# I Had a Telemarketer Hang Up On Me! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830 "2018-11-20T02:39:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/21 "2018-11-20T19:49:42Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > One did yesterday. It was a real person, called me by my last name, etc. The first words out of my mouth were “Who are you?”. Click. > > Usually after I ask “Who are you?” I’m the one doing the clicking. I always ask, “Who’s calling?” And they just give a first name And then I ask, “What is this concerning?” The other day, the guy called and asked if he could speak to me. I never identify myself on the phone, so I asked the two above questions, and the guy said, "I asked if this is Rick Kitchen, are you stupid? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/22 "2018-11-20T19:59:17Z")
I got a call and the caller said they could consolidate my credit card debt. I said, “Why does my caller ID say that you’re Inova Hospital?” and she hung up on me. > [@kunilou](#): > > Just tell them you’re already dead. See if their script has a response for THAT. That was a scene from _Creep Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/23 "2018-11-20T20:06:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I cannot shake the telemarketers who want me to purchase burial insurance. I seem to get more than my share of them. I think someones trying to tell me something. Eeeeekkk! This offer expires February 15, so you are respectfully requested to do the same. 😃 (From a fake ad in an old Cracked magazine.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/24 "2018-11-20T20:08:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I used to use a similar technique with those, “Your car warranty is about to expire!” calls. I’d just ask them, since they knew so much about my car’s warranty, could they tell me what make and model it was? > > Call always ended pretty quickly at that point. I did more or less the same with those Windows company crooks. I asked him what OS I was running. _click_ NoMoRobo blocks all these now, so no more fun. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/25 "2018-11-20T22:11:48Z")
The morning radio show I used to listen to had some “F with the telemarketer” calls they would play on air. The funniest one was when the callee pretended to be a police detective and convinced the telemarketer he had called into an active crime scene. “So you had business dealings with the deceased? I need to send a squad car to your location to take a statement.” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/26 "2018-11-20T22:42:10Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I did more or less the same with those Windows company crooks. I asked him what OS I was running. _click_ > NoMoRobo blocks all these now, so no more fun. Got one of those right after I moved. “Your computer is reporting that it is infected with viruses and trojans and…” I replied, truthfully, “That’s amazing, because my computer has been packed in a cardboard box for a month.” Undeterred, he went on. “That does not matter, sir…” I hung up. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/27 "2018-11-20T23:58:50Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Got one of those right after I moved. “Your computer is reporting that it is infected with viruses and trojans and…” > > I replied, truthfully, “That’s amazing, because my computer has been packed in a cardboard box for a month.” > > Undeterred, he went on. “That does not matter, sir…” > > I hung up. If I ever get another call from these people, I’m going to ask if they offer double-pane windows and installation. I’d refuse to believe that a Windows company didn’t sell windows. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/28 "2018-11-21T00:03:16Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I did more or less the same with those Windows company crooks. I asked him what OS I was running. _click_ > NoMoRobo blocks all these now, so no more fun. They are trained for specifically what they do but are not very smart. I asked which of my six computers they are talking about. “The one you use the most.” What is the IP address? “We don’t have that because it’s confidential information.” Well, then how come you have my phone number? Does your mother know you do this for a living? And I hung up. The fucker _called me back_ to say that his mother knows what he does and he makes a very respectable living. I heard a [podcast](https://www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/long-distance#episode-player) where the host let them remote control his computer to see what would happen. They brought up a cmd window, shrank it to be unreadable, then typed in some bullshit like “Windows detects a trojan” then resized it. Except they made a typo. He went in deep and actually had these ongoing conversations with one of the more senior guys there over a period of months to try to get in the heads of the people who do this. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/29 "2018-11-21T01:33:34Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Years ago, shortly after I answered a telemarketer’s call (this was before call display) I once asked a telemarketer to repeat his name. He was happy to comply: “Mark.” (Or somesuch, but “Mark” works for now.) > > “Marrrk,” I said, as if I was writing his name down. “Thanks. Now, Mark, where do you live and what’s your home phone number?” > > “Whaaa …?” > > “Well you interrupted me and my family in my home at dinner for something I have absolutely no interest in, so it’s only fair that I interrupt you and your family at yours, to talk about something you probably have no interest in. What’s your time zone and phone number? Go slow, since I’m writing this down.” > > “But, but … wouldn’t you like to hear about [whatever he was selling; I don’t remember]?” > > “Not until I get your home phone number, Mark. Hey, don’t even bother with the time zone; I can get it from the area code.” > > He hung up. Telemarketer: Hi, would you be interested in switching over to TMI long distance service? Jerry: Oh, gee, I can’t talk right now. Why don’t you give me your home number and I’ll call you later? Telemarketer: Uh, well I’m sorry, we’re not allowed to do that. Jerry: Oh, I guess you don’t want people calling you at home. Telemarketer: No. Jerry: Well, now you know how I feel. [Jerry hangs up phone] ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/30 "2018-11-21T11:04:06Z")
When this topic comes up, someone usually [posts a link to the way Tom Mabe handled a telemarketeer.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50) It’s funny if you haven’t listened to it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/31 "2018-11-21T12:21:39Z")
Bad news that happened to me: I fucked with a few telemarketers, and now some of them use my phone number as a spoof number to call others. Now, along with all the telemarketing calls, I am getting an increasing number of calls from people pissed that someone using my number keeps bothering them . ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/32 "2018-11-21T12:34:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Bad news that happened to me: I fucked with a few telemarketers, and **now some of them use my phone number as a spoof number to call others.** Now, along with all the telemarketing calls, I am getting an increasing number of calls from people pissed that someone using my number keeps bothering them . That’s just a common tactic now to make a scam call appear to come from a local exchange. I’ve never fucked with a telemarketer and every scam call I get is spoofed as local. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/33 "2018-11-21T12:52:46Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > I did something like this back when long-distance companies used to call all the time to try to get you to switch to them. I kept politely insisting I didn’t have a phone. She got more and more confused. Finally she asked, “Well how are you talking to me, then???” I politely said, “I’m not.” It was around this point she hung up on me. I worked for AT&T back in those days, and I believe it was MCI that called me to switch to their long-distance. He was a persistent guy. Even after I explained who I worked for and that I got something like $35 a month in free LD and seldom used that, he was still convinced that he was going to save me money. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/34 "2018-11-21T12:54:03Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > When this topic comes up, someone usually [posts a link to the way Tom Mabe handled a telemarketeer.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50) It’s funny if you haven’t listened to it yet. Jim Florentine has a series of them too. I think we need to bring soundboards back into service. > **[Soundboard (computer program)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundboard_(computer_program))** > > A soundboard is a computer program, Web application, or device, formerly created in Adobe Flash, that catalogues and plays many audio clips. Soundboards are self-contained, requiring no outside media player. In recent years soundboards have been made available in the form of mobile apps available on iPhone App Store and Google Play. Since Adobe and web browser developers deprecated support for Flash, HTML5-based soundboards have gained popularity in recent years. > Traditionally, builders take sou... ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/35 "2018-11-21T19:59:41Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ve never fucked with a telemarketer and every scam call I get is spoofed as local. I got one that showed my own number as the CID. I kind of wish they would make it a felony to send incorrect CID. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/36 "2018-11-21T20:10:57Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I worked for AT&T back in those days, and I believe it was MCI that called me to switch to their long-distance. He was a persistent guy. Even after I explained who I worked for and that I got something like $35 a month in free LD and seldom used that, he was still convinced that he was going to save me money. My employer pays for my cell phone. I’ve had rival cellular providers try to convince me that they can save me money by selling me their package, so I ask them how much they’re going to pay me. Confused silence. Well, I’m paying nothing now, so if I’m going to come out ahead they’re going to have to pay me. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/37 "2018-11-21T20:22:57Z")
Not long ago, I got connected with a typical “lower your interest rates” scammer, so I began to read from a children’s book I had near the phone. “Once upon a time, there were three bears…” I read it very dramatically, and it was a great story (if you’re 5 years old). I kept expecting the caller to hang up, but she continued to listen, even comment, so I continued to read. It took about three pages before she gave up and dropped the line. I love telling stories. I wish I had more callers like this; it would make my day. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/38 "2018-11-22T00:39:52Z")
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ve found it effective to say politely to telemarketers “Can you hang on a minute?” Then leave the phone off the hook and read a book. My record (before they hang up) is 18 minutes. And the good news is that they can’t ring anyone else whilst they wait for you… ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/39 "2018-11-22T01:20:34Z")
Normally, if I pick up a call from a number that I have doubts about, I listen for a second or two before saying anything. If it is stone dead silence, I figure the call was auto-dialed, so I hang up. If it was someone who really wanted to talk to me, there should be some background noise, or if I screwed up, they will try again. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830/40 "2018-11-22T02:14:45Z")
When NOMOROBO doesn’t get the call, and if I’m slightly bored, and if it’s a real person, and it a recording, I’ve lately been asking ‘does your mother cry when she thinks about what your job is?’. One tried to make me feel bad by saying her mother was dead. I told her that when it rains, that was her mother’s tears from heaven. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-telemarketer-hang-up-on-me/824830.md?page=3)