Do you people not get calls from the doctor’s office, the other legit commercial establishments whose numbers you don’t recognize?
We’ve started using nomorobo, which has helped a lot. Most spam calls now ring once and then are automatically cut off. But we still get a few.
I used to make up stories, or otherwise keep them on the phone, until one of them managed to convince my MIL to hand over rights to her computer and her credit card. After getting her a new computer and a new credit card, I had no more patience for “the guy from Microsoft”. I have taken to replying, “does your mother know you are cheating people for a living?”. They usually curse me and hang up, which is at least as satisfying as any interaction I had previously.
If it’s from my doctor, I’ll recognize it. If it’s from my doctor and I don’t recognize it, they’ll leave a voicemail. If they don’t leave a voicemail, they would have contacted me through the online e-records and patient portal system.
Likewise any “commercial contacts”. Either I have taken the initiative to establish a business relationship (in which case I will recognize the call) or the business has no legitimate reason to contact me.
Welcome to the 21st Century. The phone is primarily for outbound calls.
Well, you recognize numbers a lot better than I do. Or see fewer different doctors. It’s a PITA to have to try to call them back, too. If I miss a call I often end up playing phone tag with them.
I hang up as soon as possible.
A while ago I said that that they called my six year old daughter’s phone. I asked why they wanted to talk to a six year old girl. They hung up.
If it’s a robot calling on behalf of a PAC, I tell it to send an envelope to John Barron. I keep wanting them to ask me for the address, so I can tell them it’s on Ocean Ave. in Palm Beach, but they apparently already have an address associated with this landline. A couple of months ago, an envelope came addressed to John Barron.
I’ll eventually get around to doing that, after a few back-and-forths. It’s not always worth it, though. When my mom was dying I got a lot of calls the visiting nurses made on their cell phones. It was a different number every time. I do sometimes screen calls (stand next to the answering machine and pick it up if they sound like a real call, or if it’s my cell phone, use google’s screening service) but sometimes it’s easier to just pick up the call, and hang up if it’s spam.
Sometimes I’m expecting a call from a doc’s office, and the number they call from doesn’t match the doc’s number in my list. So, I end up answering calls from unfamiliar numbers. When I do, I’m careful about what I say until I’m sure I know who I’m talking to. I’m careful to never say yes to any questions. I can say I am that person or that is my address, but never yes. If, after a few words, It’s obviously not who I expected, I just hang up.
I actually made a scammer laugh the other day. When he took his time telling me what he wanted, I yelled “What do you want, you fish-faced enemy of the people?” The last thing I heard was him laughing as I hung up.
There was a similar thread I was looking to add onto where I had a couple funny ones. Like “Confused Grandma” or “Simple Jack”. They are pretty much what they sound like.
The latest I’ve started using is “Strong AI”. Basically…I talk in a …robot voice…so the…telemarketer…isn’t sure…if…he or she…is…talking to…a very…fucking rude and…sexually graphic…bot.
I told the last couple of car warranty people that I drive a 2018 Lancaster model BR5. They both told me that that’s a fine automobile. I told them no it’s not. It breaks down all the time. I really do need that warranty.
Most of the time if I answer a number I don’t recognize my “persona” consists of saying, “hello? hello? is anyone there? goodbye!” because no one ever says anything.
I am getting at least 10 spam calls per day. But as soon as I tell them my last name is [Mod note - removed - see OP for name] they hang up. Am I going to have to change my name and phone number just so I can talk to them?