These days when I get a scam caller I usually just hang up, but in years past I would occasionally try to eff with them and lead them on like I was going to bite the hook but ask just one more question at the last second. I stopped doing this when I heard there was a way for scammers to use a recording of your voice for their nefarious purposes.
I’m sure the right thing to do is to probably call the police when you get what you believe is a scam call, but I somehow doubt the police have either the time or resources to follow up on scam callers based on the number of complaints they likely get. I’d guess if they followed up on one out of every ten such complaint they’d probably be as busy as a switchboard during a natural disaster. Also, my guess is that caller ID offers police little help towards catching any scammers. Most are probably out of the country and out of reach of US laws.
Maybe I’m too cynical about this. What do you usually do when you get a scam call?
I’ll either hang up or ask them to hold on for a second, then walk away, leaving them on the line until they get fed up and end the call. I know my computer’s not sending out viruses, and every minute they’re on with me is a minute that they’re not calling someone who doesn’t know any better.
I was getting daily phone calls from a 1-800 number identified online as a scam operation trying to collect on phony bills, asking for social security numbers etc.
I ignored the calls for weeks. On a couple of occasions I answered, and before they could go into their spiel mentioned that there are hungry lawyers advertising for victims of this scam, on whose behalf big settlements can be obtained (this prompted quick hangups, but the calls continued). Finally I bit the bullet and let the bozo talk. She asked for a person I never heard of, and when informed that he was not to be found at my number she said she’d take the number off her call list.
It’s been several days with no more calls. We shall see.
This. Our land line not only displays the number and whatever name is associated with it, it speaks the name out loud (“call from…smith, john”), so I don’t even have to go and look. If it’s not a name I recognize, then it’s probably either a scammer, charity, survey, or wrong number, and I’m not going to waste a second of my life on it. If it does turn out to be something important, they’ll leave a message, and I’ll get back to them later.
Unknown calls to my cell phone are much more rare, but when they do occur, my policy is the same: I’m not gonna take the call.
When I was about 20, my dad (who was dying of lung cancer) kept on being pestered by scam artists. Apparently, one of their piece of shit tactics is to target the dying (as well as the old). They claimed to be from the VA and told my dad there had been a mistake in his paperwork and he was going to have to pay 6 years of reimbursement for his disability checks unless he paid 1,000 dollars to get the error fixed. My dad didn’t really believe them, but they kept on calling. Telling him time was running out and even threatening that the VA was going to issue a warrant against him (yeah, okay). My dad just ignored them, but they were really pissing me off and were the perfect outlet for some anger. So, I wrote a code that called the number every .3 seconds from a different number. Whenever they answer, they got an automated message telling them they had been identified by the F.B.I. as a scam operation and a warrant had been issued for their arrest; their phones would continue to relay this message until the authorities arrived. I actually found out someone did something similar, but they decided to record the answered calls. In hindsight, this probably would’ve been funnier, but a the time I just wanted to really inconvenience the bastards.
I usually don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. But if I’m feeling like it and it’s a scam, I will cuss them out and tell them they do not have permission to call my phone and if they do it again I will sue them.
Another vote for “just don’t answer calls from an unknown number”. If it’s important they’ll leave a message. If it’s important and they know me, they’ll send a text. Otherwise, I don’t want to talk to them anyway.
Here’s my standard answer to threads like this. I used to answer and hang up as soon as I figured out what kind of call it was. Then the combination of increased spam/scam calls, caller ID spoofing, and buying an Apple watch caused me to begin sending the calls right to voice mail. I bought the watch about a year ago, and immediately began the practice using it to decline any call from a number that is not in my contact list. I have had no adverse results from not answering the phone, and I don’t have to get my phone out to do it. The caller ID and buttons to send the call to voice mail are right there on my wrist.
I never answer calls from numbers not in my contacts. So, if 555-123-4567 shows I do not answer and will later add it to my blocked number list. If John Doe shows (and John is a friend) I do not answer either, but I read his voicemail (Apple speech to text beta). I then text John a reply and remind him that I prefer written communication.
OTOH, I do answer calls from unknown numbers on my cell phone. If I ignore them, it goes to my voicemail and I have to listen to it in order to delete it. I find if you pick up and say nothing, the robocalls hang up (humans will say something).
This, with the caveat that if I’m expecting a call from a local business that isn’t in my contact list, I’ll answer - and a couple of times I got robo-calls because of this. But then I just hang up and life goes on.
In the U.S. only. They make you wait a bit before you can report scam calls. I have reported several and never received another such call, but I have also heard others say reporting numbers to the DNCR made no difference.
I have previously engaged illegal sales and scam callers once their intentions became clear. Using the (probably fake) name of the caller, I’d say: “‘Dave,’ congratulations, you’ve just broken the law. I will be reporting your number to the Do Not Call Registry. Good luck finding a new job.” Before hanging up, I’d sometimes add, “Please hold for Mr. Click.” Once or twice, the caller hung up before I was able to complete my statement.
The latest scam up here is a call from the Canada Revenue Agency (our version of the IRS), claiming that a warrant has been issued for unpaid taxes and that you need to immediately call them back.
I blocked my number and called them last week. When they asked for my info, I told them I was “Brian Mulroney” with a fake address and Social Insurance Number. The joke being that Brian Mulroney is a former Prime Minister of Canada that was involved in some shading dealings. I led the guy on for about 10 minutes before he figured something was up and hung up on me
I don’t have the option of not answering the phone from unknown numbers. Most of the time it’s from an unknown number, it’s a new client.
I am courteous with every interaction I have. With vendors, with customers, with employees, with neighbors, even telemarketers who are selling an actual product, even if I have no interest at the time.
Except scammers. Once I have identified a scammer, I have no reason to hold back. If there are no customers or employees within earshot, I can get pretty nasty and profane. I very rarely hang up on them, they usually hang up on me first.
I used to answer and hang up as soon as I figured out what kind of call it was. Then the combination of increased spam/scam calls, caller ID spoofing, and buying an Apple watch caused me to begin sending the calls right to voice mail. I bought the watch about a year ago, and immediately began the practice using it to decline any call from a number that is not in my contact list. I have had no adverse results from not answering the phone, and I don’t have to get my phone out to do it. The caller ID and buttons to send the call to voice mail are right there on my wrist.