Called at 6:35 am. Asked for "Dave." Said he had the wrong number, and he started to tell me he was calling on behalf of the "Disabled Vets of America." I told him it was 6:30 am and hung up. I am on do-not-call list.
The next time someone like that calls, sit down in front of your computer. Keep them talking. You may be able to get off their call list by doing about 45 seconds of research. For instance:
A Google search will show you that there actually is a "Disabled Veterans of America". Page one of the Google search doesn't show a "Disabled Vets of America", the name your caller used. A sound-alike name (Disabled Vets of America) is a red flag.
Charitynavigator.com has issued a donor advisory, that contains the following:
On November 14, 2012, Lansing State Journal reported that Neil Thrasher, a “man who created fake charities with names similar to legitimate veterans groups and used telemarketing proceeds for his own gain has been sentenced to prison.” The article noted that "Thrasher named his fake charities Paralyzed American Veterans and Disabled Veterans of America" and that he was "ordered to pay restitution of $29,257 to Paralyzed Veterans of America and $45,143 to Disabled American Veterans." For more information, please see the LSJ article.
So in this case, the caller is using a sound-alike name, connected with a charity that is already in trouble.
Going to the two web locations, and reading what was there, took 45 seconds. Telling the caller what you found takes another 10 seconds. They will hang up, and the chances are that they will not call again.
Caller claimed that they were from Disabled Veterans of America, as soon as I started talking about not donating the caller hung up on me I tried to call back to see why they were so rude but in 10 attempts I either go a busy signal or a donation center message