are several possibilities.

 

1. It's a scam and if you stayed on until a person came on the line they might try to get personal info from you.

 

2. It's a wrong number. It's not that common but it does happen. I had a doctor's office call me yesterday and ask for Debbie. She dialed one digit off, and got my number instead of Debbie's. Before that, I can't remember the last time I had a wrong number call. If they don't get anyone, they don't know they're calling a wrong number, so they keep calling back.

 

3. If a family member (even a distant one) owes money, they sometimes call others if they think it will lead them to the person who owes. They might not even know if you're related, but they find last names that match and take a chance on getting to the person who owes money. FIL used to get a call from creditors looking for a cousin he hadn't had contact with in ages. He told them to stop, but it took a number of times calling him before they actually stopped (I think he finally quit answering and let it go to voice mail). 

 

I wouldn't be weirded out, but I'd keep adding their numbers to your blocked list. Or you can let all your calls from unrecognized numbers go to voice mail.

 

 

Edited January 30, 2016 by Lady Florida

[maize]

How long have you had your phone number? If they are collection agency calls they could be for someone who used that number in the past.

[Guest okamhunite]

Thank you, I know I shouldn't be as freaked out as I am... makes me feel a lot better, thank you.

[Guest okamhunite]

How long have you had your phone number? If they are collection agency calls they could be for someone who used that number in the past.

 

I've had it about a year, maybe a tad bit more. If it's someones old number then that would make a lot of sense.

[JFSinIL]

I get periodic phone calls and texts for Sarah, I just respond to the sender that this is not her cell number for the past three years. Most folks thank me for letting them know (I sure hope that one doctor's office got in touch with Sarah to let her know her appt time had been changed!) Sometimes it is a scam...sometimes just innocent mistake. I agree, never give out your own info to any caller, but can it hurt to let them know they dialed the wrong number?

[Lanny]

We have a magicJack phone number in the USA.  After we got it, I got several calls, over a period of months, for (apparently) the person who had that phone number previously.  The calls were from a bank, checking on transactions on a credit card they were concerned about.  The 2nd or 3rd time this happened, I stayed on the line long enough to capture their phone number and I called them and spoke with a human and explained that that guy doesn't have that phone number any more.  The calls stopped.

 

In your case, it is more disturbing, because the calls you are receiving are coming from different phone numbers, although I understand that they can program their phone so it looks like the phone call is originating from your phone, or, any phone number they want...  

 

In general, if I pick up our local phone or the magicJack phone and I say hello, if there is music or a recording, I hang up.

 

DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION if anyone calls you on the phone!    We have a rule in our house: If someone calls and says they are from   our bank, we don't know that is true.   If we call the bank, we know that we called the bank, but if someone calls us and says it's from our bank, we assume they have criminal intent.  

 

Be careful!

[Lady Florida.]

 

 

In your case, it is more disturbing, because the calls you are receiving are coming from different phone numbers, although I understand that they can program their phone so it looks like the phone call is originating from your phone, or, any phone number they want...  

 

 

 

It's not at all unusual. In many cases it's not even the same person calling but the company (legit or not) has hired a number of people so the numbers will very possibly be different.

 

There's no need to freak out, OP. Really. Just block the numbers or stop answering. Or answer and tell them to leave you alone. Either way you haven't given them anything.

[Pippen]

We get calls for a business that has our same number but in an adjacent area code. Some people are insistent they dialed the right number but I assure them I don't own a used car lot.

[itsheresomewhere]

I get them often lately. Some girl has applied for several jobs and apartments but doesn't know her number. I figured out she has reversed two numbers.

[Guest okamhunite]

Thanks for all the help, I feel loads better about the whole thing now. It was freaking me out for awhile but I guess I was overreacting. Thanks a millions guys :)

[SparklyUnicorn]

It happens.  Whenever we got a new number (when we moved or whatever) almost each time we'd get bill collector calls for awhile.  And many times they make it impossible for you to tell them they have the wrong number. 

 

I get a lot of weird calls still.  At one point I was getting calls for an older woman.  These were various medical services.  Medical taxi, doctor's offices, health insurance companies, etc.  Somehow they all got the wrong number.  This went on for geesh about a year.  It was so annoying.

 

 

[TravelingChris]

The person who had our number before us is a deadbeat. We have had the number for over four years but still get calls about court cases and such like. I just don't answer the phone unless i know who is calling.  If its imprtant they can leave a voice mail.  Unfortunately some of the collection agencies do leave a voice mail.

[mamiof5]

There's all sorts of scams out there. No need to worry, just be cautious. As others said, never provide info.

[Kelly on the prairie]

I get calls from all over the country. I have had the same number since cell phones just started becoming big so I sure don't have a number someone else had. I get court calls, collection calls, credit services calls. For a while I was religiously going to the do not call registry and filing a report. I literally would sit down each day with the numbers and enter them. I finally hounded down one of the people who was more frequent and demanded to know where he got my number. He told me to talk to Verizon about that as Verizon sells numbers to these companies. I confronted Verizon who denied it. Several months ago I was in a large group of people and this subject came up. Several people said they found out that their numbers had been sold by their phone carriers. I was so careful to never give my number out. What a chump.