Wasting a telemarker scammer's time.

November 14, 2017 10:56PM

So I just got a call from an Indian sounding guy offering me a lower interest rate on my credit card. I immediately knew it was a scam and I pretended that I was interested. He asked how much debt I had on my credit card and I said $40,000 - right away he sounded like he hit the jackpot. I told them to hold on for 5 minutes while I get it, but instead I continued playing the internet game I was playing before he called me. After 5 minutes I read him the (fake) credit card number. He said that the number did not work and to tell him the number again. I now proceeded to tell him the number, but allowing a 2 second pause in between. After a good while he knew I wasn't serious and then told me to stick my credit card up my candy a** and some other things.

Wasting a scammer's time takes away from their opportunity to scam a poor unsuspecting person.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2017 11:14PM by DavePi.

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November 14, 2017 11:03PM

I like to give them 15 (out of 16) digits on a fake card, and then play stupid.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams

November 15, 2017 09:17PM

I like to mess with the Microsoft dudes. I pretend like I am getting on my computer ( to give them remote access I presume) for as ling as I xan get by with it. When they appear to get impatient I pkay stupid about the APPLE on my computer...a few people have used inappropriate language in response to my obvipus attempt tp waste their time.

November 15, 2017 09:22PM

I tell them my social security number is twelve. If they question it, I just say I am so old I got one of the first numbers.

November 16, 2017 02:03AM

I once read some suggestions for these types of calls. One was to turn the conversation around and act like you called them. Ask them questions like they would ask you. i. e. What's YOUR address, phone number, ss number, cc number, mom's maiden name etc. Another was to tell them you have to answer the door so you'll be right back and then put the phone down and go do something else until they finally hang up. I once read a suggestion to put your 4 year old on and let them confuse the caller with their rambling but with the language some of these "people" use, that's probably not a good idea. There is a website called [quatloosia.blogspot.com] that goes into all kinds of scams and how to deal with them. It's also can be fun to read.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

November 16, 2017 03:48AM

I got the IRS call a while back. I was on the phone for at least 15 minutes supposedly freaking out, and went so far as to arrange for a meeting to give an "agent" my $8,000 that was past due. I made the guy promise he wouldn't tell my husband. Then at the very end I told them I was just kidding. He then spent the next couple minutes using the language sassymmmmm is referring to and telling me I was a horrible person. Yes, I had fun.

November 16, 2017 03:27PM

We receive calls at work about our "upcoming move" even though we are not moving. I usually ask my co-worker in a panicked voice "Did you know we are moving? No one told me!!" I then ask if they are hiring.

MissChele - Shopping KY, IN & OH
Thread Killer

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2017 03:28PM by MissChele.

November 16, 2017 03:30PM

Yesterday, my husband told someone, "Look, normally, I like spending time going along with your scam and pretending to be concerned about owing that much money to the IRS and then telling you what a terrible person you are, but I don't have time. Can you call back tomorrow?" Person was not amused.

November 16, 2017 04:46PM

Real scam artist got my credit card # from a site I'm on (I know which one) and tried to get $150.00 which I blocked in time. My phone actually said SCAMMER, I'm going to police and report it since it has an area code
same as mine. They actually called me and voice sounded like a Niagera accent. Hope they get the crooks, gotta love the phone.

Live consciously....

November 16, 2017 05:18PM

I used to get calls for internet/tv service. I would play stupid and get excited and say WHAT! You're giving me a free TV! Hey honey, we won a free TV! They'd waste at least 15 minutes trying to explain to me that they were trying to sell me something vs. give me something. Finally they would just hang up. 15 minutes where they were not trying to scam someone else.

When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou

November 17, 2017 02:25AM

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Real scam artist got my credit card # from a site I'm on (I know which one) and tried to get $150.00 which I blocked in time. My phone actually said SCAMMER, I'm going to police and report it since it has an area code
same as mine. They actually called me and voice sounded like a Niagera accent. Hope they get the crooks, gotta love the phone.

What's a "Niagera accent"? Is that an upstate New York/Canadian accent"? lol

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

November 17, 2017 03:51PM

I do not work as a telemarketer. I have been mistreated when conducting follow-up/customer care calls with customers. These days, I don't mind it too much when people assume that I am a scammer, bad person, evil person, telemarketer, or worse-- when all all I am doing is attempting to conduct research. I especially love the ones who cannot be bothered to find out that a) research exists and b) they are free to verify that the telephone number that shows on their phone/caller ID belongs to an actual research facility- and this costs them nothing. They make me wonder how good research ever can be, given prejudice, bias, and obtuseness.

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)

November 17, 2017 10:14PM

@Shop-et-al wrote:

I do not work as a telemarketer. I have been mistreated when conducting follow-up/customer care calls with customers. These days, I don't mind it too much when people assume that I am a scammer, bad person, evil person, telemarketer, or worse-- when all all I am doing is attempting to conduct research. I especially love the ones who cannot be bothered to find out that a) research exists and b) they are free to verify that the telephone number that shows on their phone/caller ID belongs to an actual research facility- and this costs them nothing. They make me wonder how good research ever can be, given prejudice, bias, and obtuseness.

I'm sorry I have better things to do than talk to a "researcher" on my phone. Usually I don't even bother to answer a call from a phone number I don't recognize (unless I'm expecting a MS follow-up call anyway). On the rare occasions I do answer one of these, as soon as I find out that it's a telemarketer or a "researcher" I hang up. I don't have the patience or time to deal with it.

I do agree with you about one thing though. I also question the reliability of research done by phone because a lot of people feel the same way I do. I also took a couple of courses in statistics which adds to my skepticism on this subject, but that's a whole other story.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

November 18, 2017 01:56AM

I think scammers and telemarkers have truly ruined it for anyone trying to gather legitimate research over the phone. I, too, do not knowingly answer any number that comes through that I don't recognize. Can't be bothered wasting my time.....too bad for the legit ones, tho.

November 18, 2017 02:18AM

Interesting to try and sell a Telemarketer off as a researcher, but creative. They pretty much stop calling, if you hit 9....they either are trying to collect or sell. There are legit reseacher's online at the focus groups, I enjoy them.

Live consciously....

November 18, 2017 03:08AM

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Interesting to try and sell a Telemarketer off as a researcher, but creative. They pretty much stop calling, if you hit 9....they either are trying to collect or sell. There are legit reseacher's online at the focus groups, I enjoy them.

Just curious, Irene, what does hitting 9 do that makes them stop calling? I've never heard of that before.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

November 18, 2017 04:04AM

It gives message to be taken off their list, it's actually against the law for them to call, so, hit 9 to report it.
I'm hardly bothered now by doing that.

Live consciously....

November 18, 2017 04:51AM

I probably should not say this, but...

1. Removing yourself/your contact information from marketing lists does not remove you from availability for telephone-based research. The two activities are separate, and legislation shows this.

2. It is legal to instruct a telephone researcher to remove your information from their list. (It is appreciated if you do this while using your indoor voice.) This is like the proverbial secret handshake. We are not offended if you know this. We respect you. We think that your opinions may be valuable. We can wait for awhile until you have a little time to spend with us. We know that your planned lives may already be filled with funner things to do. But we will never force you or cajole you. Please forgive us if something goes awry and your request is not processed immediately. We are subject to power outages and other situations which can disrupt our work flow. This means that despite our best intention to remove you, you might have remained because of a power outage or some such thing. Please give us another chance, if only because we do not control such events.

3. You can always ask for some verification. My workplace can be verified. I praise people who want this information and tell them that I appreciate their consumerism.

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)

November 20, 2017 04:34PM

Above post, please answer my question without the ramblings you tend to do..what is a "telephone researcher"?
Thanks in advance.

Live consciously....

November 20, 2017 04:48PM

I found a 'script' online you can use to talk to a telemarketer. Basically, all kinds of questions arranged in a tree form that you can follow based on original answers. I personally wouldn't take the time to mess with it, but would be funny for the right person.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

November 21, 2017 03:33PM

This video makes me feel content.

[www.liveleak.com]

November 21, 2017 04:25PM

Some surveys are conducted by phone. They ask similar questions to online surveys.

Is that what you are asking?

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Above post, please answer my question without the ramblings you tend to do..what is a "telephone researcher"?
Thanks in advance.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

November 21, 2017 04:35PM

I was talking about a member comparing a telemarketer to a researcher....telemarketers are NOT researchers..

Live consciously....

November 21, 2017 04:45PM

I read their post differently then. I read that she gets mistaken for a telemarketer when making follow up calls to customers. Something my bank always does.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I was talking about a member comparing a telemarketer to a researcher....telemarketers are NOT researchers..

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer

November 30, 2017 11:29PM

I feel that if a research company is going to profit, in some way, from the information that I provide, then I should be compensated appropriately for my time and information. I have asked several research folks for payment, but so far only a couple have agreed.

As for salespeople, I do like most -- play along until I get bored and then let them know the gig is up. It's amazing the swearing vocabulary of the Indian scammer community. This allows me the rare opportunity to demonstrate my own swearing combinations...lol!

Years ago, I received a telemarketer's phone call during dinner. After informing them that I was not interested in their product, I turned the conversation around and said, "Since I have you on the line, I have a dining room set with 8 cheairs and hutch for sale...are you interested?" The salesperson was speechless for a bit, before declining my offer. My whole family was dying with laughter as this call unfolded. Good fun & good times....

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."

December 01, 2017 04:56AM

I once received a call from a scammer at 5:30 am. I never knew that I had so many profane words in my vocabulary until then.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

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