Strange conversation with a Bank

[E. maculata]

Got one tonight, Bloke from dowtown Bangaldesh, asked if
"this was the Smith household?"
I quickly replied, sorry mate no-one by that name here, you must have dailed the wrong number & hung up.


Bruce C.

The names have been changed to protect the identities of the innocent.......me

[Bob Willson]

I have been the subject of a crank caller for some time now. I work nights and every two or three months I will get a series of phone call at about 10.30 or so in the morning and this lasts for several weeks before stopping for a while. Just enough to wake me up and then they ring off.
This has been happening for about seven or eight years now.
At one time I bought a caller ID thingy but it only showed the number calling me as being private.
Occassionally I am up at that time anyway and manage to pick up th ephone on the second or third ring. I don't sat anything, I just listen. After a couple of seconds the line goes dead.
Apart from getting in touch with the phone company, does anyone have a good way of dealing with this? How can I find out who is harassing me? If I rout the call through my computer (using a modem as an answering machine) will it give me the number ringing?
I would love to able to phone this moron straight back and let them know that I am on to him/her.

[Cliff Rogers]

If caller ID doesn't show the number, nothing will.
1.You could have Telstra intercept all calls.
2.You could take the phone off the hook whil you are asleep.
3.You could put a fax machine on the line & let it answer the phone while you are asleep.... it will pick up after 2 rings & squeal in their ear.

[Groggy]

In the states you could hit *69 and it re-dialled the last person who called. It was quite funny when they answered with their name - once you had their name and phone number - you owned them.

My neighbour got a few irate calls in the middle of the night and dialed the *69 the next day. His (other) neighbour's wife answered, using her name. Big Bill confronted little Joe in the driveway that evening - it weren't pretty. Joe was apparently ticked off about Bill's noisy ute, but didn't want to confront him over it.

[Bob Willson]

This bit should be completely ignored, although I know that despite this warning, you will read it through to the very end.

Barrie

No I didn't. Doh!

[Cliff Rogers]

....*69 and it re-dialled the last person who called. .... ...

Like *10# here?
But it doesn't work with blocked numbers.

[Bob Willson]

If caller ID doesn't show the number, nothing will.
1.You could have Telstra intercept all calls.
2.You could take the phone off the hook whil you are asleep.
3.You could put a fax machine on the line & let it answer the phone while you are asleep.... it will pick up after 2 rings & squeal in their ear.

I would rather do it without involving telstra et al. I know that when somebody dials into a modem then their number is registered in a log (leastways, that happens when using FreeBSD) so I wondered if the same was true if they dialled into an answering machine on my computer?

[Ashore]

I have been the subject of a crank caller for some time now. I work nights and every two or three months I will get a series of phone call at about 10.30 or so in the morning and this lasts for several weeks before stopping for a while. Just enough to wake me up and then they ring off.
This has been happening for about seven or eight years now.
At one time I bought a caller ID thingy but it only showed the number calling me as being private.
Occassionally I am up at that time anyway and manage to pick up th ephone on the second or third ring. I don't sat anything, I just listen. After a couple of seconds the line goes dead.
Apart from getting in touch with the phone company, does anyone have a good way of dealing with this? How can I find out who is harassing me? If I rout the call through my computer (using a modem as an answering machine) will it give me the number ringing?
I would love to able to phone this moron straight back and let them know that I am on to him/her.

If you get to the phone say nothing but tap the reciever with a pencil 3 times loudly, do this every time, they don't know what the noise is and worry its being traced.


Rgds

[Cliff Rogers]

...when somebody dials into a modem then their number is registered in a log (leastways, that happens when using FreeBSD) so I wondered if the same was true if they dialled into an answering machine on my computer?

Only 2 ways that can happen....
1. caller ID from the telephone network & the crank caller can block that by using a private number, a payphone or dialing an ID blocking prefix.
2. the computer device from the calling end provides it to the computer device answering at your end & I doubt a crank caller would be using a computer to call you.

[Bob Willson]

Only 2 ways that can happen....
1. caller ID from the telephone network & the crank caller can block that by using a private number, a payphone or dialing an ID blocking prefix.
2. the computer device from the calling end provides it to the computer device answering at your end & I doubt a crank caller would be using a computer to call you.

Oh, OK, that explains why the modem supplies the calling number when they connect via a modem.

[silentC]

So why didn't he ask if you were Darren instead of asking if Leanne was there? Easier to hassle a lady than a gent?

That's what I thought. Another reason I took a dislike to him.

[Bob38S]

Many thanks for the extra excellent ideas. Luv your work!
I will add them to
"You want me to what" [in a rising crescendo] followed by hysterical laughter and a hang up.
"Hang on while I grab a pen" then go and have that coffee or polish that bit of wood.
"You have reached a secure line and you are required by law to declare your name and number"
"As this call has been logged and you have been identified - please confirm your supervisor's details, age, sex, status"
"As you have breached my privacy it is a necessary requirement for you to connect me to your supervisor's supervisor"

If it has been one of those daze and I don't really want to play then -

"Listen, if you are selling, sueing, soliciting or interested in sex and travel - then F off"
Regards,
Bob

[Eddie Jones]

I have been the subject of a crank caller for some time now. I work nights and every two or three months I will get a series of phone call at about 10.30 or so in the morning and this lasts for several weeks before stopping for a while. Just enough to wake me up and then they ring off.
This has been happening for about seven or eight years now.
At one time I bought a caller ID thingy but it only showed the number calling me as being private.
Occassionally I am up at that time anyway and manage to pick up th ephone on the second or third ring. I don't sat anything, I just listen. After a couple of seconds the line goes dead.
Apart from getting in touch with the phone company, does anyone have a good way of dealing with this? How can I find out who is harassing me? If I rout the call through my computer (using a modem as an answering machine) will it give me the number ringing?
I would love to able to phone this moron straight back and let them know that I am on to him/her.

Organise for a new, silent number. Usually you have to pay for this, but - not sure here - if you have a reason like harassing or obscene calls, it may be free.

Otherwise, have a whistle handy next to the phone.

[Barrie Restall]

Hi Bob,

I had a similar problem, many calls with no-one there when answered. I got Telstra to put a trace on them and they said it was an automatic dialing from some company and that it would switch the call to any available operator if it was answered. If there was no available operator it just hung. Telstra can get you off the company's list (I have had no more trouble). They also told me to leave the phone off the hook for 5 minutes as the company pays for the time, just a little revenge.

Might be worth a try if all else fails.

Regards,

Barrie

[Terry B]

I have had a silent number for years and almost never get telemarketing calls. ~1/year. The problem is that if I phoned any of you guys that don't pick up the phone if it says "private" then I wouldn't have the joy of talking about woody things.
I have to answer the private calls as I am on call for my work(a BIG govt organisation) and their phone always comes up as private.