Somebody from the lunatic assylum has got my phone number

rbulph

Help!! I've been phoned up three times today by someone calling himself "James Smith" calling from India claiming to represent a company based in Hull called "Accident Compensation Services" which wants to give me compensation for an injury I incurred some time ago. He says my grandmother told them about it (both my grandmothers are long gone unfortunately). Somehow he knows my name. He doesn't speak very good English and keeps hanging up in mid-conversation.

Is this some scam? How do I get rid of him? Should I start getting really offensive?

bryanb

Put the phone down

dmg24

I think you are already being really offensive by stating that this person is from the 'lunatic assylum' (and you can't even spell it correctly).

rbulph

dmg24 wrote: »

I think you are already being really offensive by stating that this person is from the 'lunatic assylum' (and you can't even spell it correctly).

I can be MUCH more offensive to him than that. I just wondered if anyone else had had similar experiences of this and what it's all about. I worry that if I just put the phone down he'll never go away.

dmg24

rbulph wrote: »

I can be MUCH more offensive to him than that. I just wondered if anyone else had had similar experiences of this and what it's all about. I worry that if I just put the phone down he'll never go away.

Your comment was generally offensive, and pretty ignorant. I was not referring to the way that you spoke to the person on the phone, but your insinuation towards those in mental health units.

anewman

dmg24 wrote: »

Your comment was generally offensive, and pretty ignorant. I was not referring to the way that you spoke to the person on the phone, but your insinuation towards those in mental health units.

It could be argued that people happy enough to do a crap job like cold calling and scamming people is a personality disorder, and therefore in the realms of mental health. But I must admit, I found the title of the topic perplexing and expected to read of someone on a mental health unit calling OP.

I'd tell them you've had a really bad accident, you shat your pants the other week. Then ask how much compensation you can get for it.

Mips

rbulph wrote: »

Help!! I've been phoned up three times today by someone calling himself "James Smith" calling from India claiming to represent a company based in Hull called "Accident Compensation Services" which wants to give me compensation for an injury I incurred some time ago. He says my grandmother told them about it (both my grandmothers are long gone unfortunately). Somehow he knows my name. He doesn't speak very good English and keeps hanging up in mid-conversation.

Is this some scam? How do I get rid of him? Should I start getting really offensive?

Perhaps his long distance calling credit ran out

What are you worrying about?

Just give him your bank details, address, National Insurance number.. oh.. and a few photocopies of your Passport and Driving licence...

.. and I am sure the guy will never bother you again

sillyvixen

cold calling lists have a misprint of mrs reeves number that transpires to be my number - i have had many a long call trying to explain where they have gone wrong and redirect them by road halfway round the town to her house 5 mins walk from my own!! they always listen and thank me for my help!! i only do this micheif if i have time but its good for a laugh and the person off shore is always so nice when i explain you need to go out into the street and turn left next right etc..

the only fly in the ointment is mrs reeves gets more calls than me

bicycle_repair_man_2

put the phone next to something that makes a loud noise.

markelock

tell them you'll just go upstairs to "get him" and leave the phone. listen and wait to see how long it takes. I've had people wait for 5 minutes. I'm sure this could qualify as a sport.

chocolatechipcookies

Start making stupid stuff up.

I got a call from someone trying to get me on some mobile phone contract. He asked how much money I spend on my phone. I told him nothing, that I don't use phones, I use telepathy. He was unimpressed and hung on me. A friend of mine got one for internet services. He told me that he told the guy to meet him in a parking lot somewhere in Hull (where we live) to make his band more broad.

Make it fun. :rotfl: