Telephone Spam!
Apr 5, 2013 06:41:54 #
CajunLou
Loc: SW Louisiana
Sometimes it pays to be a Cajun. When this type comes in I simply answer in Cajun French jargon, and hear "click" and they are gone and never to call again. I had used a referee whistle at one time but I have more fun with the Cajun French
Apr 5, 2013 06:55:31 #
I have just subscribed to caller id service and now i never answer calls from any non ident or unrecognised numbers, if it is important, they will leave a message.
Here in the uk we have the 'telephone preference service', to try to stop unsolicited calls but that doesn't work most of the time.
As far as Microsoft ringing me, i have the perfect answer, - I use Linux...
Here in the uk we have the 'telephone preference service', to try to stop unsolicited calls but that doesn't work most of the time.
As far as Microsoft ringing me, i have the perfect answer, - I use Linux...
Apr 5, 2013 07:37:48 #
If it's a human,I let them go thru the entire thing, then I say" I'm sorry, I have a son on drugs who steals every penny I get and I need help myself". Then it's short and sweet: "I understand, so sorry for bothering you".
Apr 5, 2013 07:42:46 #
I tell them in a foreign voice that I'm the cleaning person but I can't talk now cause I'm having sex with my boss !
Apr 5, 2013 07:48:50 #
Neither my wife nor I answer the phone unless we recognize the caller's ID. If its is a valid call, they leave a message, if not, nothing missed.
Apr 5, 2013 07:53:00 #
mothball
Loc: Queensland, Australia
This works for me.
" You have reached a Jehovah's Witness help line, All of our advisors are busy at the moment, but one will be available shortly".
They don't stay long.!!!
" You have reached a Jehovah's Witness help line, All of our advisors are busy at the moment, but one will be available shortly".
They don't stay long.!!!
Apr 5, 2013 07:54:48 #
Apr 5, 2013 08:06:09 #
I have had many of these calls over the years - they are a real nuisance and extremely dangerous to your pocket if you fall for their spiel.
The ones I have encountered start off by saying they are from the Technical department - when asked what company they say they deal with all companies and name common ISP providers - they then say they have picked up a serious virus on your server and offer to remove it if you give them access to your machine.
I use a website called www.whocallsme.com ( think this only operates in the U.K. ) who log these dodgy callers and help to expose their scam practices by comments in a forum from people who have been scammed or suspect a scam.
Apparently, of they get access to your computer they download a virus and offer to remove it for you - such KIND and THOUGHTFUL people!! - before they are prepared to remove the virus thye ask for £180.00 GBP and remove their virus after payment confirmed.
Seems hard to believe but a number of people have fallen for this and even been on the forum expressing their appreciation for them removing the virus.
The callers are often young people - who are desperate to earn some cash and work to a limited script. When you ask them detailed technical questions thy dry up and then hang up.
On the last occasion I gave the young chap a pretty rough time and he then apologised to me - said he had no other way to earn any money - said British people were good people and he knew it was a scam - he tldme he would remove me from their database so I would get no further calls - that was 3 months ago and not had any calls since.
They can ring from anywhere in the world and the master criminal elements behind this fraud just supply them with a list of telephone numbers and they get paid on results.
They are probably using a laptop sitting on the back of a camel somewhere in an Egyptian desert.
So it is definitely Buyer Beware!!!
The ones I have encountered start off by saying they are from the Technical department - when asked what company they say they deal with all companies and name common ISP providers - they then say they have picked up a serious virus on your server and offer to remove it if you give them access to your machine.
I use a website called www.whocallsme.com ( think this only operates in the U.K. ) who log these dodgy callers and help to expose their scam practices by comments in a forum from people who have been scammed or suspect a scam.
Apparently, of they get access to your computer they download a virus and offer to remove it for you - such KIND and THOUGHTFUL people!! - before they are prepared to remove the virus thye ask for £180.00 GBP and remove their virus after payment confirmed.
Seems hard to believe but a number of people have fallen for this and even been on the forum expressing their appreciation for them removing the virus.
The callers are often young people - who are desperate to earn some cash and work to a limited script. When you ask them detailed technical questions thy dry up and then hang up.
On the last occasion I gave the young chap a pretty rough time and he then apologised to me - said he had no other way to earn any money - said British people were good people and he knew it was a scam - he tldme he would remove me from their database so I would get no further calls - that was 3 months ago and not had any calls since.
They can ring from anywhere in the world and the master criminal elements behind this fraud just supply them with a list of telephone numbers and they get paid on results.
They are probably using a laptop sitting on the back of a camel somewhere in an Egyptian desert.
So it is definitely Buyer Beware!!!
Apr 5, 2013 08:43:40 #
I have received those calls also regarding the computer. I simply say that I do not own a computer. They hang up.
Apr 5, 2013 08:44:37 #
Keep this by your phone!!!!
>>
1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy
and you could sure use some money.
>>
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "I'm so glad you
asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these
problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just
died..."
>>
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their
name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is
located, how long it has been in business, how many people work there, how
they got into this line of work, are they married?, kids?, etc. Continue
asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as
long as necessary.
>>
4. This works great if you are male: Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy
and I'm with XYZ Company..." You: Wait for a second and with a real husky
voice ask, "What are you wearing?"
>>
5. Cry out in surprise,"Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you
been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she
tries to figure out where the hell she could know you from.
>>
6. Say "No", over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and
keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun
if you can do it until they hang up.
>>
7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends
Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any
friends... would you be my friend?"
>>
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get out blood? Can you
get out GOAT blood? PIG blood? How about HUMAN blood?
>>
9. After the Telemarketer gives their spiel, ask him/her to marry you.
When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your
credit card number to a complete stranger.
>>
10. Tell the Telemarketer that you work for the same company, they often
can't sell to employees.
>>
11. Answer the phone and as soon as you realize it is a Telemarketer, set
the receiver down, shout or scream, "Oh my God!!!" and then hang up.
>>
12. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask him/her if
he/she will give you his/her HOME phone number so you can call him/her
back. When the Telemarketer explains that telemarketers cannot give out
their HOME numbers you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at
home, right?" The Telemarketer will agree and you say, "Me, either!" Hang
up.
>>
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinnertime, BUT ask if they would please hold. Put
them on your speakerphone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack
your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
>>
15. Tell the Telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they
could bring you some beer.
>>
16. Ask them to fax the information to you, and make up a number.
>>
17. Tell the Telemarketer, "Okay, I will listen to you. But I should
probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
>>
18. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke.
"Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
>>
19. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up...
louder... louder...louder...
>>
20. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD
down.
>>
1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy
and you could sure use some money.
>>
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "I'm so glad you
asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these
problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just
died..."
>>
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their
name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is
located, how long it has been in business, how many people work there, how
they got into this line of work, are they married?, kids?, etc. Continue
asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as
long as necessary.
>>
4. This works great if you are male: Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy
and I'm with XYZ Company..." You: Wait for a second and with a real husky
voice ask, "What are you wearing?"
>>
5. Cry out in surprise,"Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you
been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she
tries to figure out where the hell she could know you from.
>>
6. Say "No", over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and
keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun
if you can do it until they hang up.
>>
7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends
Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any
friends... would you be my friend?"
>>
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get out blood? Can you
get out GOAT blood? PIG blood? How about HUMAN blood?
>>
9. After the Telemarketer gives their spiel, ask him/her to marry you.
When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your
credit card number to a complete stranger.
>>
10. Tell the Telemarketer that you work for the same company, they often
can't sell to employees.
>>
11. Answer the phone and as soon as you realize it is a Telemarketer, set
the receiver down, shout or scream, "Oh my God!!!" and then hang up.
>>
12. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask him/her if
he/she will give you his/her HOME phone number so you can call him/her
back. When the Telemarketer explains that telemarketers cannot give out
their HOME numbers you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at
home, right?" The Telemarketer will agree and you say, "Me, either!" Hang
up.
>>
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinnertime, BUT ask if they would please hold. Put
them on your speakerphone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack
your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
>>
15. Tell the Telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they
could bring you some beer.
>>
16. Ask them to fax the information to you, and make up a number.
>>
17. Tell the Telemarketer, "Okay, I will listen to you. But I should
probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
>>
18. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke.
"Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
>>
19. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up...
louder... louder...louder...
>>
20. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD
down.
Apr 5, 2013 08:45:04 #
krgatlgm wrote:
What ever happened to the Do Not Call List??
The problem with that list is that you have to take the call, get the company information, the name of the person calling(good luck with that one) and what they're selling in order to make a complaint about the call.
Apr 5, 2013 08:54:49 #
I have my phone service with Atlanticbb, they provide call blocking. I enter the number to block and no more calls. I assume other phone providers have the same service.
Apr 5, 2013 08:57:05 #
Bultaco wrote:
I have my phone service with Atlanticbb, they provide call blocking. I enter the number to block and no more calls. I assume other phone providers have the same service.
That sounds like an effective solution! I hope verizon has that service.
Apr 5, 2013 09:01:05 #
nimbushopper wrote:
That sounds like an effective solution! I hope verizon has that service.
We don't have a problem on our cell phone, just the landline.
Apr 5, 2013 09:02:48 #
nimbushopper wrote:
The problem with that list is that you have to take the call, get the company information, the name of the person calling(good luck with that one) and what they're selling in order to make a complaint about the call.
True, but if the call is unavoidable you might as well have a bit of fun with it too.
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