[byuu]

My phone has a call-blocking feature, and I even use a service that routes private callers through an 800-number to get their unspoofed ANI. Yet one debt collector calls me from 200 different numbers. They change the number every 2-3 days. (it's for a debt I consider invalid, and beyond the 10 year statute of limitations anyway, so I won't ever pay it.)

I think what we need is an Adblock for phone numbers that categorizes all spammers, debt collectors, etc and blocks them instantly on everyone's phones.

[Magicstatic]

With this ruling by the FCC, you might not need to anymore... http://www.autodialerauthority.com/fcc-approves-new-autodial...

[rwallace]

Sounds like the practical near-term solution would be a white list: only allow calls from a list of known callers.

[RogerL]

If you mean what I think you mean I think that is unworkable for most of us. Drop your car off at the shop for some work. Mechanic calls you from his cell phone because it's handy and the shop line is tied up. You never get it. Or school nurse calls you about an emergency. Neighbor calls you to tell you your dog got out from the back yard. That kind of stuff is about the only reason I have voice service - I don't use the damn thing to talk for the most part.

[rwallace]

I do mean what you think I mean, and I understand what you're saying, but if the sort of volume of spam people are talking about became the norm, for me it would be either white list or stop owning a phone at all. Between those two options, white list seems the better one.

[technofiend]

I was unaware of trapcall but will have to investigate.

Callcentric's whitelisting + call routing rules combined with a download of your android phonebook makes an effective whitelist filter. Anyone not in your address book is just sent to voicemail.

[tomjen3]

Patio11s comment on debt collectors and how to pown them (sadly still requires paper mails and letters):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7135833

[benplumley]

This story came to mind: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23869462

[joshmn]

I'm guessing you're talking about Trapcall?

TelAPI has such neat features.

[byuu]

Yep, didn't want to seem like I was advertising. It's a bit pricey, and annoying that we have to use such tricks to unmask private callers.

[dredmorbius]

You can make that debt collector pay you with small effort.