|
Source: (consider it)
|
Thread: Scam calls and how to get rid of them
|
Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
|
Posted
Do you have spam filters? If you mark the span as Junk your systems can often filter it out.
--------------------
Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
| IP: Logged
|
|
Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
|
Posted
Unfortunately the account I'm using doesn't have user configurable spam filters.
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
| IP: Logged
|
|
Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Just lately, I seem to have had a lot of calls purporting to be from talktalk.The speaker usually has an Indian accent, and wants me to switch my computer on. That usually hang up when I mention "scam" or "telephone preference scheme" or I ask for their phone number.
We're now getting calls purporting to be from Microsoft -again telling me I need to switch my computer on.
I finally got to do what I've been rehearsing this morning, and spoke to them in Welsh. I answered the phone as usual, but when I realised it was a scam call, asked them politely to speak to me in Welsh as I didn't want to speak English.
Two repeats and they put the phone down.
Has anyone else got a strategy for dealing with this type of call?
That is what I do.
--------------------
Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
|
Posted
I used to have an answering machine, but gave up on that after a while as I used to find it full of messages from a cheery robot saying "Hi! You just won a cruise to Florida!" and going on at such length that the tape became filled pretty quickly.
Apart from asking these random phone callers if they're saved, my other approach would be to pretend the line is very faint and get them to speak up. As they sometimes seem to phone from what sounds like a café or street corner with lots of traffic going by, it could be one way of getting them to embarrass themselves in public by shouting increasingly loudly down the phone.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Pine Marten
Shipmate
# 11068
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
J
I finally got to do what I've been rehearsing this morning, and spoke to them in Welsh. I answered the phone as usual, but when I realised it was a scam call, asked them politely to speak to me in Welsh as I didn't want to speak English.
Two repeats and they put the phone down.
Has anyone else got a strategy for dealing with this type of call?
That is what I do.
This makes me wish that I knew Klingon.
--------------------
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. - Oscar Wilde
Posts: 1731 | From: Isle of Albion | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
|
Posted
If they're on the phone, fall on them them with glad cries of joy and proceed to order a pizza from them. Whether they like it or not. With lots of questions ("where do you source your pepperoni? Are you sure that it is free range?") and dithering over your choices ("on second thought, I believe I'll have the mango on top.")
See how long it takes for them to decide you're a maniac and hang up.
--------------------
Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Pine Marten
Shipmate
# 11068
|
Posted
![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif) ![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif)
--------------------
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. - Oscar Wilde
Posts: 1731 | From: Isle of Albion | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
sharkshooter
Not your average shark
# 1589
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bibaculus:
I recall reading a few months ago of a man who got a premium rate number (where the person calling pays the person being called) and gave that when asked for his number on online forms and the like. ...
I generally just inadvertently transpose a couple digits.
--------------------
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. [Psalm 19:14]
Posts: 7772 | From: Canada; Washington DC; Phoenix; it's complicated | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
|
Posted
On occasion I have:
Shrieked, "This is a house of mourning!" and slammed the phone down.
Left it on the counter, so the robocall will spin out for as long as possible.
Demanded, in the flattest and most bored possible tone, "Do you want to have sex?"
Exclaimed (when the first question mentioned that the Democrats were shilling a national health system, a Very Real Danger!!!): "My god! That's brilliant. Mildred, did you hear? Obama is sponsoring a national health system! Let's tell everybody! Thank you sir, thank you. I will be sure and vote for Mr. Obama, and I'll get all my circle of acquaintance to do the same." And then I hung up.
Got the Microsoft software patcher from Malaysia to promise me that the program he was going to get me to install would turn the disc holder in my hard drive horizontal, so that I could use it as a cup holder.
--------------------
Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
| IP: Logged
|
|
Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pine Marten:
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
J
I finally got to do what I've been rehearsing this morning, and spoke to them in Welsh. I answered the phone as usual, but when I realised it was a scam call, asked them politely to speak to me in Welsh as I didn't want to speak English.
Two repeats and they put the phone down.
Has anyone else got a strategy for dealing with this type of call?
That is what I do.
This makes me wish that I knew Klingon.
Mae'r Gymraeg yn hawddach/Welsh is easier.
--------------------
Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
lilBuddha
Shipmate
# 14333
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Mae'r Gymraeg yn hawddach/Welsh is easier.
Well, it is prettier anyway.
--------------------
I put on my rockin' shoes in the morning
Hallellou, hallellou
Posts: 17627 | From: the round earth's imagined corners | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
|
Posted
quote:
Karl: Liberal Backslider: Mae'r Gymraeg yn hawddach/Welsh is easier.
Hab sosli' Quch!
(Your mother has a smooth forehead.)
--------------------
I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
|
Posted
These phrases could be useful.
--------------------
"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
I used to have an answering machine, but gave up on that after a while as I used to find it full of messages from a cheery robot saying "Hi! You just won a cruise to Florida!" and going on at such length that the tape became filled pretty quickly.
It's funny. I can't recall getting commercial messages on my machine. When an election approaches, I get lots of political messages, which I delete immediately. As I said up-thread, my machine doesn't cut in until the phone has rung six times, and many/most callers give up before that.
Moo
--------------------
Kerygmania host
---------------------
See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
|
Posted
If I'm near my phone when a junk call (especially political) shows up on caller i.d., I immediately turn off my answering machine before it picks up. If the robot gets a human or a machine, it knows it's an active number and will keep calling back. If no one answers it might assume that it is not a working number. (Just to be safe, I still block the number.)
--------------------
"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Celtic Knotweed
Shipmate
# 13008
|
Posted
When we moved 6 months ago, the phone number didn't move with us. I don't think we got a call on the new number for 3 months, and then it was someone we know who we prefer not to give our mobile nos to!
Since then, I think there may have been 10-15 spam calls, but most of them are during working hours, so they just hit the voicemail. I'm quite happy to pay for caller id, since that way I can ignore almost everything that comes in.
--------------------
My little sister is riding 100k round London at night to raise money for cancer research donations here if you feel so inclined.
Posts: 664 | From: between keyboard and chair | Registered: Sep 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
St. Gwladys
Shipmate
# 14504
|
Posted
I like "my hovercraft is full of eels " but "Dwy'n Rossi soared cymraeg" - I wish to speak Welsh - is easier to remember. Added to which, the Welsh Assembly Government has brought in a law that means you must have someone who speaks Welsh available if you're ringing for a business call. I might try that next time...
--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)
Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
St. Gwladys
Shipmate
# 14504
|
Posted
I like "my hovercraft is full of eels " but "Dwy'n eisiau siarad Cymraeg" - I wish to speak Welsh - is easier to remember. Added to which, the Welsh Assembly Government has brought in a law that means you must have someone who speaks Welsh available if you're ringing for a business call. I might try that next time...
--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)
Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
St. Gwladys
Shipmate
# 14504
|
Posted
** damn predictive text**
--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)
Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Doone
Shipmate
# 18470
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
** damn predictive text**
![[Two face]](graemlins/scot_twoface.gif)
Posts: 2208 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2015
| IP: Logged
|
|
Graven Image
Shipmate
# 8755
|
Posted
Inspired by this thread, when I got a call this morning from Bryan, with an Indian accent who wanted to service my computer, I asked him if he was aware of the Church of Scientology? Having some time on my hands I then tried to convert him. He screamed, "NO" loudly before hanging up.
Posts: 2641 | From: Third planet from the sun. USA | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
mark_in_manchester
not waving, but...
# 15978
|
Posted
I find a cheery 'I'm afraid I don't take commercial telephone calls - goodbye!' leaves me feeling quite good in the circumstances. Having used it for a while it's become automatic to the point I don't really resent my train of thought (yeah, right) being interrupted.
--------------------
"We are punished by our sins, not for them" - Elbert Hubbard
(so good, I wanted to see it after my posts and not only after those of shipmate JBohn from whom I stole it)
Posts: 1596 | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged
|
|
Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
|
Posted
Once I was in Livermore, CA, and a pair of extremely clean-cut young men in white shirts and black pants addressed me, saying "Excuse me, ma'am, but could we talk to you about the Church of Jesus Christ--"
Because I have seen the musical The Book of Mormon I was instantly able to chime in, " -- of Latter-Day Saints!" They gave up on me immediately.
--------------------
Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
| IP: Logged
|
|
Nicolemr
Shipmate
# 28
|
Posted
Oh well, if we're talking about encounters on the street...
At one period in my life I took the train to work, and the station was frequented by Jehovah's Witnesses passing out literature. One day as I was running to make a train, someone shoved, rather rudely, I felt, some paper into my hand. "That's odd" I thought, "The Witnesses are usually politer than that."
Once safely on the train, I looked down at what I was still clutching. Sure enough, it was not from the Witnesses. It was from... REPUBLICANS!
--------------------
On pilgrimage in the endless realms of Cyberia, currently traveling by ship. Now with live journal!
Posts: 11803 | From: New York City "The City Carries On" | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Jemima the 9th
Shipmate
# 15106
|
Posted
I have a resident 3 year old who really likes talking on the phone, so I give the scammers to him.
Posts: 801 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
I like "my hovercraft is full of eels " but "Dwy'n eisiau siarad Cymraeg" - I wish to speak Welsh - is easier to remember. Added to which, the Welsh Assembly Government has brought in a law that means you must have someone who speaks Welsh available if you're ringing for a business call. I might try that next time...
Dw i eisiau without the 'n, surely?
--------------------
Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:
quote:
Karl: Liberal Backslider: Mae'r Gymraeg yn hawddach/Welsh is easier.
Hab sosli' Quch!
(Your mother has a smooth forehead.)
For reasons best left unexplored (all right, writing pen and paper RPG settings) I've been looking at reconstructed Proto Indo-European. Now there's a language that was short of a vowel or three. Move over Klingon, meet a language that has three (at least) gutteral consonants that can function in place of vowels (massive oversimplification warning). Would even the Klingons have a love goddess called Prihekh?
--------------------
Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
North East Quine
Curious beastie
# 13049
|
Posted
Inspired by this thread, I have tried answering in Gaelic. Everyone so far has simply repeated themselves in English, but more slowly and louder.
Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged
|
|
St. Gwladys
Shipmate
# 14504
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
I like "my hovercraft is full of eels " but "Dwy'n eisiau siarad Cymraeg" - I wish to speak Welsh - is easier to remember. Added to which, the Welsh Assembly Government has brought in a law that means you must have someone who speaks Welsh available if you're ringing for a business call. I might try that next time...
Dw i eisiau without the 'n, surely?
:
I've forgotten much of my Welsh. It still confused them though
--------------------
"I say - are you a matelot?"
"Careful what you say sir, we're on board ship here"
From "New York Girls", Steeleye Span, Commoners Crown (Voiced by Peter Sellers)
Posts: 3333 | From: Rhymney Valley, South Wales | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
|
Posted
I spent a year in Swansea / Abertawe, and learned a bit of Welsh in that time. Most of that is gone, but I can still pronounce it when I read it (including saying an 'l', a 'g' and breathing out at the same time ![[Smile]](smile.gif) ).
--------------------
I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
|
Posted
We seem to have wandered some way from the thread topic. It would be good to wander back. Otherwise, there are foreign-language forums elsewhere for those who want to get into the joys of orthography and pronunciation.
Cheers
Ariel
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
|
Posted
I saw a great suggestion today. Answer the phone, "Hello, you're on the air!" and they instantly go away.
--------------------
Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
| IP: Logged
|
|
Belle Ringer
Shipmate
# 13379
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Palimpsest:
I've gotten a new problem. Lately I am getting a lot of e-mail from random people trying to push a penny stock and telling me I can make $7000 if I buy it now. Obviously this is a classic market bubble technique as old as the stock markets.
I don't know how I got on the list, but does anyone have any ideas on how to retaliate.
Don't know. I get a lot of unsolicited email, sometimes I hit the "unsubscribe" link and follow the link to remove self, *usually* they don't come back. Occasionally I get an unsolicited from someone with no unsubscribe option, those I report as spam but I don't know how to respond in a way that (politely or not) informs them that behavior is not acceptable.
As to the difference between a commercial seller and a scammer, morally yes a huge difference, but both have forced me to get up and hobble on painful feet to get to the phone within the ridiculously short 4 rings the system allows. Seller or scammer both can cause significant discomfort plus risk of fall, for their benefit not mine, so no they are not innocent.
Many charities that phone, if you look them up, only 10% goes to the charity, 90% to the organization that calls. It's basically a scam. Same with many selling large household improvements - a friend was going to buy an $8000 attic insulation that would cut her heating and cooling bills by 1/3, pay back in 7 years, i quickly found on the web it's a common scam, the yearly savings more little or none, the cost from hire someone local 1/10th the stated price, and the scammers were using insulation for north not for south climate, in the south it would trap moisture and cause mildew; several state governments have web pages warning against this common scam. Yes they come work at your house. No it doesn't do you the promised good, not even close, probably harm instead of good.
Define scammer - whether it's falsely claiming your computer has problems or misleading you into thinking your whole contribution goes to charity instead of just 10% or selling you some ridiculously overpriced "home improvement," if they sell by phone they are most likely scammers. I say "send me info by mail." Not one ever has.
People trying to make a living by scamming are solely focused on what they can get from you for themselves.
Posts: 5830 | From: Texas | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
|
Posted
I heard another take on dealing with scam calls last night*. This was in response to "you've been in an accident that was not your fault" calls. Steve Knightley said he channels one of the old West Country† boys and argues that it really was his fault, he'd been drinking, he really hadn't been paying attention ...
*Show of Hands at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre (on a £10 standing ticket);
†Driving in the West Country lanes the insurers very rarely uphold no fault claims, it tends to be 50:50
--------------------
Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Belle Ringer
...both have forced me to get up and hobble on painful feet to get to the phone within the ridiculously short 4 rings the system allows.
I reset my machine to let the phone ring six times before it cuts in. Are you sure yours can't be adjusted?
Moo
--------------------
Kerygmania host
---------------------
See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Anselmina
Ship's barmaid
# 3032
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by leo:
I'm sorely tempted to ask, "what are you wearing?...when did you last have sex?...)
Come on, leo! These are your chat-up lines at Diocesan Conference, aren't they?! ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
--------------------
Irish dogs needing homes! http://www.dogactionwelfaregroup.ie/ Greyhounds and Lurchers are shipped over to England for rehoming too!
Posts: 10002 | From: Scotland the Brave | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Printer-friendly view
