Ways to stop overseas sales calls discussion

tamskinner

just joined so I can share an idea with you. We have recently put a bar on "withheld numbers", but are still getting some calls from India via the internet, so it comes through with a number, so the call bar allows it through, but you cant actually call the number back to tell them what you think of them. I have just called virgin and subscribed to the caller id service so we can see the number calling us before we answer. No one else calls us from india, so if we see a 0091 number the plan is (having read a lot of the good ideas on here, I have come up with my own ruse, and actually cant wait to use it now):

Answer the phone and immediately go into answer machine mode:
""Hello, we have moved and this number is no longer valid. If you still want to contact us, please phone..."
I now a list of useful phone numbers by the phone so I can use them when required. You could pick any you wanted, either to scare the living daylights out of the scammers, or could you use them to get back at the companies that keep cold calling you?, or simply to cost them a packet. My list may include: buckingham palace, house of commons, crime stoppers, interpol, the CIA, and Delhi Police crime line, Delhi escort agency, various high cost phone services found on the 'net. Its amazing what you can find on the web!
Please tell me this isnt illegal!! Now must go, cant wait for the next call! ;-)

joe_peddos

I have discovered that my answerphone can record phone calls. The last dodgy phone call I got was promising to refund bank charges to my bank account. I stopped him at that point and said the phone call would be recorded and did he have a problem with that. The call was very quickly terminated by him.

Ich_2

The latest seems to be from the TPS and talks about the call blocking, it then offers to block International calls for a fee!
I doubt that the TPS is directly involved other than the scammers using the TPS blocked number list

stormclouds

I love getting the, "Your computer has a virus," scam calls from Asian countries. I have so much fun winding them up. My boyfriend and I compete to see who can keep them on the longest. Every minute of their time that we waste is a minute they're not using to scam some poor vulnerable person. I string them along by asking which computer has the virus as there are four or five machines in the house all with different operating systems. This always confuses them. Their script just isn't designed to deal with this problem. I class a call as a success if I get them to shout abuse at me and as I'm female it's always incredibly sexist. I then ask them what their "deity" would think of their illegal behaviour. My boyfriend just asks them to hold on while he gets the Babbage engine started. We used to get several calls of this nature a day. Now it's about once a month.

I_luv_cats

I had an International call showing on my caller-display.

It was from a guy with an Indian accent, I asked where he got my number from, he just kept saying about claiming for an accident.

He kept on and on SO I told him to go and pleasure himself and he said that I should do that myself too.

Annoying!!!

andyplymouth

I have various ways of dealing with these calls, depending on how much time I have.

1. Say "I'm sorry I don't speak English". In perfect English. Whatever they say just repeat yourself they'll go away.

2. I have an app on my phone designed to *make* prank calls, basically it plays phrases from the TV show 'Fonejacker'. I have had these callers having some great conversations with it.

3. For home improvements like double glazing act really interested and then ask if they are paying or the council. Or give your address as "8th floor..." when agreeing to someone coming to demonstrate a conservatory.

Good luck!

cazpost

I have caller display,and only answer numbers I recognise.If any other callers are genuine they will leave a message.
My brother has developed a good technique. He uses the 'wrong number' idea,but puts on a dodgy accent and says its an Indian Restaurant. They dont usually ring again!

bignick47_2

I had a call from a chap with an asian accent. He started the call with "Hello, my name is John Smith and I am not from India" - how thick do they think we are?:rotfl:

cazpost

andyplymouth wrote: »

.

3. For home improvements like double glazing act really interested and then ask if they are paying or the council. Or give your address as "8th floor..." when agreeing to someone coming to demonstrate a conservatory.

Good luck!

That reminded me of the time I had a lengthy conversation with a guy about conservatories..."imagine how much nicer your home would be with a conservatory........the space....the light...." He waxed lyrical for about 20 minutes,me agreeing with every word,then I said 'the only trouble is,I live on the 3rd floor'

jackonet

I kept the 'computer virus' people on the phone for 30 mins last summer. Was sitting in the garden having a beer so thought lets wind them up. Let them go through the rigmarole acting dumb until I could not keep from laughing so told them that I work in IT and know exactly what they are selling. He just kept going from the script so I kept going.

Once it dawned on him that I knew what I was talking about, he proceeded to tell me off for wasting his time when he could have been helping other people:rotfl:

They've rung up since and I just tell them (and any others) to go forth and multiply now. They all seem to be able to understand that...