PENSION FRAUD!!

westv

Silvertabby said:

jaypers said:

If everyone was of the mindset that absolutely any and all unsolicited calls, texts and emails are a scam from people who want to steal from you this type of crime would pretty much vanish. It’s the way we all have to think. Sadly, far too few do and many people are being fooled every day. 

My standard response to all unsolicited phone calls is to say 'bollx' and hang up.  Apologies again to Vodaphone and British Gas.... but at least I've never been scammed!  

I normally just ignore any call I'm not expecting - if its important they'll leave a message.
Although sometimes I do get tempted to pick up and have the opportunity to vent at a scammer.

LHW99

BikingBud said:

Same as the call i got from Microsoft yesterday telling me my computers have viruses!

Haven't had one of those for years. They stopped soon after I started asking them how well acquainted they were with Algol 60

Moonwolf

My current approach is to ask, "What do you tell your parents you do?  Are they proud of you that you steal money from old people?  Do they boast about it to your family?" and so on...

I consider it a victory as they always hang up first. No one had yet answered the question but more than one has sworn at me.

Pat38493

barnstar2077 said:

Better to keep them on the line and not scamming someone else!

I haven't had many scam calls, but if you say you need to go into another room as it's too loud in here so give me a minute, or there's someone at the door etc, they will hang on just in case for ages.  Some don't even have the ability to hang up the phone themselves and will become quite desperate. 

There are some interesting threads on other social media from people who turn this into a bit of a game and tell them to wait because I need to go and feed my pet swans, and now they have attacked the lion and suchlike.

Silvertabby

The funniest one was our (very smart) elderly neighbour, who had the "I can see that you have a virus on your computer -  but I can fix that for you if you just give me access to your computer"

Several minutes later, caller was getting very frustrated because despite her happy claims of "yes dear, I'm doing what you tell me" he still couldn't remote into her computer.  He then asked her to tell him exactly what she was doing, and she said "sorry dear - just looking for a pencil".  More confusion while he asked her why she needed a pencil... "to wind the tape back in, dear" says she. 

He must have been a youngster, because she kept him tied up for the best part of half an hour before the penny dropped.

chubsta

I had a phone call asking me about a recent accident I had had - now I don't know which one of my mates grassed me up or whether someone had found my pants that I had thrown over a hedge, but when I explained it was my own fault for ordering Guinness with a vindaloo so I don't expect compensation they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Pretty shoddy service if they don't even research your cases properly... 

daparojo

A well know pension/insurance company contacted me by phone, never told their name, but the company and referenced a transfer I was doing from them into another provider. They immediately asked me to clarify my name, address, DOB. I was uncomfortable with this, and I asked for a name of who I was speaking to, and department. They told me they could not provide that information. I immediately hung up. I contact the company, and they told me it was a genuine call. I did explain it came across as a scam call, and would like it investigating. They did, and said they had doing nothing incorrectly.

cloud_dog

Silvertabby said:

The funniest one was our (very smart) elderly neighbour, who had the "I can see that you have a virus on your computer -  but I can fix that for you if you just give me access to your computer"

Several minutes later, caller was getting very frustrated because despite her happy claims of "yes dear, I'm doing what you tell me" he still couldn't remote into her computer.  He then asked her to tell him exactly what she was doing, and she said "sorry dear - just looking for a pencil".  More confusion while he asked her why she needed a pencil... "to wind the tape back in, dear" says she. 

He must have been a youngster, because she kept him tied up for the best part of half an hour before the penny dropped.

I used to get annoyed by scam calls, but now I rather enjoy them 

prowla

Of course, register with the TPS; you can then say cold callers are breaking the law.

Since I let my landlines go I've had very few scam calls, but I also used to take it as a challenge to keep them on the line and wind them up if possible if I had some free time; I figured I might be keeping them from getting through to someone who fell for their lies.

I also never identify myself to callers, but ask who's calling from which company.

zagfles

Pat38493 said:

barnstar2077 said:

Better to keep them on the line and not scamming someone else!

I haven't had many scam calls, but if you say you need to go into another room as it's too loud in here so give me a minute, or there's someone at the door etc, they will hang on just in case for ages.  Some don't even have the ability to hang up the phone themselves and will become quite desperate. 

There are some interesting threads on other social media from people who turn this into a bit of a game and tell them to wait because I need to go and feed my pet swans, and now they have attacked the lion and suchlike.

We use to play cold caller bingo with challenges like that   

But got bored with it and now have a VOIP line which hasn't had a single cold call in 4 years. But still getting them regularly on the old landline, never answered as phone is on silent with an ansaphone, but I check the missed calls every so often and still getting about 2 a day on average. They never give up.