Phantom Voice Mails

[bobw]

What is with all the scam voice mails just appearing on my phone without the phone actually having rung?  Are scammers back dooring into Shaw's VM system?

[mdk · Accepted solution]

@bobw -- it is a scammer's trick:

1. they call your number.
2. their Caller-ID is sent between the first and the second "ring".
3. they end the call before the second ring.
4. your modern telephone does not "sound" the first ring -- it waits for the Caller-ID to be received. Then, if there is a second ring, you can see their Caller-ID on your device, and your device rings.
5. very quickly, they again call your number.
6. since Shaw reports your phone as "busy", they get connected to your Shaw voice-mail.
7. scammer leaves a message.
8. you swear at the voice-mail.

Sigh.

I have an antique POTS (Plain Old Telephone Set) -- it mechanically rings on the first ring (loudly, in a different room). That ring alerts me that there will be an incoming call on my modern land-line equipment.

[bobw]

Thanks for the great explanation of what's going on.