Consumer News: Foreclosure activity increased 18% in April

Its part of an elaborate scam operation

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Consumers across the U.S. are reporting mysterious blank voicemails from unknown numbers, often without their phone ever ringing.

• Experts say the messages are usually part of a robocall verification scheme designed to identify active phone numbers for future .

• Consumers should avoid calling the numbers back, delete the messages, and use carrier spam-blocking tools to reduce future targeting.

Millions of smartphone users have experienced it: You glance at your phone and see a new voicemail notification, even though the phone never rang. When you listen to the message, theres either silence, a brief rustling sound, or a robotic click before the message ends.

Cybersecurity experts say these ghost voicemails are rarely harmless glitches. In many cases, they are part of a larger robocall operation aimed at identifying working phone numbers and targeting consumers for future .

How the scam works

The scam typically begins with an automated dialing system that places thousands sometimes millions of calls in rapid succession. Rather than allowing the phone to ring normally, the system disconnects almost immediately or routes the call directly to voicemail.

That leaves behind a blank or nearly blank message.

While the message itself may seem meaningless, the real objective is data collection.

Scammers use the tactic to determine whether a phone number is active and monitored by a real person. If the voicemail system answers and stores a message, the number is flagged as live. That information can then be sold to telemarketers, scam networks, or criminals conducting phishing attacks.

Why your phone doesnt ring

Several technologies allow calls to bypass the normal ringing process.

One common method involves ringless voicemail technology, originally developed for marketers. The system deposits a message directly into voicemail servers without completing a traditional phone call.

Legitimate businesses have used ringless voicemail for advertising campaigns, but scammers increasingly exploit the same technology because it avoids some robocall detection systems and reduces the chance consumers will immediately block the number.

In other cases, scammers simply hang up after one partial ring, too quickly for the consumer to notice, but long enough for the carrier to route the call to voicemail.

The bigger objective

The blank voicemail itself is usually only the first step.

Once scammers know a number is active, consumers may begin receiving:

• Fake bank fraud alerts

• Phony package delivery texts

• Medicare or insurance

• Tech support

• Cryptocurrency investment pitches

• AI-generated voice impersonating relatives or employers

Some operations also use verified numbers to build detailed consumer profiles that can later be combined with breached personal information purchased online.

The result is a more convincing and potentially more dangerous scam attempt down the road.

Can listening to the voicemail harm you?

In most cases, simply listening to a blank voicemail will not infect your phone with malware.

However, experts warn consumers not to call the number back, click links sent afterward, or respond to follow-up texts.

Returning the call confirms to scammers that the consumer is engaged and reachable, which can lead to even more robocalls.

There is also a financial risk in some cases. Certain direct consumers to international premium-rate numbers that generate charges when called back.

What consumers should do

Experts recommend several steps to reduce exposure to these schemes:

• Dont call back unknown numbers: If the voicemail is blank or suspicious, avoid returning the call unless you can independently verify the caller.
• Block the number: Most smartphones allow users to block suspicious callers directly from the call log or voicemail screen.
• Use spam-filtering tools: Wireless carriers offer free or low-cost robocall filtering services, including:

  • AT&T ActiveArmor

  • Verizon Call Filter

  • T-Mobile Scam Shield

Third-party apps such as Hiya, Truecaller, and RoboKiller can also help screen suspicious calls.

• Report persistent scam calls: Consumers can file complaints with:

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

  • Their wireless carrier

• Keep voicemail passwords secure: Some scammers attempt to hack voicemail accounts using default PINs. Consumers should use strong, unique voicemail passwords whenever possible.

One unoccupied vehicle drove into flood waters and was swept away

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Waymo is recalling nearly 3,800 robotaxis after one autonomous vehicle drove into floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas.

• Federal regulators said the software could slow for flooded roads but not always stop, creating a potential crash risk.

• The recall adds to growing scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety, as Waymo expands service across major U.S. cities.

Waymo, Alphabets self-driving vehicle subsidiary, has issued one of the largest recalls in the history of the autonomous vehicle industry after a software flaw allowed some robotaxis to enter flooded roadways.

The voluntary recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the companys fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The action follows an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, in which an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi drove into a flooded roadway during severe weather and was swept into a creek. No injuries were reported, but regulators said the incident exposed a dangerous weakness in the companys response to extreme weather conditions.

Flooded roads may be problematic

NHTSA documents state that on higher-speed roads, Waymo vehicles could detect standing water and reduce speed, but might still continue forward instead of stopping completely. Regulators warned that entering flooded roadways could lead to loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of crashes or injuries.

Waymo said it has already implemented interim software updates across its fleet, including tighter weather-related operating restrictions and revised mapping data designed to limit access to flood-prone areas. The company is also developing a permanent software remedy.

We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, a Waymo spokesperson said.

The recall represents another high-profile setback for the rapidly growing robotaxi industry, which has promoted autonomous vehicles as potentially safer than human drivers. Waymo currently operates commercial driverless ride-hailing services in cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, and recently expanded testing into additional U.S. markets.

Growing scrutiny

Despite its expansion, the company has faced mounting regulatory scrutiny over safety incidents involving its autonomous fleet. Federal investigators have previously examined reports of Waymo vehicles colliding with roadway barriers, illegally passing stopped school buses, and entering restricted traffic areas.

Still, Waymo continues to argue that its vehicles are safer overall than human-operated cars. A company-backed study published last year found Waymo vehicles experienced significantly lower crash rates than human drivers across tens of millions of autonomous miles traveled.

Industry analysts say the latest recall highlights one of the most difficult challenges facing autonomous driving technology: handling unpredictable real-world conditions such as flooding, snow, debris, and other hazards that humans often navigate using judgment and context rather than strict rules.

The recall also underscores the growing role of software updates in modern automotive safety. Unlike traditional recalls that require physical repairs, Waymos fix is largely being deployed through over-the-air software updates, allowing vehicles to receive new operating instructions remotely.

For buyers, its probably the best they could hope for

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage edged down to 6.36% this week from 6.37%, according to Freddie Mac.

• Economists expect mortgage rates to remain relatively stable in the next few weeks, hovering in the mid-6% range.

• Inflation concerns, Treasury yields, and uncertainty over future Federal Reserve moves are likely to keep rates from falling sharply anytime soon.

Mortgage rates arent going down very much, but at least they arent going up.

Rates drifted slightly lower this week, offering modest relief for homebuyers entering the late spring housing market, but economists say borrowing costs are likely to remain elevated through the next several weeks.

Freddie Mac reports that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped to 6.36%, down from 6.37% last week. A year ago, the benchmark mortgage averaged 6.81%. Rates on 15-year fixed mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing, slipped to 5.71% from 5.72% the previous week.

Recent data points to slightly better conditions for buyers, Freddie Mac said in its weekly survey, pointing to growing housing inventory and lower median new-home prices.

However, mortgage analysts caution that the improvement is unlikely to signal the beginning of a major downward trend.

Following bond yields

Mortgage rates closely follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which has remained elevated as investors weigh inflation pressures, global instability, and the Federal Reserves next moves on interest rates. The 10-year Treasury yield recently hovered around 4.4%, well above where it stood earlier this year.

Housing economists said they generally expect rates to stay in a narrow range between about 6.2% and 6.5% through the early summer unless there is a significant shift in inflation or economic growth.

Federal Reserve policymakers have held their benchmark interest rate steady this year after several cuts late in 2025, signaling continued concern that inflation remains stubbornly above the Feds 2% target. Although the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates, its policies heavily influence broader borrowing costs.

Second half of the year may see improvement

Industry forecasts suggest mortgage rates may gradually ease later in 2026 if inflation cools and the Fed resumes rate cuts. Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the Mortgage Bankers Association all project rates could fall closer to 6% by years end, though few analysts expect a return to the ultra-low rates seen during the pandemic era.

For consumers, the near-term outlook means affordability challenges are likely to persist, especially as home prices remain high in many markets. But slightly lower rates and increased inventory may give some buyers more negotiating power than they had during the frenzied housing market of recent years.

One unoccupied vehicle drove into flood waters and was swept away

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Waymo is recalling nearly 3,800 robotaxis after one autonomous vehicle drove into floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas.

• Federal regulators said the software could slow for flooded roads but not always stop, creating a potential crash risk.

• The recall adds to growing scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety as Waymo expands service across major U.S. cities.

Waymo, Alphabets self-driving vehicle subsidiary, has issued one of the largest recalls in the history of the autonomous vehicle industry after a software flaw allowed some robotaxis to enter flooded roadways.

The voluntary recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the companys fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The action follows an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, in which an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi drove into a flooded roadway during severe weather and was swept into a creek. No injuries were reported, but regulators said the incident exposed a dangerous weakness in the companys response to extreme weather conditions.

Flooded roads may be problematic

NHTSA documents state that on higher-speed roads, Waymo vehicles could detect standing water and reduce speed, but might still continue forward instead of stopping completely. Regulators warned that entering flooded roadways could lead to loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of crashes or injuries.

Waymo said it has already implemented interim software updates across its fleet, including tighter weather-related operating restrictions and revised mapping data designed to limit access to flood-prone areas. The company is also developing a permanent software remedy.

We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, a Waymo spokesperson said.

The recall represents another high-profile setback for the rapidly growing robotaxi industry, which has promoted autonomous vehicles as potentially safer than human drivers. Waymo currently operates commercial driverless ride-hailing services in cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, and recently expanded testing into additional U.S. markets.

Growing scrutiny

Despite its expansion, the company has faced mounting regulatory scrutiny over safety incidents involving its autonomous fleet. Federal investigators have previously examined reports of Waymo vehicles colliding with roadway barriers, illegally passing stopped school buses and entering restricted traffic areas.

Still, Waymo continues to argue that its vehicles are safer overall than human-operated cars. A company-backed study published last year found Waymo vehicles experienced significantly lower crash rates than human drivers across tens of millions of autonomous miles traveled.

Industry analysts say the latest recall highlights one of the most difficult challenges facing autonomous driving technology: handling unpredictable real-world conditions such as flooding, snow, debris and other hazards that humans often navigate using judgment and context rather than strict rules.

The recall also underscores the growing role of software updates in modern automotive safety. Unlike traditional recalls that require physical repairs, Waymos fix is largely being deployed through over-the-air software updates, allowing vehicles to receive new operating instructions remotely.