never ending scam callers!

[davidc4430]

is anyone else getting daily calls from indian call centers just lately?

i'm getting at least 1 per day and often 2 or 3.

i just do my 'let them listen to abc radio' trick. within  a minute they have hung up, but they just keep coming.

its different each time, solar, computer, electricity, ect

[joztamps]

I recently had one from the old reliable "Windows Technical Department".

I told him there was no problem with my windows, I ws looking out through them right at that moment, they were working just fine, clear as glass.

He then hung up, after saying in an irritated tone that I was a smartass.

Which I thought was a bit rich.

[lyndal1838]

David, if you ever do want to give to a charity ring the charity direct.

If you give to these call centres nearly half the donated money goes to running the call centre and the charity gets a very reduced amount.  I was told this by the RSPCA and the RFS.

These days I only ever give direct to the charities of my choice.

[springyzone]

That's useful information, Lyndal.

And at least you know it is not a scam that way, too.

[go-tazz]

They did a story a number of years ago on one of the big charities that collects for overseas relief,etc.

It worked out that less than 10% actually ended up as being used in aid as administration cost were high and

the countries that the "aid" was going to was also taking a cut,(some of the so called volunteer "managers"

were taking home 200 to 300 thousand dollars per year).

That's why it always has to be huge amounts that goes in as relief as most of it doesn't get there,(that's also

why some countries now only send aid,not money as money is hijacked along the way),

Anything that has a call centre asking for donations would be handled the same way.

[davidc4430]

---

@lyndal1838 wrote:

David, if you ever do want to give to a charity ring the charity direct.

If you give to these call centres nearly half the donated money goes to running the call centre and the charity gets a very reduced amount.  I was told this by the RSPCA and the RFS.

These days I only ever give direct to the charities of my choice.

---

yes, id heard that these cold callers work in an industry now just calling people for donations for whatever charity signs up for their service.

they tak a percentage and hand over the rest to the charity.

there are so many hands taking a bit here and a bit there the people the money is supposed to be helping end up with almost nothing.

its not like the old days where 'volunteers' would come knocking once a year for the Slavos.

now its calls with each one reading a script to get you to pull out your credit card. no more dropping a $1 in the tin.

[lyndal1838]

The Salvos still call once a year round here.

I used to volunteer to door knock but had to give it up a few years ago when my knees packed it in.

What I also object to with these call centres is the way they suggest an amount for donations usually starting at $50 and going up to $200+.

[enigmabear]

Still have that tune stuck in my head

And there upon your mobile

Is the answer to the never ending scam call

ahha ahh ahh

[the_great_she_elephant]

We invested in a Telstra Call Guardian. It costs around $75.00 and is worth every cent. It monitors al lincoming calls, and interrogates unrecognised callers. The scammers usually hang up immediately so we don't even get to hear them. If they give a name the machine announces it and we have the option to accept ths time, always accept or block. It can store up tp 10000 blocked numbers and just cuts them off without us even knowing.

[twyngwyn]

I have a silent number....am on the 'do not call register', and still evey day I get them.

Sometimes I play, sometimes I tell them :Telstra doesn't call anyone, I wish"....or I put the handset on the bench & walk away, hoping to waste their time. At least while they're waiting for me, thay can't bother anyone else 😞

[springyzone]

I'm glad you told us that as I was wondering if it was worth going back onto a silent number, just to avoid the problem.

Seems like that won't work.

My other thought was it would be good if we as users were able to individually block phone calls from some countries in the world. I suppose Indian migrants wouldn't want to block India but the rest of us might! Then I remembered that wouldn't work as so many of our companies have now outsourced their phone work to india and countries like it!

I get a lot of phone calls where they obviously do not know our names as they say good day ma'am and then ask to speak to the account owner. When I ask who that may be, they act as if I don't understand English and start explaining that an account owner is the person who is in charge of the account.

But I do get the occasional call where they know my surname and start off with 'Am I speaking to Mrs X?

When I suspect a scam call I sometimes just say no. Nothing else, just no. Then wait.

That totally throws them.