As young professionals juggling demanding careers, we often find ourselves caught up in the whirlwind of modern technology. Smartphones, social media, and the internet have become our second nature, but what about our grandparents?
Those who belong to a different era and generation may not be as tech-savvy as we are, leaving them vulnerable to an ever-growing threat: telephone scammers. In this blog, we will shed light on the dangers of telephone scammers and introduce you to an ingenious solution – CPR Call Blocker.
Before going into the solution, it's crucial to understand the menace telephone scammers pose. These malicious individuals often target older adults, exploiting their lack of familiarity with technology. They employ various tactics, such as posing as government officials, charitable organizations, or even family members in distress, all with one sinister goal: financial gain.
Our grandparents, raised in a simpler time, may need to comprehend these scams' sophistication fully. They're more likely to trust a friendly voice on the other end of the line. As a result, they become prime targets, falling prey to scams that can rob them of their hard-earned savings, personal information, and peace of mind.
Imagine the heartbreaking scene: our grandparents, once known for their cheerful voices and unwavering trust, are now gripped by fear and anxiety. Every incoming call, once a lifeline to loved ones, has transformed into a source of trepidation. The emotional turmoil they endure is profound, leaving scars that run deep.
Their world, once defined by warmth and trust, now resonates with the haunting echoes of deception. The fear etches worry lines on their faces, casting shadows in their eyes. The joy of connecting with family and friends is overshadowed by the constant threat of deception, leaving them emotionally scarred and robbed of their peace.
It's not just a simple nuisance; it's an assault on their very sense of security and well-being.
Behind every scam call lies a calculated attempt to exploit vulnerabilities, often resulting in devastating financial consequences. Our grandparents' hard-earned savings, painstakingly accumulated over a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice, can vanish quickly.
The financial loss isn't just about the numbers; it's deeply personal. It's about dreams deferred, retirement plans disrupted, and a sense of financial security shattered.
The consequences ripple through their lives, leaving them in financial uncertainty and insecurity. It's a loss that extends far beyond the bank account, affecting their peace of mind and sense of stability.
The toll extends beyond emotions; it affects their physical and mental well-being. Sleepless nights, racing hearts, and increased blood pressure become daily companions. The fear gnaws at them, casting a shadow over their lives, and this chronic stress can lead to a decline in their overall health.
It's a vicious cycle where the fear of scam calls exacerbates their health issues, creating a domino effect of physical and emotional struggles. It's a silent battle they face, one that affects their quality of life and well-being in ways that words can hardly describe.
You may wonder, "What can we do to protect our grandparents from these scammers?" The answer lies in an ingenious device called call blockers. But first, let's break it down for those of us who are unfamiliar with this technology.
A call blocker is a specialized device that filters and manages incoming phone calls. It empowers the user to control which calls they want to accept and which they want to block. Think of it as a guardian for your phone, intercepting unwanted calls before they can reach your loved ones.
Now, you might wonder why a call blocker is particularly ideal for our grandparents, especially those who use landlines. For those less familiar with landlines, these are traditional wired telephones fixtures in homes for generations. While modern technology has evolved with the advent of smartphones, many of our grandparents continue to rely on their trusty landlines.
Call blockers are designed with user-friendliness in mind. They offer straightforward setup and operation, making them accessible to those who may not be tech-savvy. Our grandparents can easily understand and use these devices without feeling overwhelmed by complex technology.
Call blockers act as a protective shield, intercepting scam calls before they can reach our loved ones. This proactive defense ensures that scam calls are stopped, sparing our grandparents from the emotional turmoil and consequences we discussed earlier.
These devices create a personalized whitelist of trusted contacts while blocking unknown or suspicious numbers. They can even maintain a blacklist of known scam numbers. This level of customization puts control back into the hands of our grandparents, allowing them to decide who gets through and who doesn't.
Many call blockers have advanced technology to identify and automatically block known scam numbers. This added layer of security ensures that our grandparents are safeguarded without lifting a finger.
Unlike call-blocking services requiring monthly subscriptions, most call blockers are a one-time investment. No recurring fees make it a cost-effective solution for our fixed-income grandparents.
CPR Call Blocker is a state-of-the-art device to safeguard your loved ones from unwanted and potentially dangerous calls. It connects to their landline, which, for those unfamiliar, is a telephone service that uses wires to transmit calls – think of it as the precursor to mobile phones.
CPR Call Blocker is easy to install and use, even for those who need to be tech-savvy. Once connected, it empowers your grandparents to take control of their incoming calls.
They can create a personalized whitelist of trusted contacts while blocking unknown or suspicious numbers. Additionally, the device maintains a blacklist of known scam numbers, providing an extra layer of security.
Imagine your grandparents answering the phone with peace of mind, knowing that the sinister specter of scams no longer haunts their conversations. CPR Call Blocker provides them with a renewed sense of tranquility. It becomes the guardian of their serenity, allowing them to pick up the phone without the weight of fear and anxiety.
With each ring, they can confidently engage in conversations, free from the constant dread of falling victim to scams. It's a reassurance that cannot be overstated—a return to the days when the phone was a source of joy and connection, not a harbinger of trepidation.
CPR Call Blocker places the power back into their hands, granting our grandparents unprecedented control over incoming calls. It's not just a device; it's an empowering tool that allows them to decide who enters their world and remains outside. No longer do they need to endure unwanted calls that disrupt their peace.
Instead, they have the autonomy to curate their contact list, creating a haven of trusted voices while keeping the uninvited at bay. This newfound empowerment revitalizes their sense of agency, allowing them to reclaim the simple joy of connecting with loved ones.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, CPR Call Blocker is an unwavering sentinel against scammers. Its vigilant watch extends beyond the realm of human capability, identifying and blocking scam numbers automatically. It's a silent guardian that shields our grandparents from the nefarious intentions of fraudsters.
This advanced protection isn't just a feature; it's a shield between our loved ones and the malicious world of scam calls. It ensures that their trust remains intact, that their savings are secure, and that their hearts are unburdened by deceit.
The user-friendly interface of CPR Call Blocker ensures that even those unfamiliar with technology can navigate it effortlessly. It recognizes that our grandparents may need to be more tech-savvy. There are no complex procedures to master or convoluted settings to configure.
Instead, it offers a straightforward and intuitive experience, ensuring our loved ones can easily operate it. This simplicity doesn't just simplify their lives; it simplifies our role as caregivers, knowing they can embrace this technology without struggle.
In a world where technology is ever-advancing, it's easy to forget that some of our loved ones may need to be better versed in its intricacies. As young professionals, solicitors, doctors, and more, we must protect our grandparents from the perils of telephone scammers.
CPR Call Blocker is not just a solution; it's a lifeline. It's the shield that guards against the darkness of scam calls, allowing our grandparents to enjoy their golden years without fear. So, take the first step, introduce them to CPR Call Blocker, and show them how much you care. It's a simple act of love that can make all the difference.
Take action today, and let CPR Call Blocker be the guardian of your loved ones' peace and well-being. Learn more about the CPR Call Blocker V5000, or get in touch with us so we can help you.
]]>Robocalls are scamming billions out of private citizens. Of course, they wouldn’t have been able to defraud that staggering amount of money if they couldn’t make an equally staggering number of calls: 31 billion spam calls, to be exact.
A data analysis back in 2019 has suggested that in one day, a group of spam callers were able to make 140 million spam calls in one day. These kinds of calls are known as robocalls, which are made by a central computer dialling thousands of numbers in an hour. If someone picks up, the computer then transfers him or her to either the automated service made by the group, or to their group of “telemarketers” that they employ.
There are many ways unwanted callers make money out of their victims, and almost all of them involve deception. Pretending to be a government agency or a legitimate company that asks for their personal details, requiring the victim to pay a certain amount for a particular service or product that spam callers pretend to provide or sell – these are some of the most common methods spam callers defraud phone subscribers. It’s also not unlikely for them to defraud businesses as well, especially smaller ones, using the same means.
COVID-19, has had an impact on everything in the world, and spam callers are not exempt. While the pandemic has initially affected them negatively around March and April, they managed to pick back up around May, and even had a record high in the number of calls – higher than before the lockdown – around October. This has been the general trend across the globe. To give you an overview of the spam call statistics around the world, here’s a list per continent of the most spammed countries.
Europe
Last year saw a significant increase in spam calls for Hungary making it the top spammed country in Europe. Scam calls make up a serious 40% of their top spammers. This is since the country is experiencing national and regional unrest with some political operators manipulating this situation. A significant increase in spam calls had put Poland in the list of most spammed countries in the world and in Europe, placing at second after Hungary. Spain saw an increase in their spam calls mainly from telemarketers and operators. This sharp increase made them the third most spammed country in Europe. Aside from the scam calls, statistics show an alarming increase for COVID-19 related scams, a potentially dangerous scam for their residents.
UK
The UK also saw a growing trend of scammers exploiting the pandemic. The scam lures residents into believing that they have been infected by COVID, convincing them to be tested immediately. This results in the victims sharing their credit card numbers to pay for a fake testing schedule. Despite a small population, Ukraine is one of the top most spammed countries in the world. Financial services that upsell their plans and some cold callers, makes up the majority of their scam calls.
Germany
The 6th most spammed country in Europe with telemarketing spam calls inconveniencing their residents. What’s very alarming in these spam calls are the type of scam being done such as the COVID-19 related scams, the infamous One Ring Scam and various other schemes that defraud German citizens. Both Romania and Greece top spammers are from the telemarketing and operators. Around 19% of their spam calls are scam related. Lastly, Belgium joins the list for top spammed countries in Europe with a growing problem in Robocalls that makes up more than half of their spam calls.
Latin America
Brazil once again takes the top spot for the most spammed country in Latin America and the world. Their spam distribution with scam calls doubled from 26% to 48% since last year. Financial-related spam calls upselling credit cards became trendy among scam calls, along with loans and insurance plans.
Next to Brazil is Chile. Robocalls, a completely new trend in Chile, had been a top spamming category in their country. Although there is a slight decrease in their overall spam calls compared with the previous years, their country remains in the top 10 worldwide. Mexico on the other hand saw a significant decrease in their overall spam calls last year. Financial services and debt collector groups are their top spammers. Peru experienced a drastic deadline on their overall spam calls, from being the second-most spammed country in the world, they were not even in the top 10 last year. Their operator calls share the biggest increase in spam calls. Colombia saw a dramatic decrease in their overall spam report. This is largely in part to a decline in spam calls from the financial sector.
North America
The USA was the second-most spammed country in the world last year. Scam calls and robocalls continue to be both a threat and a nuisance to the Americans. Various reports had been conducted into how many dollars were lost to these spam calls.
Asia
Indonesia tops the list for the most spammed country in Asia. Although there was a steep decline for spam calls last year, they are still troubled by upsells from the financial services sector. Meanwhile, a certain type of scam involving OTP is emerging in India, the second-most spammed country in Asia. It involves divulging sensitive information usually about financials that ultimately makes the receiver give up their OTP which the scammers use to access bank accounts or even digital wallets. The last country to be included in this list is Vietnam. Majority of their scam calls came from their financial services.
Europe/Asia
Russian scam calls still pose a threat to its citizens. One of their common scam calls is someone pretending to represent a bank and coax people to share sensitive information.
Africa
A prominent runner-up in this list from the previous years, South Africa managed to drop down places. Their spam calls have decreased, and it continued its nosedive specifically during the lockdown last year.
How to prevent unwanted calls?
If you get unexpected calls from banks, insurances, or from finance people asking for your personal information, its highly likely these are scams. To avoid this, always keep in mind that companies will never ask for sensitive data from you. It’s also best to hang up the phone immediately if you feel that the call is suspicious.
Lastly, you can use a call blocker like the CPR V5000 to avoid calls like this. The CPR V5000 can block unsolicited numbers at a touch of a button and is also pre-programmed to block 5,000 nuisance numbers provided by the FCC. It is compatible in most US homes and is proven to greatly reduce spam calls.
CPR V5000 Call Blocker for landlines
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As mentioned earlier, after picking up a call, if you heard a recorded or robotic message instead of a normal human voice live on the other end of the line, then you are encountering a robocall. Statistics say that we encountered over 32 billion robocalls last year, which is not only a huge number but also very alarming. Now, the question is why are robocalls getting so popular nowadays? With the digitalization of the world and the availability of the product, telemarketing has increased unimaginably. Especially in the places which are famous for politics and good sales, people usually get more robocalls compared with other areas. These calls are made by an automated dialer that uses pre-recorded voices. To prevent these irritating robocalls, the authority of the USA comes with some regulations. In attempting to stop or reduce such calls to cell phone numbers without the recipient’s prior consent, in 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) were designed. In 2019, TRACED Act was created to restrict the use of robocalls because the act requires the FCC to do several things:
Well, you might wonder that there are regulations against robocalls, notwithstanding this, there are so many robocalls that are troubling us every day, which seems very ridiculous. The scammers, who make illegal calls, can fake their names into something relevant that you can relate to by using a kind of software. For example, a call can be made in the name of the government agency, social security agency, or local number. That is called “spoofing”, which enhances the chance of receiving the calls by the mass people.
This might seem simple to you, but the research on this subject suggests that there are serious consequences of “spoofing” sometimes. To be specific, the impact of robocalls is creating obstacles in reaching the patients, claimed by the Medical professionals. For instance, specialists need to call the patients when they are referred to them (the specialists). Many times, these calls are ignored by the patients because they do not recognize the number thinking of the number as a robocall. As a result, serious issues might occur.
To solve this problem, carriers in the US have come together to define a framework. The name of the framework is STIR/SHAKEN, which is a suite of protocols and procedures. The intention behind forming this is to combat the “spoofing” on public telephone networks. If a call fails this spoofing test, you will not receive this call. This also means that there will be almost no robocall after full implementation of this system.
Now, there are spammers who do not manipulate caller IDs by fake identity. For them, the framework collects the collective feedback to identify their intentions. When the system can identify them, their phone numbers get added to the blacklist. In late 2019, based on such blacklists, RingCentral started offering call analytics and the capacity has been growing since then. There is an option for the customers to block a particular call as a suspected robocall, which will allow the system to label incoming calls as “suspected robocalls” to help the customers further. This feature is currently available in the United States and Canada and can be enabled by your company admin.
Yeah, with the new STIR/SHAKEN framework, it might be possible to trace a robocall. It is because the STIR/SHAKEN is using an authentication system by a sort of digital fingerprint to recognize where the number originates and what number is appearing on the caller id. Now, if the numbers are different then the recipient will get notified of it by an appearance on the caller id which might say “possible spam”.
Whatever seeks to classify something automatically, there will be some imperfection that might occur sometimes because none can be a perfect solution. For best practices, it is suggested that STIR/SHAKEN and call analytics should be used together for an optimal mitigation strategy.
A Few Call Blocking Devices:
Well, now comes the most interesting and important part where we will discuss a few of the best call blocking devices that are available on the market right now. These devices will help you to get rid of your long-time annoying experiences with robocalls.
Price: $89.99
This call blocking device is one of the best that is available in the market right now. With the many uncountable features, this device will help you to get rid of PPI, Scam Calls, Unwanted Calls, Telemarketing Calls, Nuisance Calls with only one touch of a button. it has a 5,000 pre-programmed annoying robocall database collected from the FCC. Besides, you can also block 1500 more numbers without any hassle; which is more than enough.
Price: $99.99
CPR V10000 Call Blocker is another call blocking device with more advanced features. This device is considered one of the most advanced call blockers for landing phones. Like CPR CALL BLOCKER V5000, this advanced gadget has the same specifications but this device is not limited to these specifications. There is a pre-programmed 10,000 Number Nuisance Robocall Database to assist you. Moreover, the 2000 Additional Number blocking capacity of this upgraded advanced device will allow you to block the numbers that you feel irritating. Not only that this device features WHITELIST MODE. When the mode is turned ON, it blocks all calls except those in your WHITELIST to ensure your privacy. So, you can give a try to this wonderful device.
Price: $59.99
CPR SHIELD CALL BLOCKER is one of the best-selling call blocking devices. It is very famous for its simple design and budget-friendly price. If you want to add a specific number to the blocked list, just press the "Block now" button. After that, the Call Blocker Device will add the number into its unit memory. The number will be permanently blocked. So do not get annoyed by unwanted calls and save your countless family time. This device will raise the shield to defend your phone line.
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In fact, the FTC or the Federal Trade Commission even reported over 200,000 scam complaints from last year alone, and more of these activities continue to emerge today. Here are some of the scams that you should be aware of this year.
Vaccine Scam
This is definitely on top of the list! Now that the vaccine is getting rolled out, fraudsters are starting to take advantage of the situation. What usually happens is that they will a potential victim and would offer "immediate vaccination" for a fee.
Pension Scam
It's easy to fall for this scam because the caller will start claiming that they know a way on how you can get more pension without having to worry about tax. They would even offer you free "financial advise" to convince you to put all your money into a particular investment.
Investment Scams
Thanks to GameStop and Dogecoin, the number of people who are suddenly interested in investing has increased. Because of that, fraudsters saw another opportunity to steal from people.
How do you spot this? They would almost always tell you that their offer is time-limited. They also would promise tempting returns that are too good to be true.
How to prevent these scams
Purchase a Landline Call Blocker like the CPR V5000
More than 50% of the time, most of these scams could be prevented with a call blocker. A product like the CPR V5000 could definitely save you and your loved ones from these heartless scammers. Not only is it pre-programmed with 5,000 nuisance robocall numbers, but you also get to block 1,500 scam numbers at the touch of a button. Learn more about it here.
If you wish to report fraud, here are the following agencies you can contact:
Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft
Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP, 1-877-ID-THEFT, or online at www.ftc.gov.
Disaster-Related Fraud
Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, by fax at (225) 334-4707 or submit a complaint through the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
Correspondence may be sent to:
National Center for Disaster Fraud
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909
General Fraud and Other Criminal Matters
Contact the FBI at (202) 324-3000, or online at www.fbi.gov or tips.fbi.gov.
Health Care Fraud, Medicare/Medicaid Fraud, and Related Matters
Contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, or online at www.oig.hhs.gov.
Internet Fraud and Lottery/Sweepstakes Fraud by Internet
Contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) online at www.ic3.gov.
Mail Fraud and Lottery/Sweepstakes Fraud
Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-372-8347, or online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov.
Securities Fraud
Contact the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330, or online at www.sec.gov or www.sec.gov/complaint/select.shtml.
State and Local Fraud
Contact your local Police Department or State Attorney General's Office.
]]>This year we are launching the CPR Guardian II watch, through its many different functions and uses, the watch allows people to stay safe, active and independent in the latter years of their life. It can also offer peace of mind to family members, loved ones and anyone with concerns about the well-being of another.
Described as a great product for older people, carers and vulnerable individuals the Guardian II uses modern technology to track users and links back to an app so that loved ones can be safe in the knowledge of their whereabouts. It also doubles up as a phone, with a two-way voice calling
The Guardian II represents a huge step forward in technology that deals with emergency situations and can provide a helping hand to the emergency services.
Around a third of people aged 65 or over fall at least once a year, the usual response to this is to call an emergency even though this may not be needed. With the Guardian II, a wearer could contact anyone from their list of set contacts to seek their help and assess the situation first. If no one can answer their calls then the watch will be able to alert emergency services.
This is just one of the many ways that the Guardian II can assist individuals to live a fulfilling and active life with peace of mind over their safety.
For more information and to view the new CPR Guardian II View here
]]>However, there’s a reason why Santa still keeps a naughty list. And during this time, we can almost guarantee that scammers are on top of that list, so make sure you’re on the lookout for these holiday telephone scams.
Of course, it's the season of giving. And we know that scammers will take advantage of this! If you receive a call from someone asking you to donate to charity, make sure to check out the organization first before making any actions. Usually, being a little pushy when asking for donations is a tell-tale sign that they are not legit.
Also, you can always go to give.org or charitynavigator.org to verify the charity they mentioned.
If you're a parent, you only want the best Christmas time experience for your kids. Perhaps, a personalized phone call and a video message from Santa himself will make them happier? Well, that's exactly what this scam is all about.
The scammer will ask you, over the phone, if you would like your child to get calls and messages from Santa on Christmas Day for free. If you say yes, they will ask you to download an app and sign up - that's how they get your information.
Who doesn't like gifts? If someone calls you to tell you that you're getting a $200 gift card for Christmas because you've been chosen randomly at a lottery online, you'd probably feel excited, but also a little bit suspicious.
The way this scam works is that the caller will tell you that you won a gift card and that it will be sent via mail. Therefore, you are required to share your information to the caller to get it. And who knows if you’re really going to receive your gift?
We know that it's been a tough year, and a lot of people lost their jobs. Some might even be hoping to at least get a part-time gig during the holidays. However, you should be careful when someone randomly calls you and tells you that they need extra help for the holidays.
While this might sound like a good opportunity, they could also be just attempting to get your personal information.
Don't let fraudsters ruin your holiday! Stay knowledgeable about popular schemes, and don't just let anyone get your personal details. If you have a landline, get yourself a call blocker so you won't have to worry about them anymore.
Learn more about landline call blockers here: CPR Call Blocker V5000
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