Ever get phone calls from a non-existent number?

This is why i wear a tinfoil helmet at all times man
Oh sure, date night with the wife gets awkward and the neighbors avoid me but i wont be taken so easily
No sir, not me!

Oh my!

Don't spammers have the ability to spoof phone numbers?

If not, it's definitely a 👻 (i.e., ghost with a black eye).

[deleted]

What they want is INFORMATION. "Phishing"
Also they use this to run scam "businesses", Charities or whatever.
In ANY case, the BEST response is to not answer. If you should accidentally answer, they already have one key piece of info. A working number that someone answers.
NEVER give out ANY information, even if the person knows your name. Names/numbers are easy to come by.
consider the fact that ANY info you give out will be stored and referenced later on and compiled with other info they are seeking. Eventually they may have enough for identity theft or possible access to financial accounts

Scammers rarely leave messages. If a person you dont know DOES leave a callback number, consider the following: IF the number is NOT a toll free number, you can block YOUR number by using *67 BEFORE dialing the number. You may also make the cal from a phone other than your own, such as a work phone, or pay phone if there is such a thing anymore. DONT USE A FRIENDS PHONE unless you wish to unfriend the person.
IF the callback number is a toll free number, YOU CAN NOT BLOCK ANY NUMBER you call from including "restricted" numbers or numbers blocked with *67.

A good practice is too Google ANY phone number that you receive from an "unknown" entity. There are lists of numbers used by scammers and others contribute numbers and information about these callers, to the lists. If YOU have numbers or info, you can share it. There are common themes to these calls.

I dont answer ANY calls from ANYONE who is not on my caller list or a number I dont recognize or EXPECT a call from.
The hope is that if I never answer, my number will be deleted from the callers list, in favor of numbers that are answered by someone.

Hope this info helps you and others!

This is EXACTLY what I do!
You may also consider the info I gave above, to Google numbers you dont know. There are lists for numbers being used by scammers and you may find some of the numbers on these lists.
I commonly get calls from (myareacode) 392-**** < I dont get stars, I get random numbers that are different each time. RARELY do these numbers appear on any "lists".

Also consider that people dial wrong numbers. HOWEVER, in the case above, it is nearly impossible that ALL the wrong numbers would come from 392 exchange.
I think that the caller uses a random "spoof" of 392 numbers.
Some of these numbers belong to people who have innocently had their number hijacked by the "spoofer".
Its very sad.

CURIOUSITY!
IF they think somebody will answer, they have achieved their first step.

I lied but you gave my number to croft.