A Windsor resident who asked spammers to add her number to a do-not-call-list says she’s received over 500 phone calls and more than 100 text messages after spammers decided to spoof her number instead.

Kyla Bardwell said spammers called her sometime last week to offer air duct cleaning services — which she doesn’t need because she lives in a condominium.

She asked to be placed on a do-not-call-list, and thought the matter was resolved.

On Dec. 12, however, Bardwell said she began to be inundated with phone calls and text messages from sometimes irate callers questioning why her number was connected to telemarketers.

“I don’t know if they retaliated with this, but [the spammers] started calling people using my [number],” she said.

Her concerns were heightened when one of her coworkers received a spam call from telemarketers using Bardwell’s number.
“I picked up … and it wasn’t [Bardwell],” said Kim Faulkner. “It was a man’s voice … they said air duct cleaning services. I hung up because I’ve gotten calls from them many times — I just hang up, I don’t have the patience or the time to deal with them.”

Bardwell, a Fido subscriber, contacted her wireless service provider, but was told that there was little they could do.

“Really all I can do about this is change my number, from what my provider tells me,” she said. “My number is so easy, and I’ve had it for years. To change it, it’s more of a sentimental thing and everyone knows my number.”

She also contacted Windsor police, who told Bardwell that she would have to file a civil suit if she wanted work towards a solution.

“A civil suit against who?” said Bardwell. “Who is air duct cleaning services? I’m sure it’s not a legitimate company, I’m sure it’s a scam. So who do I file a suit against?”

Bardwell said she’s beyond frustrated, saying it feels like her device is “no longer my phone.”

CBC News contacted Rogers — the parent company that owns the Fido wireless flanker brand — for comment.

A spokesperson for the company said Rogers knows “receiving unwanted calls is frustrating for our customers, and we are working with the [Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)] and industry partners to implement steps to reduce them.”

Source: https://bit.ly/391nGgk