Having fun with the scammers

Sorry, because they think I think we should be nicer to scammers.

I agree that in the grand scheme of things it's probably best not to engage with them.
But you did say that 'they're probably from poor backgrounds' and I read it that you're trying to excuse their actions.
As someone with a family member who was scammed by these scum it riles me when I hear people trying to make excuses for them.

Sorry, forgot the quote.

Scammers are often people from countries for whom even you average UK pensioner is connsidered fabulously wealthy

I did not say they are "probably from poor backgrounds"

What I said was that they work for call centres, just like regular call centre agents.
They probably are like "Fagins boys" (said yesterday afternoon) in that they are working for the person that really makes the money, and that there are thousands of them to replace the one you are talking to.
They are told that the person they are calling is fabulously wealthy and so fair game.
What I also said was, "are they criminals? Of course they are".

So why is it best not to engage? Because you (not you personally, "you" in the sense of "one") want to stay out of the whole thing, because you want to prevent the organised gangs making money and you don't want to be scammed.

Having a bit of fun doesn't help prevent you or others being scammed, it makes it more likely. You are not making a clever stand against the bad guys and they are not hanging up because they think you are a policeman or someone able to curse them They are hanging up because they have heard it all before. You are not being clever.

The only outcome of this silly game of "baiting" then is that you feel superior and think you are striking a blow for good. Well you're not. You are a drop in their ocean.

My aunt, both as a wife and then a widow would always say "Oh, sorry, I can't stop to chat, I'm waiting for the undertaker to phone." and then hang up.

Some on here believe they are the font of all wisdom. We can believe or ignore as we wish. Scammers really can’t glean any information from you if you don’t give it to them. I act thick and go along with them sometimes and I’ve often been told to hold the line for a short time - they are quite obviously calling a supervisor over - “I’ve got one”. When they come back and ask me to switch my browser on (so they can obviously advise me how to give them access to my computer) I ask them if they really think I’m that stupid and can’t they find a better way of earning a living?! They end the call immediately.

Sorry to disappoint Volver but the amount of scam calls I receive has dropped considerably.

Scammers really can’t glean any information from you if you don’t give it to them.

Is that supposed to mean something or are you lost for words ?

Lost for words. But not in the way you think.

tickingbird

Some on here believe they are the font of all wisdom. We can believe or ignore as we wish. Scammers really can’t glean any information from you if you don’t give it to them. I act thick and go along with them sometimes and I’ve often been told to hold the line for a short time - they are quite obviously calling a supervisor over - “I’ve got one”. When they come back and ask me to switch my browser on (so they can obviously advise me how to give them access to my computer) I ask them if they really think I’m that stupid and can’t they find a better way of earning a living?! They end the call immediately.

Sorry to disappoint Volver but the amount of scam calls I receive has dropped considerably.

Yes, same here. ?

Lost for words. But not in the way you think.

You can read minds too?? Wow!

I normally hang up but feel angry at "yet another one" so just this once I decided to have a bit of fun and yes - I admit, I enjoyed it and when I put the phone down I wasn't angry or p'd off, I just carried on with my day.
Having read all the comments and advice on here I will consider myself duly reprimanded for being a silly billy, and in future, just put the phone down.
.... but it was fun!

My brother used to say "I'll just go and fetch them " put the phone down on the side and walk away .
After about 15 minutes, he went back to say the person they wanted was on their way (if the caller was still there) .
One time, he kept this up for 1 hr and 35 minutes once!
At least, while they were stuck with him, they couldn't call anyone else!

And he didn't mind tying up his own line for an hour and 35 minutes?

Bet that showed them...

I give them a bit of sport and ask them questions they aren't prepared for. Play them at their game And they go away. Just block the number after.

Volver, just coming on here to say THANK YOU. So good to know that some people are nice people.

Obviously, I detest these scammers phone calls, BUT I really do not understand why people think it is, somehow, clever, to try to find ways of (what they think) is 'playing with them. An, as for blowing a whistle down the 'phone - words escape me as this could damage a persons hearing. And, if anyone is going to try to come back to tell me that these people 'deserve that' - please do not bother!!!

I usually let most landline calls go via answerphone. If, inadvertently, I answer one, and it is a scam, I just disconnect that call immediately.

I have far better things to do with my time, than being nasty to a stranger.

on at 10am today. Bbc1 watch Scam Interceptors.......Rav wilding and team intercept scam callers.

Thanks Franbern

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuQzNjDMsWM

This is satire.

See if you can spot the difference between this and Wilding's approach. (Hint - there is none)

We just don't answer the phone to numbers we don't know. My brother who is a friendly soul will occasionally ask them what the weather is like where they are, which usually gets rid of them.

I once ran a call centre. Completely above board, no outward calling, only incoming calls, tech support.

One of the agents was European and had a bit of a foreign accent. The abuse she got was terrible. I mean really terrible, swearing like you wouldn't believe. Frequently told they only wanted to speak to a British person, to p* off back where she came from. We told her to tell them she wasn't going to take it and to put the phone down.

Maybe that makes me nicer to people. Maybe it makes me a snowflake, who knows.

Brilliant!!! I must tell the next to ring about my (fictional) constipation!

I don't get many calls but if I do I just hang up or if they start rattling on straight away they get a short sharp reply of "go away" and I slam the phone down. A friend of mine always engages with them and more often than not if I am round her house her phone will ring and yet again another scammer is at the end of the line.

Scammers or cold callers, I treat the same. “No thank you”, put the phone down and immediately block the number. Satisfaction.

Elizabeth27

Why can’t you just say no thank you and hang up. these people are on minimum wage in a call centre and have to put up with constant abuse and time wasters. Keeping them on the line will not stop cold callers but will stop them reaching their targets and mean even less pay. I am sure most of them do not work there by choice.

These people are thieves, preying on the vulnerable and bullying them into parting with their money and/or identity.

Just hang up.

Scammers are scum. Don't waste any sympathy on them.