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Paul
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 11:28 am

Just had one of these Indian Event Viewer conmen on the 'phone. I tried to keep him on the line for as long as possible, thinking that the more he talked to me the less he could be scamming someone else. That started to get difficult so I tried to get him to talk about religion, eventually getting to the point that he would burn in the fires of hell for all eternity as a conman and something about snakes and orifices, and how his parents would be ashamed of their conman son (they'd hoped he would work in IT in a bank I said!) After 14 minutes he hung up on me.These days if I get a cold call and I'm not in a mad rush to get something else done I tend to keep cold callers on the 'phone for as long as possible. The aim of the game is to get them to hang up on me. In the past I've used a fake ringtone to ask them to hold while I answer the other call and just left them, I've turned the tables by trying to sell them something (usually the magazine!). Sometimes I just keep asking questions. I'm looking forward to trying flirting outrageously with them, having a sneezing fit or a heart attack (maybe not that one). I found that when I just hung up they tended to call back another time.What do other people do with these people?P
 
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ppauper
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 11:43 am

if it's a female caller, ask her what she's wearing. They usually hang up at that point
 
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Paul
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 11:46 am

Too quick. That would come after light flirting. For me the rules are to keep them on as long as possible, they have to be the ones to hang up, and ideally you have to have some fun.PEdit: Without breaking the law.
Last edited by Paul on October 7th, 2013, 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 
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katastrofa
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:03 pm

I just hang up without saying a word as soon as I see it's a nuisance call. I don't like taking it out on poorly paid people who hate their jobs more than I hate their calls, so I go for the solution which wastes least time. If there's a chance of them listening to my request, I ask them to remove me from the call list.
 
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Traden4Alpha
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:12 pm

"Dominic's Pizza, may I take your order?"
 
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tags
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:14 pm

A first option is barking over the phoneEDIT: the link works here.
Last edited by tags on October 8th, 2013, 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 
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tags
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:16 pm

Another option is inventing a thrilling story
 
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Paul
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:28 pm

edouard, I tried the first one but it's not healthy. And you have inspired me with the second one...just can't wait for the next call!P
 
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Cuchulainn
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:41 pm

QuoteWhat do other people do with these people?I am usally very polite. For some reason the discussion does not last long.A good one: "Which part of NO did you not understand?"QuoteAfter 14 minutes he hung up on me.meshuggah!You poor guy. Such talks just ruin my day afterwards.
Last edited by Cuchulainn on October 7th, 2013, 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 
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Paul
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:55 pm

Only edouard seems to understand the game here! We must be the only ones with free time on our hands!P
 
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Ultraviolet
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 12:58 pm

Maybe try this. I remember I consequently asked to be removed from their call lists and registered my number in some services when I got a landline in the UK, and it worked.
 
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Traden4Alpha
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 1:06 pm

The key is to determine the mental stack depth of the caller and then feed a set of recurring legitimate questions with cyclic recurrence > mental_depth. If you seem interested in the conman's offering and they can't tell you are re-asking the same questions over and over, then they will keep answering.You can also use oscillating levels of agreement -- almost saying "yes" to the offer before starting the next round of questions -- so the conman stays with you. As long as they think that just one more minute of answers will hook you, they'll give you one more minute. Note that you might need to use a Zeno-strategy of offering 50% "yes", then 75% yes, then 87.5% yes, ..... to keep them on the line.
 
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Paul
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How do you deal with tele-scams and cold-calling salesmen?

October 8th, 2013, 1:13 pm

Yes, I have noticed that your first point works. It's related to 'acting dumb.'I might try a 'noises off' approach next. Porn video in the background, occasional interjections from me, "Mr Weiner, you know you shouldn't do that. Remember last time?"P