I just got a call solicitiing donations for Anne Arundel Professional Firefighters - they were not familiar with any of the prominent cities or highways in the area. Man said he just moved into the area within the past week. I asked where he lives and he hung up.
Received another call today. Caller ID said Millersville, which is where the Fire and Police Dept are headquartered in that state. He called me by my name, asked how I was doing. I replied that I cannot give him any money. He hung up. Hmmm, wonder why he was calling? Could it be for a donation to whatever his scam company is?
These telemarketers are totally corrupt and deceptive. The telemarketers keep something on the order of .70 cents out of every dollar contributed. Saw a new ploy being used: a device the idiots are now using keys the caller ID to show the caller as the number that they are calling. My caller ID on my home phone showed my name and home phone number. Consequently, I was unable to block it.
Some keep more that 70 cents on the dollar, and that ploy you describe as new has been around for a while. A long while.
And why can't you block your phone number? After all, how many times do you call yourself from your home phone?
Not sure if it was the FOP or AA Firefighters but only a part of the donation actually goes to the organization. The solicitor gets paid for getting a positive. Wouldn't mind but my county property taxes already pay these guys & I contribute to my local volunteer fire company so I don't feel obligated to add another "donation" that really isn't a charity.