Another phone scam attempt story

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I just recieved a phone call offering to lower my CC interest rate. Being a little more than suspicious I started asking rather pointed questions. Those quesions quickly frustrated the would be crook who cursed at me and then hung up.

Not one to take being sworn at by anyone over the phone, I quickly did a search of the phone number on google. It came back to a Limited Too store in ME.

Out of curiousity I called the number which was answered by a store manager. She said in the last hour she had recieved six phone calls like mine from around the country and had turned it over to their loss prevention dept. She also asked that I relay the details of the call to their loss prevention manager. It appears to me that the scammers had pirated this stores phone number to cover their tracks.

Not that anyone on this site probably needs the heads up but I suppose it's always best to post these experiences lest any of us forget there's always someone trying to come up with a new way to get your personal information out of you for their own ill gotten gains.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

When ever I get calls like this I put them on hold and wait for them to hang up.

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

That's a great one! I'll try that one next time & maybe leave the phone off the hook with the kids running around the house screaming! HA HA
K

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I just ask them to hold on a minute and leave the phone off the hook.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I tell them I have to go to the bathroom really bad and I know there is no paper in there and that I also have a "running" problem but just hang on, I'l be right back.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

If it were a reputable firm putting them on hold would work as most telemarketers are not allowed to hang up.

With a phone scam artest all you doing is leaving your phone off the hook for however long you leave it. They'll just disconnect and move on to the next potential victim.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Tagging on here with another scam. A while back we got a call at about 6:00 in the morning from the gas company. (Caller ID said Unknown Number, so we already knew there was something weird.) The guy said there was a gas emergency and they needed to see our meter. Even half awake, DH said, "Our meter is on the outside of the house. Knock yourself out." The guy goes, "This is your internal meter, not the one we normally use. We're right outside!" DH said, "Forget it, not opening the door," and hung up.

I called the police and they said this is a pretty common scam--and it often works on old people and people who are just a bit dazed from waking up. You open the door and they push into your house and rob you. I would think it was an urban legend if we hadn't gotten that call.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

I just ask them to hold on a minute and leave the phone off the hook.

i just pronounced my last name correctly and they get upset when I correct them and they hang up. This has happened a dozen times over the last few months.

We have never received a call as a scam, but it's good to know what's out there.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I tell them I'm glad they called and then I ask them (in a sing-songy voice) if they have any suggestions on how to clean up a lot of blood spatter from walls, mattress and carpet.

They always hang up.

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

QUOTE=Beaglemom3;201360]I tell them I'm glad they called and then I ask them (in a sing-songy voice) if they have any suggestions on how to clean up a lot of blood spatter from walls, mattress and carpet.

They always hang up.[/QUOTE]


Love it!



Kathleen

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

These are oldies, but fun...........

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems. My arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died . . . "
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located, how long it has been in business, how many people work there, how they got into this line of work if they are married, how many kids they have, etc. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.
4. This works great if you are male. Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with XYZ Company. " You: Wait for a second and with a real husky voice ask, "What are you wearing?" (my favorite)
5. Cry out in surprise, "Judy? Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where she could know you from.
6. Say "No" over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun if you can do it until they hang up.
7. If a cellular compnay is trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends Plan, reply, in as sinister a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends, would you be my friend?"
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get out blood? Can you get out goat blood? How about human blood?"
9. After the Telemarketer gives his or her spiel, ask him or her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you can't just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.
10. Tell the Telemarketer that you work for the same company, and they can't sell to employees.
11. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a Telemarketer, set the receiver down, scream, "Oh my God!" and then hang up.
12. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask him/her if he/she will give you his/her home phone number so you can call him/her back. When the Telemarketer explains that telemarketers cannot give out their home numbers say, "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The Telemarketer will agree and you say, "Me either!" Hang up.
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinner time, but ask if they would please hold. Put them on your speaker phone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
15. Tell the Telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you some beer.
16. Ask them to fax the information to you, and make up a number.
17. Tell the Telemarketer, "Okay, I'll listen to you. But I should probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
18. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on, Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
19. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up . . . louder . . . louder . . .
20. Tell them to talk very slowly, because you want to write every word down.

NOTICE: The above have all been tested and approved for use on telemarketers. No animals were harmed in the testing

[c5f3de Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close c5f3de]

I'm surprised more people don't do this...but the instant I determine it's a telemarketer, I tell them to put me on the do-not-call list, and jot down the company's name. If I receive a call from them again, I tell them they're violating an FCC mandate by calling me and that I'm reporting it (although I've never been called a second time after requesting do-not-call...almost wish I have b/c it'd be fun).

The FCC imposes an automatic fine of something like $1500 per do-not-call list violation. Best way to get those suckers

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I'm surprised more people don't do this...but the instant I determine it's a telemarketer, I tell them to put me on the do-not-call list, and jot down the company's name. If I receive a call from them again, I tell them they're violating an FCC mandate by calling me and that I'm reporting it (although I've never been called a second time after requesting do-not-call...almost wish I have b/c it'd be fun).

The FCC imposes an automatic fine of something like $1500 per do-not-call list violation. Best way to get those suckers

The problem with the FCC and the do not call list is that they don't persue every complaint. Instead they look for a trend and go after the major violaters of the law. There are teeth in the law and it does discourage companies from willfully disregarding the law.

The problem with my phone call was it was a scam for idenity theft. By the time anyone figures out where they're calling from, the boiler room set up will long have moved and set up at another location. They only catch the ones that get greedy and stay in one spot to long or run one scam to long. Otherwise they present a moving target that's hard to catch.

About the best you can do is stay on guard and not give them any information. You can play all the games in the world but all it will do is make you feel better. As soon as they're off the phone with you they're on the phone to the next potential victim without missing a beat.

Years ago I worked for a legitimat telemarketing firm making calls for Citi Bank credit card program offers and Sears card program offers. Anyone remember Citi Shopper (try saying that one fast without screwing it up once or twice) or Sears Allstate Motor Club? I sold those for a few months.

Tom Mabe may be the king of joking with Telemarketers and he gets some of them really well but, most just get a supervisor on the line, disconnect and move on to the next caller. If it's not a legitimate telemarketing firm but a con artist, they don't bother with supervisors. They hang up and move on without a second thought. In telemarketing it's the law of large numbers and thick skin is a a requirement. Good ones could care less about the games you play.

Just beware of the scammers as I'm sure most of you are. This call really wasn't even a new twist but an old scam. I was surprised people were still using it and even more surprised that people obviously still fall for it.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I don't get to have any of this fun. I don't have a landline, only a cell phone, and they tend to not call cell phones.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

These are oldies, but fun...........

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems. My arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died . . . "
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located, how long it has been in business, how many people work there, how they got into this line of work if they are married, how many kids they have, etc. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.
4. This works great if you are male. Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with XYZ Company. " You: Wait for a second and with a real husky voice ask, "What are you wearing?" (my favorite)
5. Cry out in surprise, "Judy? Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where she could know you from.
6. Say "No" over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun if you can do it until they hang up.
7. If a cellular compnay is trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends Plan, reply, in as sinister a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends, would you be my friend?"
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get out blood? Can you get out goat blood? How about human blood?"
9. After the Telemarketer gives his or her spiel, ask him or her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you can't just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.
10. Tell the Telemarketer that you work for the same company, and they can't sell to employees.
11. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a Telemarketer, set the receiver down, scream, "Oh my God!" and then hang up.
12. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask him/her if he/she will give you his/her home phone number so you can call him/her back. When the Telemarketer explains that telemarketers cannot give out their home numbers say, "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The Telemarketer will agree and you say, "Me either!" Hang up.
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinner time, but ask if they would please hold. Put them on your speaker phone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
15. Tell the Telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you some beer.
16. Ask them to fax the information to you, and make up a number.
17. Tell the Telemarketer, "Okay, I'll listen to you. But I should probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
18. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on, Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
19. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up . . . louder . . . louder . . .
20. Tell them to talk very slowly, because you want to write every word down.

NOTICE: The above have all been tested and approved for use on telemarketers. No animals were harmed in the testing

Those are all great suggestion plus they gave me a few laughs. I just say "not interested" and hangup immediately.

One that I have been getting lately is from Countrywide. They are the country's largest mortgage lender. The reason they can call ( I have opted out ) is because my primary mortgage is with them. The are always trying to get me to refinance as they are very hungry for business. I tell them "If you had bothered checking my mortgage, you would realize that there is absolutely no way that you can offer me a better loan than I already have with you. Why are you wasting my time and yours?" After that I pause for a minute waiting to see what they say which is usually just silence. Then I hangup.