It’s not really a telemarketer - after doing some research, I’ve realized that it’s the number from a scam - I’ve always assumed that it’s a telemarketer. They’ve been calling me for months now, I usually tell them to take me off their list and hang up. The number is 800-061-3615 (mods, I’m assuming I can post it because it doesn’t go anywhere when you call it back, and it’s listed as a scam number on Google). After Googling the number, it seems to be from the same ‘company’ - someone calls with a heavy Indian accent, tells you that you’ve been approved for a government grant of $5000, and just needs your bank account for a $250 processing fee so that they can mail you the check.
Nothing I’ve done or said has stopped them from calling. Today, they called again, the guy told me to ‘shut up’, I said something I probably should never say while I’m sitting in the break room at work, and I hung up on him. So then I came back and Googled the number where I discovered it’s a scam. It is nearly impossible to get them to stop calling - the FCC and the FTC haven’t done a thing to get them to stop.
I need to deter them from ever calling me back. I found a few suggestions on Google, but not all can be used while at work. One suggestion was to get an air horn and use it every time they call. Again, I can use it while not at work, and not while my kid’s sleeping, so that limits that.
That’s obviously my first choice for retaliation, but I need other ideas. I’ve had it with these people. Any suggestions?
800-061-3615 is not a valid North American phone number. That’s not a surprise, though: these scammers can program any number, any number at all, into their outbound caller-ID.
Is it always the same number in the caller-ID? Can you block it?
I can’t block individual numbers. I can block all numbers not in my phone book, but that means if my parents or my husband call from a number that I don’t have, they get the same recorded message about how I’m not accepting calls from their number. And I can’t really do that.
I’ve called Sprint about blocking numbers, and it’s not an option. I don’t know what this number is, but I’ve verified that it’s a scam, and at this point, I’m just trying to deter them from calling. Asking them to stop hasn’t worked. Being rude hasn’t worked. So I need something that will just annoy them to the point that they stop calling.
I can not answer the phone, and half the time, I don’t, but the phone still rings. They called on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Vaguely related: I finally got a cell phone and less than an hour after I called, I got a call from the number listed here. Apparently it’s pretty famous for its insistence; I just had to look it up because it’s already tried to reach me a number of times.
This whole caller ID thing is pretty cool! It shows on the outside of the phone so I don’t make the mistake of opening it and answering an unwanted call. /cell phone newbie
Go to the police and ask them to have your service provider devulge the caller’s number. File a complaint with your states attorney gerneral, or the person that prosicutes fraud in for your state.
You can always try what my nephew did. He is home alone after school, and would get a call like this every day. He would imitate Timmy, the Southpark character. Just keep saying, “Timmah! Timmah? Timmah, Timmah!”
The thing with telemarketers is, you have to turn it around on them. They come in different flavors, and the predatory ones (which this one you described sounds like) are the kind of assholes who do this rapid fire. They instantly dismiss the people who aren’t suckers, insult them, hang up, whatever. They don’t care, they just call the next number, ad nauseum. It’s never the same person calling you, just a new shithead calling from the same list and the list never gets smaller, it only grows. They never take your name off, that’s a given. The turnover of people at these companies probably averages a few hours because, really, who would stay at a job like that for more than a day?
If I could pull off something like this more often, I would, but it’s more a joke than anything. I think most telemarketer reps who aren’t new to the job are probably aware of when the target is trying to turn the call around on them and will just as soon hang up on you as you would on them because you’re just wasting their time instead of them wasting yours.
In reality, I just play stupid with them. Speak in non-sequitors. Answer their questions with answers that make no sense. Often I interrupt and cut them off just to spout stream-of-consciousness gibberish. It’s just too fun because I turn it from a waste of time into something resembling a Python sketch and it absolutely cracks me up …
An example:
Telemarketer: Hi, could I speak with Martin? Me: This is. Telemarketer: Hello Martin, my name is Not Important, and I was calling today on behalf of Some Company That Probably Didn’t Endorse This Call to see if you’re satisfied with your phone service and to offer you an opp– Me: My bagel button? Telemarketer: Excuse me? Sorry sir, no, this is t– Me: Dandy fish? A delicate spice, says I. Telemarketer: Uh … Me: Do you know my friend Bill? Telemarketer: No sir, this is on behalf of – Me: I think he knows you. Telemarketer: Sir, I don’t know wh – Me: Sshhhhhhh, can you hear that? That noise? Telemarketer: Um … Me: I think it’s the sound of staplers.
Fastest: hang up. No words.
Not useful: telling them anything. It’s going to be a different person each time. The scammers also scam their operatives. Those calling you are also being cheated by the same people. They will never be paid. They will call for a week and quit.
If you want a certain amount of “revenge” ask them to hold and then say noting until they hang up. Usually they are running against a clock and will hang up in a few seconds.
I like the air horn idea, too, but I think it’s illegal. You could actually be sued if the loud noise damaged the asshole’s hearing. Just hanging up is quicker and safer, if less satisfying.
The advent of the federal “Do not call” list has really put a dent in this kind of thing. Any sane society would require an “opt in” clause rather than the converse but that’s another matter. Still http://www.junkbusters.com has a lot of useful information on how to deal with these clowns.
If I have the time - and am feeling a little cranky - I like to just take my time and find out as much as I can. Generally it is “What did you say your name was?” (Since they talk so fast and gloss over important things) “Who do you work for?” “Where is that located” “What is your address” “You mean you don’t know where you work, that’s really strange…” etc.
“Federal law requires that you maintain a written copy of your ‘do not call’ policy and upon request mail it to me, I’d like a copy” etc. Enjoy…
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