Quite recently, this a.m. in fact, and shortly before, I've received phone calls which show my phone number on the caller I.D.! Does anyone know how this is done and/or why? And has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks.

This may explain what is going on.

It's scammers. They have a way of making the number 'look' like it's yours or someone else's. The number could be looking like a friend or a legitimate business near you, or just anyone they pick. It's annoying. Scammers are looking for you to give them information. They are just hackers trying to trick you. My neighbor keeps getting calls from 'herself' and it confuses her.

The ones I am loving are the IRS calling me to inform me I have a warrant for my arrest and if I don't call their number immediately I will have a Marshall at my door. Yeah. Love those. Scary, because they sound official. The latest one, went through the entire spiel and then ended with, "Have a blessed day"! Whaaaa? When does the IRS every say that? Geez. Unfortunately, loads of people have fallen for this and sent MONEY to these guys. One was the friend of my neighbor. She sent in over 3000 bucks AND she never has to file taxes anymore. It just scared her so much thinking she had forgotten something that she coughed up the money. Awful. Horrible people to scam especially older people.

Thanks, Marian and Sorta Blonde. I knew it was a scam, but was wondering how they do it. It's pathetic when "people" have nothing better to do than take advantage of other people. I also find the phone call threatening you if you don't call them back or they'll sue you, amusing. Being a paralegal (or most anyone) should know you can't be "sued" by phone notice.

Oh well. Have good weekends!

I've had a couple of those bogus calls from Microsoft offering to "fix" my computer, but the worst one by far was a call I received informing me that the IRS was suing us and to give them a call back immediately. It made me so angry that there are folks out there who might fall for that one.

I've had that one (or similar) stating they were going to sue me (either in Magistrate or Federal court!) And, the man had a British accent. Strange...

My response to the fake Microsoft caller was to say :

"Well that's strange, seeing as I don't own a computer !!"

There followed a brief silence and then he hung up

I had this IRS scam call also. I went to the IRS website and found out the IRS will NEVER contact you by phone or email,only by letter.

The caller I got from the IRS sounded like Apu from The Simpsons. I didn't let him give me his spiel. I just said "you are so full of ****!" and hung up. So far, no call back.

Good thing he couldn't see your stash of computer games.

I get the one saying they are calling about my computer all the time. Very bogus.

Oh, yes !!!! :

The last time I got a call claiming to be from Microsoft, when the caller said he was from Microsoft, I said "No you're not." and hung up.

I'm liking the ones that are 'computer generated voices'. I actually thought the gal was real at first. Then after a few more annoying calls, one from a girl one from a guy, I started to have fun with the recorded message that actually can listen to your answers and come up with a suitable reply.

The last one I said, "I'd like to speak with a real human please' and the voice replied, 'I am a real human, what makes you think I'm not'?. Oh now that was fun. Next time I'll get more inventive and see how long it takes for them to hang up on me.

How about the next time you get a call from someone saying they're from Microsoft to fix your computer, you say, something like: "Wow! really, I was just hoping for some help with my computer." Are you psychic? Do you really have precognitive skills? After which I'd expect a silence or stutter and then a hangup!

I choose to not even answer these calls.

Laurette I get that call showing my own phone number at least once a month. It's very annoying. I just pick it up and immediately hang it up!