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OT: How far have you let a scam phone call go?

A

anon_xdc8rmuek44eq

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Was home alone today working and decided to entertain what I knew for sure was a scam phone call. I had heard of recent scams (including a hilarious one involving trying to contact Facebook support - which one of my wife's 'older' colleagues fell for - where the phone number online connects you to a call center who tell you the way to fix your Facebook issue is to go to Target, buy an iTunes card, and call back with the number on the back ;)) and was wondering which one I would get. Anyway, got a call from an Indian gentleman (I have enough Indian neighbors to know what an Indian accent sounds like) who told me my computer was downloading malicious software and that he was going to fix it. I usually never let them get this far, but curiosity got the better of me for the moment. I told him thanks for calling and I'm happy he could help. He directed me to my computer and wanted to know if it was on. It was. He then asked if I could find the 'Control' key - I did. He then asked which key was next to it. Since I have a Mac, I told him it was the Function key. Once he knew that, he tried to get me to press keys that I knew would get me to a window where if I wanted, I could wipe my computer and re-set it to factory settings (essentially wiping the Mac). At this point I asked him if he thought I was stupid, and if he enjoyed making a living trying to scam people. He said no and hung up.

Anyone have any funny similar stories? Unfortunately, this must be quite common because they continue to do it every day. My colleague's father fell for something much worse and lost thousands of dollars. I still have no idea why I have a land line...
 
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I don't find them amusing, just annoying.

I have my phone set to only ring if an incoming call is from a number that's in my contact list, otherwise they go to voicemail. Scammers don't leave messages, so I block any number that calls without leaving a message.
 
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Midnighter said:
Was home alone today working and decided to entertain what I knew for sure was a scam phone call. I had heard of recent scams (including a hilarious one involving trying to contact Facebook support - which one of my wife's 'older' colleagues fell for - where the phone number online connects you to a call center who tell you the way to fix your Facebook issue is to go to Target, buy an iTunes card, and call back with the number on the back ;)) and was wondering which one I would get. Anyway, got a call from an Indian gentleman (I have enough Indian neighbors to know what an Indian accent sounds like) who told me my computer was downloading malicious software and that he was going to fix it. I usually never let them get this far, but curiosity got the better of me for the moment. I told him thanks for calling and I'm happy he could help. He directed me to my computer and wanted to know if it was on. It was. He then asked if I could find the 'Control' key - I did. He then asked which key was next to it. Since I have a Mac, I told him it was the Function key. Once he knew that, he tried to get me to press keys that I knew would get me to a window where if I wanted, I could wipe my computer and re-set it to factory settings (essentially wiping the Mac). At this point I asked him if he thought I was stupid, and if he enjoyed making a living trying to scam people. He said no and hung up.

Anyone have any funny similar stories? Unfortunately, this must be quite common because they continue to do it every day. My colleague's father fell for something much worse and lost thousands of dollars. I still have no idea why I have a land line...
Click to expand...

Congrats, you just confirmed to them your line is active with someone who will pick up the phone.
 
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I once got a call from a lawn care service, and I told the caller I live on a houseboat. He didn't get it.

Another caller tried to sell me windows. I told him I live in my parents' basement and asked him if he would be able to install a nice bay window.

I got a call from Colorado Prime Foods which sends a delivery truck around every month or so. I said if they didn't carry kosher macrobiotic foods I wasn't interested.

Now I don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the caller ID.
 
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Midnighter said:
And? I'm the only one who ever answers the stupid thing.
Click to expand...

The calls will never stop now. My parents made the mistake of answering one of those calls years ago, and they have never stopped. The scammers even tell them they will have to pay money to get their number removed. I bought them a phone that can automatically block numbers. Every now and then I go through their caller id logs on their DirecTV receiver and add obviously suspicious numbers to the blocked call list.

You know, now that you mention it, I got a call more than twenty years ago from one of those Olan Mills type studios, and one of the questions the girl asked was if I was married. I replied in the negative and then asked her if she was asking me out. I got a call from her about an hour later. Cute girl.
 
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91Joe95 said:
The calls will never stop now. My parents made the mistake of answering one of those calls years ago, and they have never stopped. The scammers even tell them they will have to pay money to get their number removed. I bought them a phone that can automatically block numbers. Every now and then I go through their caller id logs on their DirecTV receiver and add obviously suspicious numbers to the blocked call list.

You know, now that you mention it, I got a call more than twenty years ago from one of those Olan Mills type studios, and one of the questions the girl asked was if I was married. I replied in the negative and then asked her if she was asking me out. I got a call from her about an hour later. Cute girl.
Click to expand...

They don't stop anyway. I typically 'answer' then immediately hang up. The only calls we ever get (unless we give the number to a doctor or something) is from some kind of telemarketing scam. The other day I answered and and the caller ID said something like, 'National HWY Patrol...' - which I know is this scam organization who parades around like they're collecting money for police groups. When the voice asked for someone not me, I said 'You have the wrong number.' It then said, 'Maybe the wrong number, but the right person...how would you like to donate to....' - and this was AUTOMATED! I was really shocked at how sophisticated these things have become. Previously, when I talked to a human, I told him to send literature and I would review it. They always want to get you to commit over the phone in the hopes they'll get banking information. I reported them once to the Sheriff's Office - guess it didn't do much.
 
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I get two types. I keep them on the line so that they aren't scamming some other poor fool. First are the people that tell me I have a problem with my "Microsoft" computer. I string them along for as long as I can. Finally, when they are trying to get me to turn on my "Microsoft" computer I tell them there is one problem. I own a mac or I might say a UNIX machine. There is usually silence. Sometimes they argue with me. I then read them the riot act.

The second type are from the "IRS". I have loads of fun with them. Acting like I am taking them seriously and leading them on. At some point I inform them that I work for the FBI and that we will shortly be in contact with them. This usually ends the call abruptly. If you don't know, the IRS never makes phone calls. Everything is done by mail.

I just have fun with it figuring that as long as they are on the line with me, they aren't scamming some poor soul that doesn't know better.
 
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I had a lawn care company call me once shortly after I moved into the house. They told me they took care of the lawn for the previous homeowner and that he wanted to give me a special deal to continue service. Since the front lawn was more dirt than grass I had some fun. I asked him a whole bunch of questions to get him excited and then told him that if he was proud to get the lawn to look like it did then he sucks as a lawn care guy because it was dirt. He stuttered a bit then hung up.

Another time I got a call and they asked me if I was the owner of the house. I said no and gave the phone to my two year old son who was in the phase where he never stopped talking. About 10 minutes later I grabbed the phone from him and the lady was still on the phone asking for his mom or dad. I laughed and hung up.
 
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I have caller ID. If a call comes on and I don't recognize the number, I'm not answering. What I have also done is write down the number calling me and check it on whitepages.com. About a year ago, I got one of those scam calls where they say this is the IRS and you owe them a large amount of money but if you call this number, you can speak to a representative and set up a payment plan to save your ass. I was so pissed off I copied the number down, waited 5 minutes and dialed it back. When someone answered, I identified myself as the FBI fraud division, told them the phone call had been recorded and traced and as I spoke, there was a team of armed agents on their way to their location and to do nothing but sit there and wait for their arrival. I don't think anything came of it, but if for one second I made some jackass panic, it was worth it to me.
 
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When they call asking for my wife by name she takes the phone and tells them in a quivering voice that she is her mother and her daughter died the week before. Works every time. They never call back.
 
I got one of these calls to my land line.
Like the guy above, I have no idea why I still have a land line. Havent answered it in years. I figure if its important they will leave amessage.
Got a message saying my Windows license expired and my computer was going to explode.
Called the number back, and played stupid, said I needed to renew my Windows immediately.
Guy asked for my name.
I said that even though I 'd lived in US for 20 years (thus the US accent), I was Burmese, and my name was difficult to pronounce.
I spelled it for him.
Aye Swuk Wang.
Then I asked him to say the name for me, to be sure he had it right.
Told him I couldnt hear, he needed to talk louder.

Somewhere, in an Indian call center, is a guy shouting 'I suck wang!"
 
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I love those calls. I have:

1. Told them to hold while I got rid of my excess gas (while making fart noises);
2. Told them to hold while I answered a knock at the door, and then screamed in the background that I was getting assaulted by an intruder;
3. Asked them if they had heard any Johnny Badmouth jokes, which usually prompts an immediate hang up.
4. Asked them in a sing song voice if they wanted some beef jerky.
5. Asked them if they know about the benefits of solar power, and the tax credits available. (Also prompts a rather abrupt hang up.)
 
Many people here don't pick up the phone when they know it's a scammer. Why not take the same approach here?

Please take this opportunity to use the Ignore feature.

:eek:
 
I strung a guy on for over 2 hours one time just because I had nothing to do at the moment and was just hanging out. It was the usual computer one where they say you have a virus and they can fix it for you. I started out with the whole oh my god thank you for telling me please help me type thing. Long story short I just kept stringing him along with what he was telling me to type into my computer. Since the guy had a thick accent, whenever he got done telling me what to enter and he didn't get access to the computer I would read back what he told me to enter to confirm I typed it correct and kept replacing "C" and "v" type things like I didn't understand him. He was getting so frustrated it was hilarious. At one point he said "C as in cat". And I said "sir I don't have a cat, why are you asking me about cats? I'm freaking out! My computer has a virus and your asking me about cats. Please help me fix this". This literally went on for hours. He was so frustrated that I thought he would give up but I guess he thought he'd eventually get me. I finally had enough and simply asked him how dumb he thought I was and he had no idea he was being played the entire time and I finally hung up
 
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I was surprised that twice this week I got "lower your payments" calls that came through with two separate caller IDs having the same area code and exchange as my own number (partner insists on having a land line, btw). I pressed 9 or whatever to speak to someone and the Indian guy comes on. I tell him I'm with the FCC and he will be charged with several crimes for altering the caller ID that his firm presents on the phone. For some reason he lost his voice and his phone must have broken because the call ended.
 
wex18 said:
I once got a call from a lawn care service, and I told the caller I live on a houseboat. He didn't get it.

I got a call from cemetery company. Had them on the phone for 30 minutes. After the call my wife asked what I was doing. Told her I had saved at least 5 or 6 other people from being bothered. Plus I had a great time driving the caller nuts.
Click to expand...
 
the rare occasion that I pick up if they ask for a person by name I usually tell them they're doing time in the state pen for killing a person who kept calling our house, and they are eligible for parole in a month. They should call back then. I don't think the foreigners get it but it makes my wife laugh every time I do it.

If they don't ask for a person I usually tell them to go fvck themselves. Last time that happened was during the BIG championship game in December. Phone rang during the game and I hung up. Called two more times and I hung up. The fourth time I screamed into the phone GO FVCK YOURSELF!!!!!! Then my cell phone rang. It was my stupid-ass neighbor calling the house to ask if I was watching the game.
 
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Mostly rely on my answering machine to weed out the unwanted calls. Did get two IRS scam calls last year which I knew were obviously not legit.
 
I have a friend who got a call from someone selling windows and siding. He kept him on the phone for 45 minutes talking about the number of windows and their sizes, the approximate square footage of the exterior of his house and how much siding he would need to do the house and the prices. The seller finally gave him a price for the job which was excessively expensive. My friend just responded "Ok, now will you send that bill directly to the welfare office or do I have to take it to them." The phone went click.
 
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I flip the script. I get calls all of the time at the restaurant. I start taking their order. Ok thanks for holding that is a meat lovers skillet, coffee. Etc. I get the funniest responses
 
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I take the time to enjoy these calls when I have it. I promise you that if you cost them that which is there most valuable asset (time), you will not get a call back.
 
Just forward these annoying calls to the Lenny bot (which just talks to the scammers with random voice clips). There is more information clicking here. I think that the number is 347-514-7296.

It's amazing how long some of these folks stay on the phone.

 
2 suggestions:

Nomorobo is free software you can install on any voip like Vonage that identifies calls electronically dialed (from a robot) and stops the call after one ring. More than 50% of my calls are these types and it was much worse before the election.

Second, my answering machine tells me by electronic voice the name of the caller. So I know whether I want to get up and answer or just let it go to the machine. If there is no name associated with the caller's number, the machine says "name unavalable" or sometimes 1 800 service - both clues that these are random sales calls or scams. It's also useful for identifying people you may know but don't want to talk to at that moment. I always figure if it's important, they will leave a message.
 
Hang up the moment you hear the beep that lets you know they connect and are recording. Scam now is that they record your voice and edit the words to use nefariously.
Or better, screen calls and do not answer if caller ID is not recognized.
 
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johnmpsu said:
I get two types. I keep them on the line so that they aren't scamming some other poor fool. First are the people that tell me I have a problem with my "Microsoft" computer. I string them along for as long as I can. Finally, when they are trying to get me to turn on my "Microsoft" computer I tell them there is one problem. I own a mac or I might say a UNIX machine. There is usually silence. Sometimes they argue with me. I then read them the riot act.

The second type are from the "IRS". I have loads of fun with them. Acting like I am taking them seriously and leading them on. At some point I inform them that I work for the FBI and that we will shortly be in contact with them. This usually ends the call abruptly. If you don't know, the IRS never makes phone calls. Everything is done by mail.

I just have fun with it figuring that as long as they are on the line with me, they aren't scamming some poor soul that doesn't know better.
Click to expand...
I had the Microsoft one as well. I played along. When they said hit the ?? Key I did it wasn't there, and then I got 'so you are on a Mac' yup. Well fast forward I get a $50 charge on my cc from Microsoft support. I challenged it w my cc company as Bogas they said you had an acct w them, yes 10 yrs ago. Eventually it was removed But I think it's a pretty sophisticated scam
 
Midnighter said:
Was home alone today working and decided to entertain what I knew for sure was a scam phone call. I had heard of recent scams (including a hilarious one involving trying to contact Facebook support - which one of my wife's 'older' colleagues fell for - where the phone number online connects you to a call center who tell you the way to fix your Facebook issue is to go to Target, buy an iTunes card, and call back with the number on the back ;)) and was wondering which one I would get. Anyway, got a call from an Indian gentleman (I have enough Indian neighbors to know what an Indian accent sounds like) who told me my computer was downloading malicious software and that he was going to fix it. I usually never let them get this far, but curiosity got the better of me for the moment. I told him thanks for calling and I'm happy he could help. He directed me to my computer and wanted to know if it was on. It was. He then asked if I could find the 'Control' key - I did. He then asked which key was next to it. Since I have a Mac, I told him it was the Function key. Once he knew that, he tried to get me to press keys that I knew would get me to a window where if I wanted, I could wipe my computer and re-set it to factory settings (essentially wiping the Mac). At this point I asked him if he thought I was stupid, and if he enjoyed making a living trying to scam people. He said no and hung up.

Anyone have any funny similar stories? Unfortunately, this must be quite common because they continue to do it every day. My colleague's father fell for something much worse and lost thousands of dollars. I still have no idea why I have a land line...
Click to expand...
For as long as it takes to slam the phone down after I determine it's a scam!
 
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Nitwit said:
2 suggestions:

Nomorobo is free software you can install on any voip like Vonage that identifies calls electronically dialed (from a robot) and stops the call after one ring. More than 50% of my calls are these types and it was much worse before the election.

Second, my answering machine tells me by electronic voice the name of the caller. So I know whether I want to get up and answer or just let it go to the machine. If there is no name associated with the caller's number, the machine says "name unavalable" or sometimes 1 800 service - both clues that these are random sales calls or scams. It's also useful for identifying people you may know but don't want to talk to at that moment. I always figure if it's important, they will leave a message.
Click to expand...

Before the election? SMH.
 
Midnighter said:
Was home alone today working and decided to entertain what I knew for sure was a scam phone call. I had heard of recent scams (including a hilarious one involving trying to contact Facebook support - which one of my wife's 'older' colleagues fell for - where the phone number online connects you to a call center who tell you the way to fix your Facebook issue is to go to Target, buy an iTunes card, and call back with the number on the back ;)) and was wondering which one I would get. Anyway, got a call from an Indian gentleman (I have enough Indian neighbors to know what an Indian accent sounds like) who told me my computer was downloading malicious software and that he was going to fix it. I usually never let them get this far, but curiosity got the better of me for the moment. I told him thanks for calling and I'm happy he could help. He directed me to my computer and wanted to know if it was on. It was. He then asked if I could find the 'Control' key - I did. He then asked which key was next to it. Since I have a Mac, I told him it was the Function key. Once he knew that, he tried to get me to press keys that I knew would get me to a window where if I wanted, I could wipe my computer and re-set it to factory settings (essentially wiping the Mac). At this point I asked him if he thought I was stupid, and if he enjoyed making a living trying to scam people. He said no and hung up.

Anyone have any funny similar stories? Unfortunately, this must be quite common because they continue to do it every day. My colleague's father fell for something much worse and lost thousands of dollars. I still have no idea why I have a land line...
Click to expand...
I sometimes play along with this one with a Mac. But for, it gets funny because I use a PC keyboard.

The lates scam for me is a lady calls, I answer, there is a short pause and she acts surprised because of headset problems. I have gotten this same call half dozen times in a month.
 
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