Dealing with the constant flow of scam calls - an experiment

[Glider]

I must have received 100 calls from people with sub-continental accents calling from (03) 8... numbers wanting to offer cheap, or cheaper electricity. These days I just hit the green button and then the red one. Will they ever stop?!

I also receive at least three calls per week which are clearly scams. EBay, ANZ Bank, Telstra, the ATO; you name it. Some robocalls and some live. My standard answer is "your mother would be ashamed of you".

mick

[havabeer69]

I always thought answering was one of the worst things to do, as the callers "log" it as an active number because they've heard it pick up. they then on sell these details knowing there is a chance you'll pick up and hopefully take the bait.

[q9]

I always thought answering was one of the worst things to do, as the callers "log" it as an active number because they've heard it pick up. they then on sell these details knowing there is a chance you'll pick up and hopefully take the bait.

Yep, that's my hypothesis. So far, the number of calls we're getting has plummeted. I unplugged the phone for 3 days at one point, and that seemed to have the greatest impact.

[BMKal]

I always thought answering was one of the worst things to do, as the callers "log" it as an active number because they've heard it pick up. they then on sell these details knowing there is a chance you'll pick up and hopefully take the bait.

Not sure that it is just "picking up" that triggers their system and confirms that yours is a "live" number. I have found that you actually have to speak for their system to be triggered - if you simply pick up and say nothing, you don't get that "click" where the connection is activated on their end and the call simply hangs up.

Our house phone is located right next to me on my desk. If I am not at my desk, the phone is simply not answered when it rings (the wife won't answer it at all). If I am at my desk and the phone rings, I simply press the button to accept a call but listen and say nothing. If it is a scam call, their "system" will hang up after a few seconds of silence at your end. If it is a genuine caller, they will speak to you. I have found that by doing this, the number of these scam calls to my landline phone has greatly reduced.

Unfortunately though, I am getting an increasing number of unwanted calls on my mobile - mostly from what appear to be Australian eastern states numbers, trying to sell me a better deal for my electricity supply (we only have one supplier in WA so there is no choice here). These callers generally find me to be one of those "rude" Australians referred to in a post above.

Another consideration to why I answer calls on my mobile and not on the landline - my eyesight is not what it used to be and without my reading glasses on, I simply cannot see the number that is calling me. When at my desk, I have my reading glasses on and can see the numbers on the phone. When out in the shed or elsewhere, I usually don't have my reading glasses on when the mobile rings and I can't see the numbers. If the caller is listed in my "contacts" - the phone will tell me who is calling. If not, then it's anybody's guess.

[powderpost]

On an afternoon after lunch and during my nana nap, the phone rang and woke me up. An Indian voice greeted me and that pressed the wrong switch. I responded by asking the caller, "Do you like fruit?", the answer was, "Yes I do". My answer to that was, "Then go buy some raspberries and shove them right up your a@@@ (fundamental orifice), and promptly hung up. 30 seconds the phone rang again and the same caller hurriedly offered his phone number. It turned out that he had made a considerable purchase from me at the markets five years previously and wanted to place another substantial order. During subsequent phone conversations he said, "Those jolly Indians are a jolly nuisance aren't they?" He is now on my list of friends.

I will add that that was most definitely a one off, and I have returned to being "one of those rude Australians".

Jim

[Mobyturns]

Another consideration to why I answer calls on my mobile and not on the landline - my eyesight is not what it used to be and without my reading glasses on, I simply cannot see the number that is calling me. When at my desk, I have my reading glasses on and can see the numbers on the phone. When out in the shed or elsewhere, I usually don't have my reading glasses on when the mobile rings and I can't see the numbers. If the caller is listed in my "contacts" - the phone will tell me who is calling. If not, then it's anybody's guess.

CLI / CND is no guarantee that is the originating number, as the displayed number can easily be spoofed these days.

[smidsy]

I got a call from a telemarketer once, an asian call centre for an Aussie company.
I was in the middle of something, they killed my train of thought and I gave them a spray.
In the next half hour I got four calls all telling me what I had told them - fair comeuppance some would say, I say if you're going to make those calls you have to expect abuse.
I tracked down the Melbourne office of the company they were representing and got a real person on the phone - I gave her a brief outline of my work history to let her know I have the ability to fully carry out any threats I make regarding complaints, ombudsmen and negative social media campaigns.
The calls stopped.

[AlexS]

Smidsy, I did a similar thing once. Back in the day pre-Do Not Call register, we were getting a lot of unsolicited calls from real estate agents, so I tended to rip them a new one. Had a call fro an agent, so I launched into my tirade, only for her to interrupt me to say that they were checking out a reference for previous tenants of a house I'd rented out. Had to apologise profusely.

[Mobyturns]

Smidsy, I did a similar thing once. Back in the day pre-Do Not Call register, we were getting a lot of unsolicited calls from real estate agents, so I tended to rip them a new one. Had a call fro an agent, so I launched into my tirade, only for her to interrupt me to say that they were checking out a reference for previous tenants of a house I'd rented out. Had to apologise profusely.

RE agents are still touting for business even though it is clearly a breach of the regulations - at least in QLD. We are seeing a proliferation of RE adverts where the lawn has been doctored in a photo manipulation program. Misleading? Definitely imho. Plus, we still regularly get letters, flyer drops or "in-person" visits "just to let you know we sold number xx for $XXX." Treading a fine line!!!

One RE agency was a shocker here a few years ago and kept persisting even though we made it very clear that our property is most unlikely to reach the market for decades! Despite a number of phone calls, they kept at it. So, a formal complaint started another round of communications from the RE agency principal about how "you misunderstand how the RE industry works, we aren't all bad." Really! Got the FON treatment unless you want it to become even more formal.

"A real estate agent must not solicit clients or customers through advertisements or other communications the agent knows are false or misleading."

[Bob38S]

So, because you supposedly misunderstand how the RE industry works you need/should put up with his imposition on your privacy?

I congratulate you on your restraint in your reply.

He obviously has some misguided idea that the public is there for his convenience in some sort of slave/master relationship.

[Mobyturns]

So, because you supposedly misunderstand how the RE industry works you need/should put up with his imposition on your privacy?

I congratulate you on your restraint in your reply.

He obviously has some misguided idea that the public is there for his convenience in some sort of slave/master relationship.

The letters we quite specific in their claims "we have a client interested in purchasing your property."

My response by phone to the agent making the representation was "produce evidence that you do have a real client so you have by COB today to produce an offer, if no offer is forthcoming, I will raise a complaint." That is when the RE agency principal made the statement "you misunderstand how the RE industry works, we aren't all bad."

[Greybeer]

My favorite response was after talking to scammer robo callers or other unwanted callers was to say I had someone at the door and put the phone down go back to what I was doing. Works with land line and mobile
Regards GB

[powderpost]

When the mood allows, I would interrupt the caller and ask about the health of their mother, siblings, and children. Anything to slow down the time spent by the caller. The best one was, "How are your mothers ducks", worked well especially with Indian callers.

Jim

[Jasethebeginner]

I don't get many scammers thankfully, but if I have the time I like to try and keep them on the line for as long as possible. I figure the longer they are talking to me (and getting nothing) they are not calling someone who might fall for it.

Otherwise it's just hang up.

Jase

[AlexS]

SWMBO had a scam message today, supposedly from Australia Post, saying her passport would be delivered today at a particular time, and providing a link to click to track it.
Could have fallen for it, as we applied to renew our passports recently, but hers has already arrived and why would Australia past have her mobile number.

They're out there, and they'll try anything to steal your data and money. Never click a link in a message.