I don’t think you can be too mean to telemarketers. Here’s the epic rant by Cervaise.
Mostly what I get these days are calls about “a car accident I had in the past three years”.
“I don’t own a car.”
“An accident you were a passenger in.”
“No.”
“An accident a family member was in.”
“Nope”.
“You once saw an ugly car and it mentally scarred you”
“Nuh-uh.”
Etc etc etc.
In reality I now say “no” and hang up after the first question. I mean, the blatant fishing would be laughable if it weren’t so annoying. It’s like talking to John Edwards’ spirit guide.
I don’t answer the landline. I’m amazed at how many times it rings & the ‘caller’ hangs up when the answering machine picks up. Since it only records if they’re still there after the beep (at the end of the outgoing message), there’s nothing for me to play/delete.
When someone suspected of being a telemarketer calls my BiL & asks for him, he puts on his most somber voice & says, “Oh, haven’t you heard, he’s no longer with us.”
Oh, yeah, Emily. She calls me all the time.
Urban myth. There are calls like this, but there are no cases where they charge you and use a recorded “yes” as proof. I think they ask if you can hear just to get you engaged in a conversation with a robot.
FCC warns consumers about new ‘Yes’ phone scam(Auto-play video at top of article))
It does make sense in a way. My SO recently picked up a call that she thought was from someone else and got into a Yes game trying to confuse her into sending money. She hung up before they got any billing info but people who are easier to confuse wouldn’t be so lucky.
My favorite is the dynamic robo (computer) that begins, “Can I speak to the lady of the house?”
My response is, in a very deep voice, “Speaking.” The response (since the robo is programmed to continue regardless) is “Oh, hi, I’m so sorry to take you away from your chores, but I must talk to you about breast cancer…”
[QUOTE=running coach]
FCC warns consumers about new ‘Yes’ phone scam(Auto-play video at top of article):
[/quote]
I think you are confusing two types of calls.
The one where the caller gets you to say “yes,” then uses the recording of you to establish your approval for some bogus service has never been proven to be a real situation. If you can prove this, Snopes would like to hear about it.
The claim may stem from slamming years ago, which used similar tactics.
The other type is where the caller fakes something like a survey. If you respond to the survey, no matter what you say, yes, no or fuck you, their robot is programmed to believe you are now a customer and proceeds to the sales call.
I have recorded & logged calls like this, with my giving nonsensical answers. When the live clerk comes on, if I say “why are you calling someone who is on the DNC list?” he says, “Because we now have a business relationship with you (from the survey) and can call you anytime we want, legally.”
I simply don’t bother picking up a number I don’t know. I haven’t had a telemarketer get more than two rings in years.
Are you* insane*? It may be Publisher’s Clearinghouse!
Trying to get someone to agree to accept a charge for something that is bogus is certainly the way many of these scams work. Even the classic bait & switch falls into that category.
But that’s quite different from trying to obtain an audio recording of someone saying “yes” just so you can show a bank or CC company** that an unrelated charge was approved.** I don’t think that works, and Snopes seems to agree with me, at least until more evidence is offered. It smacks of urban legend. Remember the bloody hook on the car door?
That happened to the friend of a guy my cousin knows!
They play Frankie’s version on “Fiftys on 5” quite a bit.
Here’s what the FCC has to say about it.
Unfortunately some of us don’t have a real option to not answer. I literally receive calls from all over the country due to my work. It took my company 6 months to get me a work phone so my personal cell is still making the rounds. Fortunately Jenny or Emily only try calling me once a week or so.
Advising people to say not “yes” to any cold call is a good idea. Just leave off the part about recording them.
I read that doc some time ago, and was struck how the FCC made such a claim with little or no evidence of an audio recording of “yes” being used to receive payment. Their warning is based only on fear.
That article also mentions “cramming”, similar to slamming, or changing someone’s phone or long distance provider with the slimmest of pretexts, sometimes just by sending a check with the fine print that said, “by cashing this check, you are agreeing to phone service by XXX…” We know these tactics were used some years ago, and I remember getting some of those checks and vouchers.
I have in my library a pamphlet put out by a police officer some decades ago, warning about satanic forces in the neighborhood, and what you should do to avoid being skewered on the stake by satanists or your children sacrificed on a bloody altar. The pamphlet included lists of satanic symbols and practices you should watch out for. A scary pamphlet, but based on nothing but fear, not evidence. Did I mention it was from an “official” source who should know all about criminals?
The idea that someone could obtain money from your bank account just by presenting a recording of your voice saying “yes” has no evidence and is unlikely to seriously exist.
In case someone still doesn’t get my point, I advocate being careful and not gullible to any and all unsolicited claims that come by phone, but not to worry about saying “yes” in fear of being caught by a recording. You have not handed your bank account to someone who tricks you into saying “yes” when asked if you want a cookie.
Agreed.
Mr Number works on Android.
So, if somebody asks “Can you hear me?” we should just say “No” and see what happens…
Leaving my cell off is starting to look like a pretty good idea. I’ve gotten five valid phone calls in the past six months, and two of those were reminders for an appointment that I already knew was coming up.
What they say is the warning is based on media reports and complaints. There is no shortage of panicky people willing to call the FCC with a complaint because they heard an urban legend and then got asked a yes or no question on the phone. Someone on a neighborhood group I participate in did just that.
There was no slamming, or cramming or anything involved, just a question and a complaint. The FCC pointedly did not say that anyone had been victimized by this, just that they had had complaints about it.
The same person also posted a warning about some person who claimed to have been targeted by sex traffickers in an IKEA, so there you have it.
I’m a little reluctant to put much credence in an FCC alert based on stuff they heard on the news.
I did that the other day and they hung up.