Click farm: many mobile phones combining to create mass fraudulent web traffic - GIF

[Frank S]

Worldwide catastrophic EMP would = approx. 6,500,000,000 deaths. Be careful what you wish for.

That would still leave well over a billion so I don't see the problem there

[jdurand]

That would still leave well over a billion so I don't see the problem there

well, everyone would suddenly become undertakers...

[WmRMeyers]

I don't like interference with my activities. I don't like to hide. That doesn't stop pirates. It's like hiding from 'pandemic', while expecting to build an immune system.

Well no surprise, and admittedly, my phone tactic is a bit different too, and take all the calls. Right ones get a conversation, wrong ones get harassed, abused, and invited to not dare call again.
It's a form of entertainment. Those get blocked, saved, dated and named if possible, ie "SunPower Sales". As they expend new numbers under old name, it gets saved accordingly "SunPower Sales1" and so on. I list them at DoNotCall.gov. Once a series begins, it gets effective soon. My area code no longer correlates to my locale, any unnamed number is dang near guaranteed spam.
Examples of a few possible misuses; public utilities, government agencies, travel, credit cards, gifts, insurance, auto warranty service...that one is always fun. Pretty sure my 95 Buick has no remaining warranty or pending recalls. Or I'm interested in a sophisticated mobile phone. It's easy; they have a script, you throw them a curve. Teehee.

This began maybe 10-11 years ago. Having the same number since the mid 90's, everybody I'd like to continue contact is saved and named, screening BS quite easy. For the last 8-9 years I get calls from collection agencies looking for a person unknown to me. He either made up surreptitious info, or someone transposed number. Over time, collected some intel on this guy and relay or compare it with the agencies. Financial companies and brokers are allowed 2 calls by law, telling them you are not him, actual banks only once. There are plenty of lawyers who sue as your agent for a percentage. Records make a compelling case.

Another trend started recently, a different but actual solar panel subcontractor. I have a dozen "XxSolarxx", past two weeks. The hook for this one, iron clad! They evoke name of the Southern California Electric utility, so...

SWMBO tell the car warranty folks that she has a 1955 Mercedes 300SL that she'd like an extended warranty for. I just hang up, block the number and report it as spam. There are only about 3 million people in Oklahoma, so I expect I'll have everyone who isn't a friend already blocked in a couple more years.

Bill

[Frank S]

What I'd like is an app for my phone that hides my phone from everybody who is not on my contact list or numbers that I have dialed
That way if I don't know them I don't exist.
On any given week I might make 5 possibly 6 phone calls on average if I am looking for something, and receive fewer than that from people who know me and that is just the way I like it The other 99million times my phone rings is someone wanting to sell me health care car warranty life insurance car insurance some kind of chair to relax in or that I won a cruise, some political BS or whatever

[Jon]

Fun fact: some countries have mobile phone camera sound laws that make it illegal to turn off the clicking "shutter" noise, so that people can't clandestinely photograph you.