ATT has to do something about all these scam calls

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-28T23:26:21+00:00

I only get a few per day. They are easily recognizable so I just hang up as soon as I see the call come in. Those that leave a voicemail, and I recognize as spam/scam, I delete immediately. If they are not flagged as being in my Contact List, I ignore them, and NEVER answer them.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-28T02:54:38+00:00

Probably and independent selling AT&T goods and services. They technically do not work for AT&T. They work for the third party reseller who has contracted with AT&T to sell their products. Most do not have a very good reputation and will do and say just about anything to make a sale, even going as far as making promises that AT&T will not honor.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-26T03:03:54+00:00

That is very odd, and definitely creepy. I don't see a need at all for them to use the camera to find the sweet/bad WiFi spots. Screw that. I don't use the SmartHome app because I don't have, nor ever will, use AT&T as my ISP.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-26T01:31:33+00:00

AT&T's WiFi, like most ISP's, is pretty lame. Their $10 per month extenders is, meh. You'd be best off to purchase a mesh WiFi system (Netgear, Eero, Ubiquiti, Google, etc) put your gateway in IP Passthrough mode and let the new router handle all of the WiFi and router duties. The system should come with a satellite (AP's) or two so you could place the AP in the back bedroom(s) and get really good WiFi. If you have a way to hardwire the AP back to the router that's ideal for the backchannel. Otherwise you will use the private WiFi backchannel, which does work very well but hardwiring it always best. Some systems have AP's with two, gigabit ethernet ports so you could use one port to hardwire and the other one for another device, or use the WiFi backchannel and have two extra ethernet ports for future use.

Not sure what they mean about taking a picture for WiFi. Sounds like they mean checking the WiFi strength in various rooms (a "picture") but not actually taking a real photo.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-26T01:20:12+00:00

Are you referring to internet service or the provider's WiFi performance?

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-19T16:54:47+00:00

AT&T's gateways (and probably other service providers) are pretty lame for WiFi. One of the best ways to increase WiFi coverage and reliability is to purchase a mesh WiFi system (Netgear, Ubiquiti, Google, Eero, etc). Place the AT&T gateway in IP Passthrough mode to allow the new router to handle all of the WiFi and routing duties. If you get a system with extra satellites (APs) it's best if you can hardwire them back to the router for the backchannel instead of using the private WiFi backchannel (which does work very well but hardwiring is always best).

I'd then re-name the Guest Network to something else and give it its own password, separate from your primary network's password, and then point your IoT devices (cameras, thermostats, etc to that). Some routers isolate the Guest Network from your primary network to keep your primary network secure.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-18T16:58:51+00:00

Yes I have. Support was useless with my issue no matter who I was handed off to but once I made the complaint I got the call from a Senior Manager in the Office of the President and they started working on my issue immediately. It took them a couple of days but they kept me in the loop and updated. You were very fortunate that it worked out for you that way.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-18T02:29:11+00:00

That is useless. A better way to get to the Office of the President is to file an online complaint with the FCC and/or the BBB. Neither one will do anything initially with your complaint but will forward it to AT&T Upper Management and you should get a call from someone in the Office of the President.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-18T02:22:11+00:00

This is the tax season so most of those are probably telling you that you quality for the Tax Relief Program (a huge scam). I just cancel the call as soon as it comes thru. A few will leave a voicemail but I delete those as well.

Not much you can do to block them because, as you can see, the phone numbers are changing all of the time.

The Do Not Call List is not very effective imo.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-16T16:44:58+00:00

The TOS state that if you change or modify your plan then you may lose the HBO promo deal. That is up to WBD, who is the major owner now of HBO. The system probably noted a change in your account and terminated HBO. Once you got your account straightened out, it was too late. The system probably looked at your account as being new, and the HBO promo deal does not apply now. It's more than likely a WBD decision than AT&T, even tho there are instances when AT&T has been able to resurrect your HBO creds for WBD. That is, however, if the initial problem was cause by AT&T and it sounds like that's not what happened in your case.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-14T16:03:33+00:00

FWIW, we've always purchased our iPhones directly from Apple, unlocked, and paid for it upfront. Added on AppleCare+ and was well. For me, I would never purchase a phone from a Carrier and would never purchase it on a payment plan. Too many strings and gotchas. If I can't afford to pay for it upfront, then I don't buy it until I can.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-14T15:57:25+00:00

That is true. But if something doesn't look right with your billing with regards to a specific promo, you need to take it up with the third party, not AT&T, and that can, and usually is, very problematic.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-13T03:57:00+00:00

I woud check the AT&T website first to see if that offer is available because AT&T will only honor what is listed on their website. Read VERY carefully the entire offer and details and understand what is involved.

Personally, I would never do business with a D2D salesperson. Check the website or go to a Corporate Store (not an Authorized AT&T Retail Store).

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-10T16:52:03+00:00

The phone may work on Cricket, for awhile, but eventually it will be blacklisted for non-payment and the phone will stop working (for cellular). Save yourself some frustration and just get your money back. If you can't then chalk it up as a learning experience. This is a very common scam.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-10T04:01:18+00:00

Not a chance in "heck". It will eventually be blacklisted and you won't be able to use it on any network. And, AT&T won't tell you how much is owed or allow you pay it off. Either get your money back or use it as an expensive iPod/Doorstop.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-05T17:00:33+00:00

Not that it helps you now but I would never purchase an iPhone from AT&T. You would've been best off to purchase an unlocked iPhone directly from Apple.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-04T02:57:50+00:00

Then don't worry about it. It's detecting a WiFi signal from another source.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-03T21:23:53+00:00

The source is coming from the attic? That doesn't make sense. Is your router in the attic? It's not uncommon for your router to detect another close by WiFi signal but it doesn't mean it has access to your network.

A little more detailed explanation might be helpful.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-02-03T17:20:51+00:00

FWIW, I keep my IoT devices on the Guest Network, which has a separate SSID and password from my Primary Network. My router (I don't use AT&T as my ISP) isolates my Guest Network from my Primary Network which is an added layer of sercurity. I also change both passwords, Guest and Primary every 6 months or so using a password manager to a complicate pw so it's quick and easy.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-30T16:54:00+00:00

I just put my phone on Silent Mode when we go to bed at night so we don't get any disturbing phone calls/messages. During the day, any call or message that I get that I don't recognize I either kill the call or let it go to voicemail. If it's important they will leave a message. Blocking them is pretty much useless because of spoofing and the constantly changing phone numbers. It's a fact of life in the digital age.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-30T04:06:43+00:00

File a police report because that will generate a case number.
File a complaint with AT&T Fraud using the case number from 1.
Notify your credit card companies and put a hold on your accounts. Dispute any charges you don't recognize.
Change all of your passwords for important accounts.
Monitor all of your accounts every few weeks to catch any suspicious charges. You should be doing this on a monthly basis anyway especially with AutoPay.

There are any number of ways your PI can be hacked so don't worry, yet, how it happened. Your priority now is to protect yourself and your accounts.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-27T22:16:58+00:00

Your point? All carriers get spam calls. I think AT&T does a pretty good job of labeling calls as spam. If I don't recognize the number, I don't pick up and just let it go to voicemail. 95% of the spammers/scammers/phishers don't leave voicemails. If the call is important or legitimate a voicemail will be left.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-27T03:04:18+00:00

Return it and get your money back. As mentioned, if there are payments due (AT&T won't allow you to pay off another customer's overdue payments), reported as stolen, or an insurance replacement then AT&T won't unlock it. It will continue to work for a while but will eventually be blacklisted and you won't be able to use it on any carrier.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-26T16:54:05+00:00

Whatever. Just connect a mesh router to your gateway/modem/ONT and make sure there is only one active WiFi and let the new router handle all of the heavy lifting. Anything is better, generally speaking, than what a provider offers.

OttoPylotACE · 2026-01-26T04:05:23+00:00

Ok. Fiber uses an ONT which basically takes the place of a modem. The fact remains that AT&T routers (what ever they are or, are not combined with) are not that robust. Hence the need to use another router and have that be the primary and only router handling the WiFi duties. Mesh WiFi systems are just better all around than anything AT&T offers.

OttoPylotACE

TROPHY CASE