Block Spam callers

WLS-ITGuy

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

JaredBusch

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Skyetel

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

If you are using Skyetel, I'd suggest turning on our Spam Filter:
https://skyetel.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SUG/pages/225312786/Spam+Calls+Filter

That way your end user can still have humans answering the phone and not get inundated with spam calls.

JaredBusch

@Skyetel said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

If you are using Skyetel, I'd suggest turning on our Spam Filter:
https://skyetel.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SUG/pages/225312786/Spam+Calls+Filter

That way your end user can still have humans answering the phone and not get inundated with spam calls.

These types of services have the same issue. Numbers are spoofed, you can easily end up blocking valid calls. It is only "better" because it is crowd sourcing the information, instead of only the one company doing it.

Obviously, I don't know exactly how @Skyetel does it. I was speaking about spam call blocking services in general.

WLS-ITGuy

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Can I do this for a direct extension call also?

JaredBusch

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Can I do this for a direct extension call also?

Blacklist? It is checked always on inbound calls. There is no way to not check it without writing custom dialplan.

Making an IVR? Sure. You just make the "Press 1" destination be their extension.

There are lots of creative custom things you can do, but those are the easy built in options.

WLS-ITGuy

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Can I do this for a direct extension call also?

Blacklist? It is checked always on inbound calls. There is no way to not check it without writing custom dialplan.

Making an IVR? Sure. You just make the "Press 1" destination be their extension.

There are lots of creative custom things you can do, but those are the easy built in options.

Sorry, Meant the IVR.

JaredBusch

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Can I do this for a direct extension call also?

Blacklist? It is checked always on inbound calls. There is no way to not check it without writing custom dialplan.

Making an IVR? Sure. You just make the "Press 1" destination be their extension.

There are lots of creative custom things you can do, but those are the easy built in options.

Sorry, Meant the IVR.

Create a recording that states "Getting spam calls. Press 1 for Bob."
Create Bob spam IVR using the above recording as its announcement.
Set the option 1 to go to Bob's extension.
Set the timeout and invalid destinations to terminate call.
Go to the inbound route that sends the call to Bob's extension now and change it to go to the Bob spam IVR.

JaredBusch

You would need a unique IVR for every DID you want this used for.

WLS-ITGuy

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

@WLS-ITGuy said in Block Spam callers:

This time I did a search first

We are getting hammered with cold calls and I am wondering if those of you who have FreePBX have some system/way to block cold/robo calls?

Use the blacklist, there is a feature code for it. But realistically, the numbers change all the time. So not much you can do but play whack-a-mole.

Implement an IVR and don’t let calls go straight to reception.

The IVR can be super simple. “Thanks for calling Bob’s Widget Co. We are getting hit hard by robo calls. Please press 1 to reach the operator.”

Add option 1 for the operator. And then set the timeout destination and invalid destination to terminate the call.

Can I do this for a direct extension call also?

Blacklist? It is checked always on inbound calls. There is no way to not check it without writing custom dialplan.

Making an IVR? Sure. You just make the "Press 1" destination be their extension.

There are lots of creative custom things you can do, but those are the easy built in options.

Sorry, Meant the IVR.

Create a recording that states "Getting spam calls. Press 1 for Bob."
Create Bob spam IVR using the above recording as its announcement.
Set the option 1 to go to Bob's extension.
Set the timeout and invalid destinations to terminate call.
Go to the inbound route that sends the call to Bob's extension now and change it to go to the Bob spam IVR.

@JaredBusch said in Block Spam callers:

You would need a unique IVR for every DID you want this used for.

It would make it easier on the receptionist and everyone else as well.

jgh

This got so bad for us - double-digit spam calls an hour - that I essentially blacklisted all toll-free numbers. The blacklist module in FreePBX wouldn't do this correctly - I can't remember why - so I

created new inbound routes
set DID for Any and create a route for:
_800NXXXXXX
_822NXXXXXX
_833NXXXXXX
_844NXXXXXX
_855NXXXXXX
_866NXXXXXX
_877NXXXXXX
_888NXXXXXX
set destination to Terminate Call: play no service message

Immediately cut down by 95% the spam calls we were getting. I am sure we lose some legitimate callers but the problem was getting so bad the collateral damage is acceptable for the payoff.

Curtis

@jgh Why not just forward them to a recording that says you don't accept calls from toll-free numbers? At least then the legitimate callers would know why there call was blocked. I guess the SPAM caller would too.

jgh

@Curtis was more interested in attempting to get removed from mass lists by having the not-in-service tones play, but your way is probably the way to go if you care deeply about possibly legitimate callers calling from toll-free services.

Curtis

I have been testing @Skyetel and it seems like this is a great option for dealing with SPAM calls.

travisdh1

@Curtis said in Block Spam callers:

I have been testing @Skyetel and it seems like this is a great option for dealing with SPAM calls.

@skytel I'm curious, which Spamblock Bot do you use?

Skyetel

@travisdh1 said in Block Spam callers:

@Curtis said in Block Spam callers:

I have been testing @Skyetel and it seems like this is a great option for dealing with SPAM calls.

@skytel I'm curious, which Spamblock Bot do you use?

It's our own Lenny server that we host for this purpose - its hilarious