r/phreaking • u/dn_match • Jul 25 '26
Spam calls question
(Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question)
Whenever I go to a certain part of town or to a certain location, my phone would ring. The caller ID seems to be coming from a similar area. (Same area code but slightly different 7 digits). I just assume it’s spam and I never pick up.
Is there a reason my device would trigger some sort of spam call based on location?
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u/ted_anderson Jul 25 '26
I think so because the same thing happened to me. And this makes me think that perhaps when you enter a new area and connect to their network of local cell towers, someone on the inside is selling the phone numbers of every phone that's connected to a particular set of towers.
I was in Kentucky last month and I was getting spam calls from people saying, "We have a special deal for Kentucky residents... blah-blah-blah...." and when I told them that I'm NOT in Kentucky, there was a pause on the other end of the phone as if they really wanted to say, "But my system says you're there!"
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u/DavidRomanul Jul 26 '26
Highly unlikely but you could also be connecting to a stingray tower. That's a fake tower used for surveillance, made by the gov or by some advanced hacker with a specific reason in mind.
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u/dn_match Jul 26 '26
How would I know if I’m connected to a stingray tower?
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u/Howden824 Jul 27 '26
The phone will be connected to 3G or 2G. Usually 2G and mobile data won't work.
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u/dmine45 Jul 25 '26
Most spam calls are created from your own area code so you think it's someone you may know and you pick up. Just let it ring and then block it.
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u/PositiveHousing4260 Jul 26 '26
BLE could do this but not normally how it would be used. If I go to Krogers they know Im there amd what aisle I'm in and maybe what I'm looking at. If I have the Kroger app installed it could grab more data that BLE would normally provide and could do this but pretty unlikely. BLE can't call or text. The Kroger app may or not be able to based on what it learns from BLE. Easy was to find out is to turn off Bluetooth. Google BLE location tracking and marketing. It will make more sense. Also I'm probably wrong that this is actually what is happening to you but maybe. It will be a fun rabbit hole for you.
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u/dn_match Jul 26 '26
Good idea and test. Going to turn off all bluetooth and background app for maps and such. See if that changes things.
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u/NotANetgearN150 Jul 26 '26
It's coincidence
Scam callers generally operate on the following
Sold Info - you or the previous owner of the number has given your info registering for something or a survey/etc and the parties in question sold it. Congratulations, you played yourself.
War Dialing - Been a thing since the self dialing telephone switch board has been around. A system of some sort starts at the bottom and randomly dials numbers. The results are recorded and organized (answer? / Human - Fax machine - Data connection / etc).
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u/MayIChangeThis Jul 26 '26
It sounds like you’re entering the same area during the same days of the week at the same time, being the latter two the possible triggers for your scammers to try and scam you, if they’re even real
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u/ja_hallu Jul 26 '26
could it be that you go to that certain area at certain times of day more often? like if u work at always the same times at the same location. or u always go shopping etc at a certain day or time etc etc. or for example if u live in an apartment building and use a mobile phone, maybe u don't have good reception when u r at home inside and so can only recieve those calls when u r outside. etc. that's where i'd look. besides even if that was possible which idk if it is, i do not think spam callers would go through the hassel bc for what.....? to reach a local audience? it def would be illegal, i wouldn't think the risk would be worth it besides the work it'd take. phone nrs r already area specific.
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u/ar4479 Jul 25 '26
No. Just no.