Scubaguy.. some GREAT ideas! Loved reading your solutions! Have a GREAT day all!
{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} ~ Lauri
Blasted Telemarketers!
(45 posts) (14 voices)-
maizeydaze
MemberScubaguy - I concur with copmom. Some ingenious stuff there! You must really know how to have fun.:)
Posted 16 years ago # -
scubaguy (R.I.P.)
MemberHere is a link to the site,to register or make sure you are on the list.
This was copied from the site page.
"Your registration will not expire. The Federal Trade Commission will not drop any telephone numbers from the National Do Not Call Registry based on a five-year expiration period pending final Congressional or agency action on whether to make registration permanent. Read more about it at."
Posted 16 years ago # -
scubaguy (R.I.P.)
Member@funkymom
In this case it's more fun to Not get mad just get even!!!Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberYears before the Do Not Call Registry, I had to answer my business phones rather than let the trusty machine screen calls. Loved toying with cold callers to see how frustrated they'd get. One of my best gag routines - start by saying "hello" to see if it's an autodialer. (classic pregnant pause before the call distributor shunts it to a real live jerk)
This was during the heyday of penny stock touts, so I'd keep all my answers brief:
yeah, un huh, maybe, okay, wow, sure
Always use a soft nondescript voice. I could waste upwards of 15 minutes of their time, slowly warming up to ordering shares of a worthless canadian shell company. When they were hot to close the deal, I'd yell "Okay mommy" and in a child-like voice, tell the caller, "Mommy says I have to hang up the phone now". You wouldn't believe the angry, threatening responses that generated!Other routines I found successful-
Fake salesman
Caller: Is this <so and so>
Me: Yes! Where did you hear about my products and how many would you like?
Caller: I was calling to off you a special on <whatever>
Me: (launch into runon sentence spiel, never give the caller a chance to talk, or talk right over him until he gives up) Well that is a coincidence because I was about to call and offer you a special on MY <whatever> because my special is better than your special or anyone's special since we make the best darned <whatever> in the US and ...Fake receptionist
Caller: Is this <so and so>? (these instant "pals" always ask for me by a nickname I NEVER use)
Me: Please Hold <press 2 or 3 keys to make it sound like you're transferring> and put it on mute.
The stupid ones call back and say "Please put me right through to <so and so>, we were disconnected."
Me: Oh, I'm so sorry. Please Hold <press 2 or 3 keys to make it sound like you're transferring> and put it on mute again.Angry Hubby -
Caller: Hi, is this <so and so>?
Me: Look, you pervert, my wife's already alerted the cops and phone company; but if I track you down first, I'll cut your **** off and feed them to my rotweiller. <SLAM>One I always wanted to try:
Caller (clearly from India): Hello, sir,
Me: Is this call originating from Canada, Mexico or India?
Caller: India
Me: Please press 1 for hindi, 2 for urdu, 3 for marathi, 4 for punjabi, 5 for tamili, 6 for telegu, 7 for malyalam, 8 for kanadda, 9 for gujarati, 10 for rajasthani, 11 for manipuri, 12 for oriyya, 13 for assami, 14 for dogri, 15 for bengali and then remain on the line. Approx wait time is 17 minutes.The DNCR definitely slashes incoming calls, especially in conjunction with exercising your right to opt out of 3rd party harassment (I never waste a stamp, I call my lenders and utilities direct on their 800#, drilling down to the compliance section), using temp email addies, never filling out promotional coupons, and never providing real contact info to register for anything unless absolutely necessary.
Donations? I caution recipients that if I am EVER called for more $$, I will remove them from my list. Unsolicited requests - I gently advise that I ONLY donate to <fill in a topic 180-degrees opposite their need> and gently hang up... unless it's the donate to your local sheriff scam, in which case I laugh and tell them to stick a radar camera where the sun doesn't shine.
A lawyer's way of getting even -
http://www.panix.com/~eck/telemarket.htmlMaizey, Tom Mabe definitely created a new art form. By far, my favorite has always been his murder scene prank - http://www.tommabe.com/videos/video_murder_scene.htm
FWWI, I never leave my fax ON, and by using fax software, spammers never waste $$$ ink. Can't vouch for this site, but look into it if you suffer from incessant free vacation scam faxes or local unsolicited restaurant faxes - http://www.junkfax.org/fax/action/stop.html
Posted 16 years ago # -
maizeydaze
MemberRM - Hilarious! You know how to give them a kick in the pants! There's some good information in the lawyer link. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks.
Posted 16 years ago # -
davee
MemberThose being pestered by telemarketers might look into Google's new GrandCentral service (www.grandcentral.com). Among its many features, it allows you to screen and block callers (even via "phone spam" filters generated from calls reported by users as being from telemarketers, if you so choose). Obviously, this won't help stop telemarketers who already have your real phone number (though I suppose you could forward your real phone number to your GrandCentral number). But you can give your GrandCentral number out when a website or form requires a phone number.
Posted 16 years ago # -
davee
MemberJust a follow up to my previous post. Those of you looking merely for a temporary phone number to give out (like throwaway email addresses) might look into numbr.com. Also, I don't know if either GrandCentral or numbr.com offer services to those living outside of the USA.
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberDavee, just FYI... temp phone numbers for privacy is a great idea, but the last time I checked (at least a few months ago), numbr.com was temporarily out of service, some sort of internal reorg. As of tonight, the site is still not accepting new users. As for Google, call me paranoid, but since they merged with Doubleclick, I've treated every expansion of their ability to access personal info as highly suspect.
Posted 16 years ago # -
davee
MemberRunesageMagi:
Thanks for the update on numbr.com. I had only used it once, a number of months ago, and hadn't realized they are being "reorganized." As to privacy concerns with Google, I've had a GrandCentral account for a couple of months and had no problems. Since I have had a GMail account for quite a while, I wasn't really giving Google any further information by signing up for GrandCentral. By the way, Google didn't orignate GrandCentral; they bought it from its founders. If you're interested, GrandCentral received a favorable writeup on Lifehacker.com (http://lifehacker.com/software/screenshot-tour/consolidate-your-phones-with-grandcentral-317475.php). I'm not trying to sell anyone on Grandcentral (and, in truth, haven't really used my account all that much yet); I just wanted to let those who might be interested know about it. And as with all such services, one should always be comfortable with their privacy policy before signing up.
Posted 16 years ago # -
haalam
Memberdavee: thanks for the info on GrandCentral. I reserved, but apparently it is not up and running yet, at least not in my area code. (And it is only for the US so far.)
Lately I have been getting calls supposedly from my "credit card company" offering some sort of deal (it is not any of my banks - they all know NOT to call). It is a recording that tells you to press 1 for more info or 2 to be taken off the call list. Of course, I opted for #2 since I don't want to be bothered. They called again a few days later from a different phone number with the same exchange and area code. Since their number was on the Caller ID, I reported the 2nd call at the US Do Not Call Registry site. Yesterday I had another one of these calls. With only "out of area" on the caller ID this time. It was #3 to be taken off this time, so I pressed 1 for more info. When the person came on the line, I asked "what is the name of your company?" and she started babbling about the offer and said they consolidated debt but would not give up the company name. I asked her two more times and then she said "Thank you" and hung up on me! This company is obviously trying to bypass the US DNC system. I wish I could report them, but to report you have to have a company name or a phone number that called you. Sure wish the DNC could do traces as well.
Since I registered all my numbers at the DNC Registry, I had to report a dozen or so offenders (most early on after the initial waiting period was over) but it really has cut down on the calls! Til Now! If they call again, I am going to go for #1 again -- and use some of the great lines shared here! Thanks for all the ideas!
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberA chance to shine the spotlight on the scammers. This is one of several on-line sites keeping logs of scam/crank calls. If anyone at the FTC has an active braincell and an ounce of initiative, they're doing more than just monitoring the growing list- http://800notes.com/
Posted 16 years ago #
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