Ah-oh, I said yes

[bigtiller]

The phone rang, caller Id showed a local number so I answer with hello. I heard a half second of noise as if someone was moving their phone from ear to ear then a cheerful giggling girl said she had a problem with her headset. I forget what was said in the next 3 seconds, other than me saying yes and instantly wondering if I just fell for the phone scam that has been on the news lately.

Anyone else fall victim to these vulchers? Is there anything we can do to save ourselves from their deceiving ways?

 

[reb]

I unintentionally bit a couple of weeks ago. The next day I sent a letter to the state atty general, who forwarded my complaint to a Federal agency. Not that I expected any results; I figured it might be a good defense if the next phase of the scam comes around.

Got another such call a couple of days ago. Gave an evasive answer and the caller hung up.

 

[George2615]

I get the same exact call about every week. Then she starts by saying because I have stayed in one of their hotels I am qualified for some promotional..... At that point I try to interrupt and tell her she has the wrong number because I haven't stayed in any motel but she does not respond so I figure its a recording and just hang up.

 

[General Lee]

I have since unplugged the house phone and don't answer the cell if the number is not in my contact list. They'll leave a message if its important.

 

[Zerk]

I said yes to one time if they asked if I could hear. I hve heard they use that to prove you agreed. But I suspect they need more. So far so good, and that was couple years ago.

 

[comancheflight]

We have taken the General Lee method above.

 

[bigtiller]

I said yes to one time if they asked if I could hear. I hve heard they use that to prove you agreed. But I suspect they need more. So far so good, and that was couple years ago.

I sure hope you're correct.

 

[beowulf]

Sometimes I just breathe heavily and ask them if they know what I am wearing.

 

[ning]

I moved our old house phone number to a google voice account (free), and that now points at my cell phone, which only rings for people in my contact list. Everyone else has the opportunity to leave a voice mail, which voice turns into an email, which I can glance at and ignore (not that the typical robo/phish call leaves a message). Strongly suggest this method.

Even if you don't want to move your phone number (we weren't using a land line for outgoing calls at all - you can use free fax services for the two faxes a year you have to send - and so paying $40 a month to have our ancient phone number wasn't cutting it), you can get a voice account and send your cell phone's messages to it automatically and get the transcription service/emails; I don't know about you guys but I don't have the patience to listen to someone's softly spoken voice mail for five minutes (sorry mom but your messages just go on and on) when there's perhaps five seconds of actual information ("you haven't called in a zillion years")...

 

[oosik]

My only phone is my cell phone. I try to remember to turn it on every evening to see if anybody left a message worthy of returning. I got the same message as George about a week ago. I simply deleted it from my phone.