Fun with Scam Calls

Murrmurr

Murrmurr

SF VIP
Location
Sacramento, California
I answer my phone even when the display says "Potential Spam" because occasionally it will say that when someone from CPS is calling. Of course, it usually IS a scammer, but I have a little fun with them.

I answer all Potential Spam calls using my "virtual" voice, like a male Siri or whatever. I'll say Hello, then when they start talking I say Hello again exactly the same way. Then when they start talking again I say "How may I help you today?" in the same Siri-like voice, and they always pause. I know dang well they're wondering if I'm a recording. Usually they hang up, but sometimes they haltingly give it another go, and I repeat "How may I help you today?" exactly like I said it before, right over the top of them.

Sometimes I answer with "For English, press 1" and continue with an endless menu till they hang up.

A lot of them just stop calling after a couple of times, which is awesome, but I do like getting a rash of new scammers to mess with.
 

Murrmurr said:
Anyone else ever try this?

It's a hoot.
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Yes, I sometimes "play games" with these phone scammers. However, it is Very Important to never use the word "Yes" in response to them, as these calls are usually recorded, and if you say Yes, clearly, that can be used as a tool to scam your accounts on bogus purchases, etc.

Like you, I can "mimic" their accents, and it usually doesn't take long before they realize that I'm aware of their games, and the line goes dead.
 
carouselsilver said:
Yesterday I answered the phone to a telemarketer and proceeded to noisily eat macadamia nuts, without saying a word. Sometimes I just keep clearing my throat but not speaking.

Unfortunately I found that messing with them causes the amount of calls to escalate. But sometimes I just can't help it!
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However long you keep them busy with your tomfoolery is the time they aren't using to scam someone else. So, good job.
 
Don M. said:
Yes, I sometimes "play games" with these phone scammers. However, it is Very Important to never use the word "Yes" in response to them, as these calls are usually recorded, and if you say Yes, clearly, that can be used as a tool to scam your accounts on bogus purchases, etc.

Like you, I can "mimic" their accents, and it usually doesn't take long before they realize that I'm aware of their games, and the line goes dead.
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A guy from India used to work for me and he taught me a bunch of Hindi slang and cuss words. I used to rattle off all the ones I could remember and the scammers rattled off a bunch right back at me. It was hilarious when we'd both start laughing, but more often they'd start in with some "you're mama" crap, and what they're gonna do with my mother, or what I should go do to my mother... Those guys are vile scumbags, all of them.
 
I was getting some weird phone calls for awhile. So now whenever someone calls and asks for me by name, I just tell them 'well, if you give me you name and number I'll have someone call you back'...they usually hang up after that.

All of the other response on here have been so funny and clever. 😊
 
dobielvr said:
I was getting some weird phone calls for awhile. So now whenever someone calls and asks for me by name, I just tell them 'well, if you give me you name and number I'll have someone call you back'...they usually hang up after that.

All of the other response on here have been so funny and clever. 😊
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A caution - if you ask for a call-back number, they'll often put your number on their call-back list, and also sell it to other scammers.
 
Yes, when I'm in the mood.
When a stranger asks, "How are you doing today," I know it's a sales call.
I answer, "Well, I have________ - I keep a list of diseases next to the phone & read off 4 or 5 of them - the embarrassing ones people don't talk about. Then, I ask, "Can you help me with any of those?"
Complete silence on the other end for several seconds, then they hang up.
 
Tish said:
LOL Brilliant, When my children were little if I got a spam phonecall I would tell the kids it was Santa Claus on the phone and would hand them the receiver so they could happily tell Santa about everything they wanted.
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When little kids are handy, they are great with these spam calls! ... they love to talk on the phone, and could care less who they are talking to
.... and whoever is on the other end can just hang up when they've had enough. 😃


I have done that a time or two when babysitting grandkids in the past.
 
I like when they begin with hello grandpop. I know immdiately it's a scam My grndkids always dial my wifes phone.

So I say in a cheerful voice hi Michael. Important to know, none of the grans are named michael. I let him get started with his routine & then ask if there is anything I can do to help. Of course there is, I can wire the bail bondsman money.

How much? $5,000.00 will get him out on bail. OK give me the address of the bondsman so I can send a certified check. But now since I'm going to help why not ask for money to get another car. What price range is the car you need? Something that will last so around $15,000.00

Were on the phone now for about 15 minutes going over great memories of trips together. Then I say OK sounds doable but wait a minute to let me check with your grandmother to see if she has any suggestions.

Thats when I put the phone down & check back in about 15 minutes. What a surprise Michael has hung up! GEEZE no patience.
 
Tish said:
LOL Brilliant, When my children were little if I got a spam phonecall I would tell the kids it was Santa Claus on the phone and would hand them the receiver so they could happily tell Santa about everything they wanted.
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Bonnie said:
When little kids are handy, they are great with these spam calls! ... they love to talk on the phone, and could care less who they are talking to
.... and whoever is on the other end can just hang up when they've had enough. 😃


I have done that a time or two when babysitting grandkids in the past.
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Yeah, I used to hand the phone to Paxton from when he was 2 till he was 2 1/2. He loved it. The scammers, not so much.
 
win231 said:
Yes, when I'm in the mood.
When a stranger asks, "How are you doing today," I know it's a sales call.
I answer, "Well, I have________ - I keep a list of diseases next to the phone & read off 4 or 5 of them - the embarrassing ones people don't talk about. Then, I ask, "Can you help me with any of those?"
Complete silence on the other end for several seconds, then they hang up.
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This one is a fave with hubs. He always asks about elimination issues and asks for advice. :unsure:
 

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