Obvious phone scammers.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

Do you get calls from obvious phone scammers? How do you handle them? Anyone attempt to string them along, even briefly? My funniest was an IRS payment scam attempt. I feigned anger snd demanded to speak to a non existent person named Stella who owed me money and I'd have the law on them if they didn't start making payments.

To which this fool replied Dollars or Rupees? I had a juicy 20 minutes or so hassling this scammer for how easy it was to get them off script. Keep in mind I was on a shuttle from Phoenix to.Nogales at the time and a few other shuttle riders found this entertaining, too. Espzcially funny was the claim that I would soon be visited by this scammer - I'd be arrested for non-payment. This was back in 2021 before US borders were reopened so I said that such was not possible as the US was not currently admitting Indian Nationals due to covid. I had the scammer on speakerphone and it was funny as he went off in I believe Hindi.....probably not saying nice things. The shuttle audience loved it.

They are not all like this but do you have similar stories? Rob

[Tradd]

My iPhone settings block anyone who is not in my contacts. The calls are sent straight to voice mail. I’m sure Android has the same.

[ToomuchStuff]

Talked with a friend the other day who answered a scam likely call. They meowed into the phone and after a few times the scammer said you're not a very good cat impersonator, they replied your not a very good IRS impersonator.

[Rogar]

I just hang up, but have stumbled across utubers who can keep them on the line for hours and even have ways to hack into the scammer's computers, which is quite satisfying.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Talked with a friend the other day who answered a scam likely call. They meowed into the phone and after a few times the scammer said you're not a very good cat impersonator, they replied your not a very good IRS impersonator.LOL!!! Good one! Rob

[happystuff]

My new message on the land line answering machine (yes, very old school. lol) is:

"Friends and family please listen to this entire message. Due to the increase in telemarketer and scam calls, all calls to this phone are now being screened. That said, please speak slowly and clearly, leaving your name, number and a message and your call will be returned."

The hangups usually occur at "increase in telemarketer and scam calls". :laff:

[iris lilies]

The “This is Lenny” calls on Youtube are hilarious. In them, an old man has pre recorded responses to telemarkers. Each response shows confusion of the old man and a willingness to buy the product, bit he spins many ideas, keeping the telemarketers on the line.

search Youtube for “This is Lenny” and look for the red phone image. There are many of them.

[LDAHL]

I love it when some Mumbai Marauder autodials me and identifies himself as Bob Johnson or Pete Wilson.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I love it when some Mumbai Marauder autodials me and identifies himself as Bob Johnson or Pete Wilson.LOL Same here! Rob

[KayLR]

Talked with a friend the other day who answered a scam likely call. They meowed into the phone and after a few times the scammer said you're not a very good cat impersonator, they replied your not a very good IRS impersonator.


Brilliant!

Some years ago I was getting so many scam calls; I don't get too many anymore because my phone filters them out. Once I took a call and they asked for me by name, so I said, "Oh she's not here; she's doin' a nickel upstate."

Click.

[jp1]

Some time ago I downloaded a free app called Call Protect. Now I only get maybe one or two calls a week that get through it. Before it was 4-5 per day.