Klvngrdnr
144036
3922
54
Seriously i dont know what its like elsewhere but the situation in Australia is getting out of hand. Im just glad shes pretty savvy.
FP EDIT: Woot! This was a fun ride. Its crazy hearing some of your stories. If you are going to send anything please send stories of your biggest personal victory. In the words of Jackie Moon: Everybody love everybody.
MalthusAndreusDrake
it's getting bad everywhere tbh, police here have set up a specific hotline just for phone scammers.
Florida2000
How do you get the scammers to call this special hotline? /s
Willybum84
Some cunt spent 2 hours with my senile Nan trying to get her to take a loan out. When I heard I drove up there and lost it at the prick.
Mcdeathcore
hmm, must design app that sends loudest sound possible to other side, I shall call it the fuck you asshole button.
Ristari
all they will get is static
hnngnnn
Your grandmother is rather optimistic...
Klvngrdnr
Well the did say 3 people copped her whistle last week
alphusultimus
This poor idiot came into my store asking for $500 in apple gift cards to pay for a bill...over the phone...
CheapBeerAndBadDecisions
did you tell him he was being scammed
RogerAntonio
In Perú they call you claiming they have your granddaughter while you hear screaming in the background. My grandparents are both 93+..
dumbinsults
Jesus fucking christ. The worst I get is Microsoft tech support telling me I have a virus.
3PiecesOfBread
“Hold on let me get my credit card” sets phone down and watches TV while telemarketer waits endlessly
XoxSmotpokerxoX
This guy gets it. You troll them, they take you off the list. My record is almost 50 minutes.
LazySleepyDogLady
You can download an app to report and block all those calls. Im currently using Truecaller. It even shows you the name of the scammers
thorkun
It doesnt stop everything, but stops a lot, worth getting but I feel it used to be better.
MorgulTheFriendlyDrelb
I'm pretty sure that the OP is talking about landlines
urshface8008
Must be a scam
ABirdWalkedOnMyPillow
Oh my god I am so relieved to see in the comments that other people are getting all these calls.
shoulkion
I put my number on the wrong healthcare website. I'm up to 200 calls in 2 weeks so far
Klvngrdnr
Oh wow. And probably from all different numbers too so you cant block them
shoulkion
nah it's like the same 12 numbers and I'm blockin the foop out of those shitheads
mrd0dman0s
All those cold callers now think your grandma is being raped.
mattpowelluk
If she ever needed to use her whistle for real it’ll be a ‘boy who cried wold situation’
Parzivallio
I’ve never heard of the boy who cried wold
mattpowelluk
Dolf
Klvngrdnr
Moon moon
Wookieoo7
Would explain why your wife married you if she is decended from Moon Moon.
lloyd2287
My 13 year old daughter gets half a dozen calls a day to refinance her mortgage. It’s f’ing stupid!
Solaralyn
As soon as I got pregnant I started getting at least 5 calls a day telling me I qualify for health insurance. I'm a military spouse...
boatymcboatfaceplant
Did she get a good deal?
Klvngrdnr
Yeah im in the market for a good deal. Any leads that she would sugest?
SexualConsent
My thirteen years old sister got a call saying she hadn't paid her taxes and that they would put out an arrest warrant if she didn't pay
GuideWire
https://www.donotcall.gov/
livingscreamydreamy
I get scam calls at least 3 times daily. D A I L Y.
GuideWire
https://www.donotcall.gov/
theslybanananana
Getting a fuckload here in Ireland as well, mostly from the UK.
TheirishNPC
she needs to get a new phone if her current one keeps raping her
AdobewanKenobe
I don't say anything, just put the phone down and let them work it out.
Deathbysneaker
Shit happens everywhere. There has been phone scammers, in my area, who dressed up as cops and went to the victims house
SpreadyUnsettling
Are they not foot scammers at that point?
JHawke
I had a fake cop who wanted to come in just as I was making shroom tea... ironically if I weren't doing something illegal I might not have >
JHawke
> been so inquisitive about why he wanted to come in because really.. who expects fake cops if you never heard about it.
Klvngrdnr
What happened?
JHawke
Absolutely nothing =p but I refused to let him in without warrant or sensible explanation.. which I otherwise probably would have.
Klvngrdnr
Wow that sucks. We have notices in our grocery stores warning people not to fall for itunes gift card scams.
whitevfute
Ive seen those in coles and wollies.
Deathbysneaker
Check this shit out: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/fake-police-arrest-woman-force-her-to-deposit-cash-in-cra-scam-1.3984271
Klvngrdnr
No way. Thats some next level balls. I feel sorry for that person though.
strugglebusconductor
A lovely cashier here stopped my Abuela from buying them. She is also cognitively impaired. The person was posing as a friend for the cards
Hotwired1970
It's gotten so bad that I won't answer unless I recognize the number. Just let it go to voicemail, if important they'll leave a message.
GuideWire
https://www.donotcall.gov/
amahler
Doesn't work for scammers. Im on the DNC list, and i still get calls almost daily from scams.
youlooklikehalfabuttpuppet
Same. On my work and personal phones.
CheapBeerAndBadDecisions
for me it's a different number every time, and if I answer I just hear quietness for a few seconds and they hang up. happens at all hours
Hotwired1970
That is just step one. They want to confirm that someone answers, so that they can start calling from other spoofed numbers.
Drakengarde
Same. If it's a number that calls more than once and doesn't leave a message, I just block it outright.
Remmon1
My voicemail is "Don't bother leaving a message. If I know you, send me an e-mail instead."
IOnlyFavouriteDogPictures
I downloaded an app that auto-blocks any unknown numbers. So useful.
amahler
I wish i could do this. The bad thing is, my cell is my business line. I'll pick up in case it's a customer. I get scam calls daily.
obsydyinn
What sucks is my wireless headphones buzz around my neck if I get a call so I got to wait for it to fuck off since I can't find my phone.
Dani3113
I dont have my voicemail set up. I havent for like 4 years. If it's someone from work or home they can text me. Other than that I dont care.
ashfreddyjason
Same
RedRiotUnbreakable
It's happening to fucking mobiles now, the fuck?!
terra4
In the UK you can sign up for the TPS for free. Whenever they call you, you can say "TPS" and they get all flustered, apologise and hang up.
terra4
TPS = Telephone Preference Service and basically makes it illegal for them to call you. They have to remove your no. from their database.
BastardMonkeyBoy
We have the “Do not call” list in the States but it’s bullshit. It can take months for your request to go through, if it does at all
terra4
Ah man that sucks. :( It takes a week or so here and isn't retroactive so it takes time to see the effects of it.
Diabeticdoginaminefield
1/2 A friend answered one and said "What do you want? Social Security, Address, credit card?" ".... Oh, All of them please." "Sorry I'm poor
Diabeticdoginaminefield
don't have any of that." "Same bro." They had a 10 minute conversation about life and chatted about games for 15 minutes before he hung up.
Havok707
Fuck em ! QLD here, Waaaay too many scam calls, i'm not even saying my name or saying yes or no when answering.
Klvngrdnr
Just say. Just hold on a moment while i google you
skellington01
It seems to be getting worse all over the world. There’s a generation that can’t keep up with the speed in which technology is progressing &
skellington01
It’s too easy to exploit. As a marketer I’ve instructed my team not to sell to ppl over 80 but we need regulation to really deal with this
sarieeee
I've been getting a ton! I answer w/ Sara's slaughterhouse, you stab em, we slab em. They just hang up.
birchi
If they call, and I am not busy, I keep them on the phone as long as possible. “Microsoft tech support” are the best.
Datsinginguy
That’s cool
Dogchimp
I have gotten a few to syskey themselves
freebewbs
Just tell them you have "Windows 9". They'll be confused af.
venomlash
Some dude got STEAMED when I told him there's no such thing as the Windows Company. Swore at me and hung up.
birchi
Nice. That is a total win when you get them to lose their shit.
DukeMcNasty
I tell them that I run Linux. Had a few hang up, had a few still proceed to tell me that my Windows is infected by viruses.
DukeMcNasty
Sometimes I'll pretend to yell at the wife for looking at beastiality "on the youtubes"
YouAreDrunk
Check Koko on YouTube. There was a Indian company who did more than $500K each month by scamming people. Koko exposed them all
ArdentSlacker
I still don't understand why those guys don't have an answer to "Which computer?" Like, the scam's been around years. How is THAT too much?
APinkDragon
I immediately respond with something along the lines of "Yo [randomly chosen name], where's my fuckin money," and begin ranting.-
APinkDragon
Or randomly break down in the phone and make it super awkward.
Volcanuz
Yeah i had one convinced the command they made me input set my computer on fire. "What did you make me do? WHY IS THE COMPUTER ON FIRE?!"/1
Volcanuz
I also love asking them "what computer?" and when they say "your home computer" i ask them again "which one?" if they can't answer /2
Volcanuz
i say "i have 7 in this house which one is having problems?!" They normally end up hanging up though. /end
TheCarolingian
Hi...I just noticed from your post that your copy of Windows may be infected by a really bad virus...here's how I need access to your PC...
Klvngrdnr
While you were commenting on this post your Pc has become infec please download teamviewr so i can fix the problem for you sir and or madam
FjoltnyrIII
Wut if it's an attac chopper huh?
TheCarolingian
Thank you for helping me. How do I download Temviewer? Can you help me random unknown caller with a foreign accent?
Klvngrdnr
I am not foreign i am avarice joe just like you. Please go to supersuspiciousdownloadsite.com
TheCarolingian
OK. I'm here on the site now. Its very confusing...what do I do next?
CharlesFinleybot
Unfortunately the phones are all digital. The people on the other end probably arent hurting as much as you think.
imgurscommontater
Why?
Mithi
Speaker in telephones always hat an upper limit on volume. The whistle is annoying but it will not burst anyones eardrum.
CharlesFinleybot
The speaker will saturate and they will just hear an unpleasant static. Its kind of like blaring music on shitty speakers
ClydeTheBelovedBandit
We had an increase of foreign scammers about 4 years ago, the famous "Microsoft tech support". But it stopped a bit back and now theres
ClydeTheBelovedBandit
Local Swedish scammers instead. Idk why, or how they get money, but its such a lazy attempt.
nadorou
They use some method to make it appear they're calling from someplace else. It's definitely the same people. :/
ClydeTheBelovedBandit
Idk if u guys have this but we got something that roughly translates to "who called. Com" and people crowdsource experiences of numbers.
ClydeTheBelovedBandit
Like "telemarketer, scammer, prankcaller" and such. Super useful and the numbers get a score.
timbitca
My best was once they called for my stepmom. "No sorry, shes in the hospital". "Omg so sorry to bother!"... She's a nurse and was working.
etopsirhc
has she gotten the "dropped mic" one. where after a sound and some time ask if you can hear them. and as soon as you say yes they've won.
getmo
I get those. I get this recording that fooled me a few times. "Hello?" "...Hello?" "Yes, who is this?" "...Hold on" "Hello?" muffled...
getmo
"...haha I'm sorry, I was adjusting my microphone. I'm calling because you stayed at one of our hotels in the past-" "No" "-and I'm offering
getmo
a FREE discount for-" "Excuse me, no" "-a 2 week stay at our newest..." After a few times, I finally started to recognize the recording, and
TobiOfTheAkatsuki
Don't even say 'no' to those. Those companies will go through hoops to twist a 'no' into a 'yes'.
getmo
I just hang up
getmo
don't say anything while the girl pretends she can't hear you and fiddles with her microphone, that's when I got it memorized.
darthlame
I just say “sorry, not interested” and I hang up. No listening to see if they understand, I don’t care. I hang up and carry on with my day
CannibalisticHedgehog
This is why I never say yes to anyone I can't guarantee is isn't going to fuck me over. They record you saying yes then splice it into 1/2
furriephillips
Saying “no”, to “can you hear me”, is much funnier anyway.
CannibalisticHedgehog
Some form of verbal contract. As far as I'm aware there ain't nothing you can do either because technically the recording is correct.
acertainjenesaisquoi
I'm going to have to call bullshit on that. There's unethical, and the there's straight up illegal and fraudulent behaviour.
klirby
Well sources online say it’s bullshit it and doesn’t work or happen ever. So people are just being paranoid about one thing someone said
Dontyouknowyoucanfly
Verbal contract for what exactly?
etopsirhc
from what i heard, usually for them to add charges for some bullshit to your cellphone bill.
CannibalisticHedgehog
Could be anything, so long as they get money out of you the scammers don't care what you unknowingly agree too, all they need is a yes.
Bakseed
And recording me without consent is somehow okay?
CannibalisticHedgehog
I didn't say it was OK, the difficult part is proving you did not say yes to entering into whatever contract. It's a scam, that's not OK 1/2
CannibalisticHedgehog
It's just one of the more easily suckered into and difficult to get out of scams.
bingebammer
You just said "okay", welcome to cat facts! Did you know cats can climb upside down on flat surfaces like a gecko if you use superglue?
bingebammer
At the low cost of 99p per message, unsubscribe by responding with . . U̴̡̪̩̰̅̾̎̆̓̕͟͡N̛̬̰͚̦̣̎̊̿͂̔̅̀͌̐ͅS̨͚̱̱̬̍́̄̔̔͆͑̃͟ͅŨ̡̜̫͈̖̫̘̂̒̔̌̒̎̌͟B͐͐̂̈
ArdentSlacker
In a lot of places, only one person on the call needs to know it's being recorded.
lacole725
Not in America
bingotown
That's just a bullshit story that some local news sources seized on as exciting and scary and it blew up to a big rumor.
etopsirhc
no, i've actualy gotten that call before.
thorkun
Customer at work got a call where they got him to say yes to something and then they billed him for agreeing to buy an expensive ad or smth
unknownbastard
They’re fucking ridiculous in the States as well. I answer and pretend that they called a restaurant, try to take their order for takeout.
Athenawins
https://youtu.be/AQ0ojjOLJg4
Butane9000
I once told them they called the FCC. Dude lost his shit and started swearing so I hung up.
ThisPleasesZulthar
Dammit, I really want to "favorite" this comment, it's so great
analyticmonkey
After 50+ calls of being nice, followed by mean, I've begun moaning and talking dirty. Has actually helped.
THRAWN18
I just tell them that I'm dead.
jsk39
I do a lot of different scenarios, but I had not thought of this one. Thank You
radicalflaarqueen
welcome to shitty wok, take order pres
rattlebone10
You want shitty chicken or shitty beef?
Nalianna
no, we do not have banana, no banana today.
GAngeldb
I pretend i am middle eastern and they get pissed when they cant understand me which of course is funny. Cause their middle eastern.
Klvngrdnr
I do a killer indian accent. I once messed with one of the girls at onther branch of our company. Told her i was onsite tech support.1/
Klvngrdnr
She wasnt really buying it. Laughing and basically telling me i was full of it. Ffw a few hours later i told her that the it support guy 2/
Klvngrdnr
Was really upset by the phone call. She immediately started to apologise wanting to talk to him to say sorry. 3/
Klvngrdnr
Thats when i hit her with my accent again saying thats ok apologies accepted. She lost her shit vowing revenge. Best day at work. 4/
pruner
Anyone else get occasional emails from various services like food orders or dental offices claiming I have signed up with an account 1/2
pruner
And now need confirmation or some other “action needed” follower by more emails as if I am actively using the service? 2/2
Tech22
I always never answer unknown numbers/ones very similar to my own. It then tells the scammers that .y phone number is not in use/not owned.
IOnlyFavouriteDogPictures
I just downloaded an app that auto-blocks calls from unknown numbers. In a month of having it, it's blocked like 8 calls.
[deleted]
[deleted]
IOnlyFavouriteDogPictures
If you're on Android, try Calls Blacklist (it's a couple of £ for it, but so worth it).
ShelbyTheDESTROYER
I get about 3 calls a day from someone’s “last attempt to reach you about your credit card debt” but I don’t even have a credit card. :p
ShelbyTheDESTROYER
Plus some dude named Gary must have used my number for porno websites because I keep getting texts asking me to watch their webcam or...
ShelbyTheDESTROYER
Download this dirty game. “You won’t last more than 3 minutes” and shit like that. I’m a straight female. They could at least try to appeal
ShelbyTheDESTROYER
To me :p
bitemark
I ported our landline number to VoIP service that gives more control. If the number isn't in our address book, it goes straight to voicemail
bitemark
Since then, maybe once every other month I have to delete a spam msg. That's down from 10-20 calls/week.
PutItInNeutral
Me: Auror Police department watch desk. This is Sgt Callahan, how may I help you. Them: *click*
The701
https://washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/07/12/robocalls-are-getting-worse-some-big-businesses-soon-could-start-calling-you-even-more
OnionCutter
Some of the ones I've been called by clearly have up trying by their #s. Like 111-111-1111 and 888-555-1122.
UglyHorribleGrouchyOldMan
We use nomorobo.com for cell and landlines. Calls have pretty much stopped, though we do still get one every week or so.
Chruppek
I some times listen to them until they ask me a question and ask them to repeat because i have trouble with hearing and then tell them 1/2
Chruppek
2/2 i live in different country
Nalianna
same, with a brothel. $5, sucky sucky, love you long time (i'm a guy with a deep voice)
Cthulhu151
I usually get about two calls a day for my car's extended warranty. Shit is annoying.
3RsReadingRitingRithmatic
I answer as if I'm in a similar business. Scam the scammers. Try to sell them shit on their time.
Mumalot
"herro, yu w'nt numba 5?... YU GET NUMBA 5! gudbye *hangs up*
27yoUGLYvirgin
Here this scammers are computer generated bots. Which makes it really crappy because you can't even mess with them, so it's just annoying.
PorneliusHubertII
I dont answer any call from a number that isn't programmed into my phone
mattpowelluk
I too like to live moderately
MonoclesAndManacles
Android's do-not-disturb mode always on, set to allow contacts and people who call twice in a short period of time. Goodbye spam.
[deleted]
[deleted]
InfinitusEquitas
Could also set it to allow favorite contacts only.
CheapBeerAndBadDecisions
I like this idea
CaptVito
Works with iPhone as well, can even have it auto start and end certain times of the day.
CaptVito
Had to start using it when a auto diaper fucked up and called me 6 times in a row at 4am but only got weird ghost noises.
chickadeedeedeedee
What about when job hunting, registering for anything new, going to a new doctor, moving, getting insurance, etc?
PorneliusHubertII
Have had same job for 6 years. Doctor is in phone. Insurance is online/email. Anything new if it's important they will leave message
hashtagidiot
I'll call people back if they leave a message and are actually trying to contact me regarding something like that.
MyFetishIsALittleOddish
They leave a message and then I call back. I don't answer phone calls either.
chickadeedeedeedee
Wish I could do that with my kid’s health insurance. There’s no direct number to call her FMA team, and they always seem to call from a -
chickadeedeedeedee
Different number. Wanna call back? Too bad, you have to follow a long “pick the number” chain just to leave a message. Grumble grumble.
SteevyT
I kept one on the line for 45 minutes giving impossible answers to their scripted questions their entire time. Ended with "Ok, I'm bored"
MrPositive10
Mines pretty lazy. I will answer and sit in silence or do the whole "Welcome to ____ what can I get for ya?"
MrPositive10
If I sit in silence for 8-10 seconds they usually hang up if it's a bot. If it's a person I'll here a confused "Hello?"
NeyaQueenofBacon
It makes my job harder as the PCI helpdesk for their bank. We call them to remind them its going to expire and they hang up. Then they 1
NeyaQueenofBacon
Get charged by their bank for it expiring and call us all super mad etc. The worst part is that even then they still don't believe us and 2
NeyaQueenofBacon
Refuse to talk to someone in customer care for validation. I understand they get tons of scams but THEY SIGNED UP FOR THIS
DickDastardly404
If this is happening to you in the UK. You can just say “um, excuse me, this number is on the no call list, it is illegal for you to 1/2
27yoUGLYvirgin
No you can't, they use phone bots, automated voices.
ashleykailani
Also, they're scammers. What they're done ng is already illegal. They don't care about a "no call list"
DickDastardly404
Cold callers are not all scammers. One of the big things in the UK is pay day loans, which are not illegal in the slightest.
ChloeRed
"best" one I had was the other day, claiming to be BT Broadband... "Really? you're coming in from a mexican number" *other end goes dead*
DickDastardly404
Contact me.” And they will hang up every time. You can register yourself to the no call list for free, but it still works if you don’t 2/2
rattlebone10
It's illegal for them to scam you whether you're on the do not call list or not. You think these scumbags really care?
thesmelge
Yeah, the scammers started using the do not call list to harvest numbers to call.
JessieJanson
They show a fake number when they call you in the USA and the ones that ignore the list are not legal businesses so they dont care. 1/2
JessieJanson
they will in fact use the list itself to find people to call.
Ristari
US has it too. Meaningless here.
Klvngrdnr
Yes the "no call list" im pretty sure they just use number generators to call people
NKato
This is why I think allowing phone numbers to be spoofed, let alone be easy to obtain without formal identification, is a major problem.
Mtmerrick
The US has a Do Not Call list that works exactly the same way. Only difference is it has literally never been enforced so no one cares.
UglyHorribleGrouchyOldMan
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/06/22/fcc-hits-robocaller-agencys-largest-ever-fine-120-million/103102546/
ThisPleasesZulthar
The sauce god
DickDastardly404
Hmm well since I started doing it I’ve gone from 1 call a day to one a month
UglyHorribleGrouchyOldMan
https://abcnews.go.com/US/fcc-proposes-82m-fine-health-insurance-telemarketer-illegal/story?id=49020387
UglyHorribleGrouchyOldMan
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/10/06/dozens-arrested-in-irs-phone-scam-call-center-raids/
Juicytoast
I work nights and need to keep my phone on while I sleep. They called me on a bad day. I put the microphone next to the air horn on....
Negradamus
Fellow night tard, depending on your phone (pixel 2 here) you can set a Do not Disturb mode with specific contacts allowed through. penises.
Juicytoast
I had a pixel. Just got the pixel 2. I didn't know that was a thing.
SteevyT
I can do this with my Note3.
obsydyinn
Available on Samsung phones too
Juicytoast
My truck. I hope the fucker's deaf now, I was livid.
Azun1te
that's hilarious :D I'll prob try it sometime
ThisIsJustMySecondNSFWAccountMoveAlongOrPMmeIDontCare
An appropriate response
TheSomethingSomethingGenericReplyGuy
I take the calls, look interested but broke, when asked to refer a friend I give them the Consumer Defence Secretary local office phone #
DeathStarTrek
I feel for you. Right now it's 0435 in California. Needless to say I'm at work. on imgur :)
Xenarion
As fun as this sound, phones have a maximal amplitude in their signal, so I highly doubt the horn was as loud for him as for you.
27yoUGLYvirgin
This. If anything it breaks your phone's microphone, sadly.
andersklipshaw9
Correct
H3X0
See, what you do is you play along but talk really quiet so they have to turn their phone up high. Then HOOOOOOONK!
Nalianna
also, waste as much of their time as you can, leading up to this.. to reduce their sales per hour.
theshinobi23
Y'all still get people calling? All the ones I get are automated, for at least the last year or two.
mindstorm8191
I just got one of those last night (for IRS taxes). Google searched their #, yeah IRS wouldn't call me with a broken automated voice anyway
RePete21
Same! Especially since I live in canada, not sure how they figure I owe the IRS, we have CRA
theshinobi23
Ooh, was it the one where they threaten you saying the cops are already on the way to arrest you unless you make the payment right now?
3141592535897932384626433832795078841941693993751058209749445
Usually you just have to click a button and it puts you through to a person.
theshinobi23
I did that for a while, to waste their time out of spite, but the calls got more frequent. When I started just hanging up on them, frequency
bamblebimble
Fuck with them enough and you never get a call again