Scam Call today BEWARE

peter_the_piper

My favourite was the recent one asking if I want to pay to get rid of marketing/scam calls for a fee.

robatwork

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

The flaw with that for me would be it would also be wasting my time. I just don't answer calls unless I know who the number is.

When my doctor calls his number is always withheld. However these are calls I am very interested in answering.

You may think they would leave a message if I don't answer, but they don't tend to do that.

kaflinkle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/confess

The first confession of the latest one is about a scam call. Quite amusing.

lovinituk

I enjoy getting calls like this. I instantly start asking them if I can sell them something and keep badgering them to give me their credit card details. The sound of confusion in their voices sometimes when they ask me what I'm talking about is priceless. I just keep going until they hang up. It provides me with much amusement so they can call as often as they like

JimmyTheWig

Eejay wrote: »

I enjoy telling people who've asked if I've been in a road accident in the last few years that I get the bus.

I find they don't ask _if_ I've been in an accident, but tell me that I _have_ been in an accident.
I always ask them if I was ok.
It's not one of their scripted answers, so confuses them.

I try not to be outrightly rude, though. They're only doing their job. I'm sure, given the choice, they wouldn't choose to pester me like that.

lovinituk

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I always ask them if I was ok.

Haha, brilliant! I'm using that one next time :T

photome

robatwork wrote: »

When my doctor calls his number is always withheld. However these are calls I am very interested in answering.

You may think they would leave a message if I don't answer, but they don't tend to do that.

I dont think Doctors are allowed to leave messages and you are right they would come from a witheld number

prowla

peter_the_piper wrote: »

My favourite was the recent one asking if I want to pay to get rid of marketing/scam calls for a fee.

I had one of those; I just (genuinely) had a good laugh at the bloke.

Arthog

We heard a discussion on local radio about nuisance calls and a lady rang in and mentioned a gadget called True-Call. We looked into it, bought one, and haven't had a single nuisance call on the landline from that day.
Automated calls can't get through at all so no more of those frightening silent calls, and if a scammer did get through after identifying themselves, press the hash key and they will never be able to get through again.
One of the best things we ever bought!
I wish someone would invent a similar thing for mobiles!

fluffnutter

Whilst it's probably ambitious to reduce nuisance calls to zero, the following helps.

1. Make sure you're ex-directory.
2. Check to see if you appear on 192.com. If you do, fill out a C01 form to get your details removed.
3. Register with the Telephone Preference Service. www.tps.org.
4. Make sure every company you legitimately deal with, e.g. bank, telecoms provider, utility companies etc. has your marketing preferences set to reflect that you don't want calls.
5. Never give your number on a quote comparison website.
6. Be very, very careful who you give your number to, particularly online. If they have your email address, why do they need your number? If the field is mandatory, use 0100000000 or some such.
7. If you are called, advise you're registered with TPS and ask them to remove you from their list.

Like I said, this won't work for everything, but it will help. Last case resort, get a True-call machine.