Phone scammers

[ksaves2]

Since I've retired, I've took to the sport of outsmarting the phone scammers. My late wife was smart especially after we got caller ID installed. I took that one step further after she died and I retired and bought a call blocker phone device. Don't recognize the number? Hit the button on the call blocker device and the scammers can't use that number again as the device will block the number if they try to get through to you at that number in the future. Try to get a device with a large memory. Yeah, I know the scammers use random phone number generators at times and can hide their phone numbers and locations on caller I.D. I mean by hiding they "spoof" their return numbers in one's caller I.D. Even my limited memory call blocker unit has made my life easier. I get about three "one hit" phone rings a day at my location if not more.
Used to be that the scammers let the phone ring three times. Then they went to only two times and now I many times only hear my phone ring once. I try to get to the call blocker to assess visually the displayed number and 99% of the time, it's a junk call. Hard to get to my call blocker in time sometimes if I'm on the "pot" as it resets and the current number disappears with a "one hit" phone call. It's only displayed for a short period of time with the unit I have. Probably an idiosyncrasy to the call blocker unit I own.
Now I know sometimes I realize in mid call I've dialed a wrong number and hang up after one ring so's not to bother the party. It is occurring in my house too often now and I suspect scammers.
The bastids are hoping for some old compromised person they can bilk money out of who's sitting next to a phone waiting for "someone" to call and is emotionally vulnerable.
I answered a strange call two days ago for "fun" and could hear all the voices in the background. It's obviously a "boiler room". The caller comes online and after he miss pronounces my name I say, "Effffffff You." Using the "real" colorful and truthful vulgar language we all know and love. Hung up the phone, hit the cancel button on the call blocker and acted really smug. I saw the number before I picked up, realized it was a scammer and decided I'd feel better if I yelled out some real vulgarity that day to get the "evilness" out of my system!
I have an old CPR call blocker unit. Are there any other call blocker units out there that folks are using and care to comment on? I'd be interested in one with a large memory to store numbers to block. I have to admit I still have an old wired land line at home so that's the scenario I'm in with a call blocker. Surprisingly I don't get as much on my cell phone yet. It's more stupid texts. Kurt

 

[cwbullet]

I too am tired of their shenanigans.

 

[asm109]

Taking up day drinking would be more productive.

 

[Cape Byron]

I'm old school. I let them dribble on for a couple of minutes and then say,

"Oh yes. So... what are you wearing?"

They usually hang up about then.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

The call block memory on my phone is filled, so most of the time I don't much pay attention - I figure if its anyone who really wants to talk to me they can leave a message. If I don't recognize the number I'll let it ring out, if it's marked Spam by the Caller ID I'll pick it up and put it down to stop the ringing. We get several a day. I know a fellow who got bilked out of some $40K, the entirety of a small legacy his father left him.

So yeah, they tick me off. Especially the ones from "Microsoft Technical Support" about your infected computer, or some such nonsensical scam preying on the most vulnerable. Still, if I ever get caught by such an approach again, I hope to have the patience and presence of mind to say, "You know, Jesus can save you from a life of lying and stealing from the most vulnerable among us. How can you sleep at night?"

I'll bet I wouldn't have time to say it all... they'd be gone. Unless... perhaps unless I struck a nerve.

 

[Zeus-cat]

I decided that the next scam call I get I will talk back to them in an exaggerated accent (preferably theirs) and be really obnoxious about it.

I'd blow a whistle as loud as I could, but that would scare my cats.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

With telemarketers, it's "Oh, you want to sell me something! Great, what is it? I thought you were another bill collector!"

 

[ksaves2]

With telemarketers, it's "Oh, you want to sell me something! Great, what is it? I thought you were another bill collector!"

That's a good line but I don't like to talk to them. Period. The Microsoft technical support would be a blast as I only use Linux on my computers. I don't need no stink'in Microsoft support. My mentally handicapped son uses an MS machine only because his ancient non-violent games are on there. Kurt

 

[ksaves2]

The call block memory on my phone is filled, so most of the time I don't much pay attention - I figure if its anyone who really wants to talk to me they can leave a message. If I don't recognize the number I'll let it ring out, if it's marked Spam by the Caller ID I'll pick it up and put it down to stop the ringing. We get several a day. I know a fellow who got bilked out of some $40K, the entirety of a small legacy his father left him.

So yeah, they tick me off. Especially the ones from "Microsoft Technical Support" about your infected computer, or some such nonsensical scam preying on the most vulnerable. Still, if I ever get caught by such an approach again, I hope to have the patience and presence of mind to say, "You know, Jesus can save you from a life of lying and stealing from the most vulnerable among us. How can you sleep at night?"

I'll bet I wouldn't have time to say it all... they'd be gone. Unless... perhaps unless I struck a nerve.

But....................They're probably all Hindus on the end of the line and don't give a sheet about Christian virtues! Period. Kurt

 

[Hobie1dog]

I start off by asking them to do me a favor and that is to go home tonight and look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, is this really what I'm put here in this life for is to aggravate people? then I asked him to reconsider getting a job at a grocery store, driving a truck, doing something that actually provides a positive service to their fellow Earthlings.

 

[ksaves2]

I start off by asking them to do me a favor and that is to go home tonight and look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, is this really what I'm put here in this life for is to aggravate people? then I asked him to reconsider getting a job at a grocery store, driving a truck, doing something that actually provides a positive service to their fellow Earthlings.

They're such low pieces of chit I don't want to engage in conversation with the boiler room scum. I just let my phone screener deal with it. If they don't want to leave a message on my digital answering service, may God condemn them to the place where the devil lives.... I have so much hatred for these scammers and hope they burn in the place where the devil lives.
(Don't want to swear online though I could if given free reign.) I hate scammers! My phone rings a lot now that I'm home and retired to notice. At least 3 or 4 times a day. I look at the caller i.d. when I make it in time to look and usually block the number with one push of a button. The scammers are going to "one ring" now that will only get them the most vulnerable persons sitting next to their telephones. I never answer a call unless I recognize it but sometimes I have fun swearing at the party at the end of the line of a nuisance call. Gets all the "piss" out of me for the day while I block the number. Kurt

 

[gidgettw]

I usually answer with "Federal Communications, fraud division, officer Williamson. How can I help you". Pretty much always get a click/buzz after that unless it was a legit call and I just didn't recognize the number. Gets a little awkward then.

 

[Wayco]

My iPhone automatically screens all my calls. If the number isn't in my contacts list, it doesn't ring through. I get five to ten calls a day that show up in my "recent calls" list, which I promptly delete. Easy peasy.
Sometimes, someone leaves a message. I would be a millionaire if I could find a legal way to sell all the RV parks I supposedly own in Tucson....
Not sure what kind of scam that deal is, but it's been going on for years now.

 

[Cape Byron]

"Detective Wilson, Homicide. This call is being recorded. How may I help you?"

 

[Hobie1dog]

 

[dr wogz]

Well, with the advent of 'free long distance", this was inevitable..

What I really don't understand is the allowance of 'number spoofing'.. (and e-mail name stealing) how is this allowed?!

 

[cwbullet]

Well, with the advent of 'free long distance", this was inevitable..

What I really don't understand is the allowance of 'number spoofing'.. (and e-mail name stealing) how is this allowed?!

This really burns my chaps. Number spoofing should be illegal, and anyone reported for doing it should be banned from owning a phone and blocked from US access. They have to know who is doing this.

On the email topic, I am sop tired of getting targeted spam. I have never been to Camp Lejune, and I do not need to sue the government.

 

[Hobie1dog]

. I have never been to Camp Lejune, and I do not need to sue the government.

you can thank the insatiable greedy lawyers for all of that.

 

[cwbullet]

you can thank the insatiable greedy lawyers for all of that.

I know there are good lawyers, but some of these guys make we wish they would suck a muffler.

 

[Bill S]

I have found that messing with the phone scammers can backfire. I had one of those "Microsoft technical support" twits call, and I decided to mess with them. I acted kinda dumb, and they walked me through how to go to this website and install their software to "help me". I played along, wasted maybe 5 minutes of her time, then when it got to where I was supposed to install their software, told her that her father had had sex with goats and that her mother should have done a particular sex act. She hung up right away.

The kicker is, she had the last laugh, as I got about 40 calls for the next day or so. I had to actually disconnect the phone for a couple of days, it got so bad.

My phone has the block a particular number, and it is useful... buuuut, some of the scammers use the exact same name but a different number each time. In particular, "Network Service" is a big one. My phone has a "Star list" where you can enter a name and it'll allow that call to come through, but for some reason one can't enter a name to block every time.

 

[dr wogz]

I know there are good lawyers, but some of these guys make we wish they would suck a muffler.

what is the difference between a lawyer & a catfish?

One is a scum sucking garbage eating bottom feeder pond dweller. The other is a fish..

 

[mh9162013]

you can thank the insatiable greedy lawyers for all of that.

Those "greedy" lawyers wouldn't exist if private companies (and the U.S government) did the right thing from the very start.

 

[Back_at_it]

I have a handful of response when I get these calls.

- Pacos Taco's can I take your order? Then I just start talking over them in Spanish trying to take their order.
- Happy Hooker whore house. This is Hanna you happy hooker, I'm here for all of your fetish needs. how can I help you? Then start offering the specials of the day in very explicit and
sometime graphic detail.
- Federal Fraud division, officer Johnson. You call and number are being recorded.

Of course I'm the same idiot that has my WiFi labeled and surveillance unit #5. Works well as my neighbors is ATF Van #3

Now I did have the same person call me about my car warranty three times in the same day and I just lost it on her and started screaming profanity into the phone. Yeah I can be mature

 

[mh9162013]

I envy all of you guys getting humans for your spam calls.

99% of mine are just recordings...

 

[Bat-mite]

Several years ago I signed up for NoMoRobo for free on my home phone. No more scams, telemarketers, political groups, charities. Gone.

 

[Marc_G]

Several years ago I signed up for NoMoRobo for free on my home phone. No more scams, telemarketers, political groups, charities. Gone.

Loved that when I had access to it. Switched Internet/ phone providers and the new company didn't offer it. Sigh

 

[ksaves2]

Several years ago I signed up for NoMoRobo for free on my home phone. No more scams, telemarketers, political groups, charities. Gone.

Wow. I wonder how it delineates scam/robo calls from folks/businesses one doesn't mind hearing from?
NoMoRobo is a monthly service one pays for. Kurt

 

[Bat-mite]

Wow. I wonder how it delineates scam/robo calls from folks/businesses one doesn't mind hearing from?
NoMoRobo is a monthly service one pays for. Kurt

You don't pay anything if it's a land line.

It detects when calls go out to multiple recipients at the same time. It allows a push-button bypass if there is a human being on the other end. But robocalls die on the vine. Your phone rings once and the call goes on your caller ID, but once they answer it and require the push-button, the call is not allowed through unless someone hits the button.

 

[ksaves2]

You don't pay anything if it's a land line.

It detects when calls go out to multiple recipients at the same time. It allows a push-button bypass if there is a human being on the other end. But robocalls die on the vine. Your phone rings once and the call goes on your caller ID, but once they answer it and require the push-button, the call is not allowed through unless someone hits the button.

Ahhhh, Thanks for pointing that out. My CPR device uses reverse logic here. I have to make it to the phone and push the "Block Now" button if I don't want the call and block it. I've noticed 3 to 5 one or two ring incoming calls now. Can't make it to the phone to answer or block.
I think they assume if one answers quickly they'll get some lonely, elderly person waiting for a call. Maybe easier to scam. Kurt

 

[Bat-mite]

Ahhhh, Thanks for pointing that out. My CPR device uses reverse logic here. I have to make it to the phone and push the "Block Now" button if I don't want the call and block it. I've noticed 3 to 5 one or two ring incoming calls now. Can't make it to the phone to answer or block.
I think they assume if one answers quickly they'll get some lonely, elderly person waiting for a call. Maybe easier to scam. Kurt

Rereading, I don't think I explained it very clearly. It may have read like I was saying the recipient of the call needs to hit a button to let the call through. But actually, it is the sender of the call. So if it is a robot, it cannot press the button to make the call go through. Just like the "I am not a robot" web site tests.