When they call my work, we put them on hold and check the number on the web. If it is bogus we leave them on hold till they hang up. If we are feeling particularly suacy, we will pick up and tell them we are trying to find the person they asked for and still leave them on hold.
This is a scam call offering a free "ebook" or some other useless piece of information for free. The purpose? To become a "live" and "willing" person so that they can SELL your information over and over again. They use lies and trickery to get you to agree to their scam.
Here is how my call went:
Scammer: I am looking for Jack. Is this Jack?
Me: What can we do for you? (NOTE: never acknowledge that you are who they are asking for)
Scammer: You visited one of our partner websites asking for additional information and we are following up. You entered your information and they gave it to us.
Me: What website are you talking about?
Scammer: We don't have all the details but I believe it was Overlook.com. (NOTE: do not go to this website. I have never gone to it and neither should you.
Me: we have never been to that website. What are you talking about?
Scammer: well, you went to that website and entered your information and they sent it to us
Now, I could have had fun with the moronic wench on the phone, such as screaming at them with "who the f*** gave you permission to use my info" and stuff like that, but I decided to end the call, the remainder of which went like this:
Me: I did not enter any information. What are you talking about?
Scammer: well, if you are not interested, I will take your name off our list.
Yeah right. No number will be taken off any list. These are scammers and crooks. They will call again. If I had more time, I would have tried to get the name of the company that called in order to report them to the FCC and FTC, but they typically hang up if you ask.
Here is the important things to remember:
* NEVER acknowledge who you are. They are trying to confirm a live "fish." Give them nothing.
* Play dumb. Act like you know nothing and you did nothing.
* Don't be confrontation. Be boring. Be the type of person who they do not want to call because they are wasting their time.
* WASTE THEIR TIME. Ask the same questions repeatedly. Let them get frustrated with you. If you are not an easy mark, they will move on to other prey.
* Try to learn about their company if you can so you can report these scammers.