We got "upgraded"

[question everything]

Instead of the calls from Mumbai about "windows" - when I would occasionally ask the caller to show me where I could find Windows on my Mac - we are now getting calls alerting us about suspicious activities in our iCloud account.

We don't use Windows, we don't use iCloud and we don't have grandkids for the callers who say: "grandpa!" or "grandma.."

These calls about the iCloud, though, come two or three in rapid succession.

Yes, I do hang up, not waiting for the explanation, or whatever.

[Leith]

1. I got a call that left a message

(if I don't know the caller, I don't answer) about restructuring my student debt.

I don't have any student debt. Never have.

Last month, I got on the no-call list for cell phones. The daily average has dropped steadily since then. Starting Friday, when an unfamiliar number (or "unavailable" ) calls, I will answer, ask their name and who they represent. I will keep asking until they answer my questions. If they do, and don't hang up, I will tell them that I am on the list and filing a complaint. Not that it will do any good, but it sure will feel good to cuss those a-holes out.*

*I can make the crudest person blush. I hold my tongue and fingers around here. I have been harrassed by an average of 12 to 16 unwanted calls per day for months. I'm ready for some payback.

[dhol82]

3. Sadly, there is never a live person any more

I will sometimes answer to try and tell them to put me on the do not call list.
They are all mechanical robocalls. No real people. No way to tell them anything.

[eleny]

2. We've gotten lucky

Today they called about six times using our home phone number and only said, "Goodbye".

[yonder]

4. Our landline has received at least 12 calls today from "Apple Inc",

same number, every 20 minutes this afternoon. Each left a message about iCloud support press 1 or something else, press 2.

Last week a different number just left a message saying "goodbye".

I don't know that CenturyLink will do anything unless we buy into a "service", I just want it to stop.

[3Hotdogs]

5. I only have an iPhone.

I get one junk call, about every two weeks.

My way of handling it is consistent.

Good afternoon, Mr. H., and how are you doing today?

Me: " Oh, not too good. I ate too many pork rinds last night and I ain't doing too good. Can you hold on for a minute, I gotta go to the bathroom." Depending on my physical condition, a fart can be added.

After which, I put the phone down for 5 or 10 minutes. Then pick it up to see if they are still there. Usually they are not.

[TheBlackAdder]

6. I keep them on the line as long as possible, so the can't scam others.

.

I don't have a Mac, but I can pretend to, up until the "What's the little Window thingie on the lower left?"

.

[coolcat_riley]

7. Best!

I think hanging up on them is the best thing we can do to avoid those scammers. Even better if you can ignore their calls. Recently, I received 4 calls from 800-100-9009. Well, I ignored those calls and they didn't leave any VMs, too. I looked up the number and found many reports have been filed at https://www.whycall.me/800-100-9009.html under that number about tech support scams. I immediately blocked the number.

[Everyman Jackal]

8. I keep them on the line as long as possible.

Eventually, I tell them that I am very interested and please send me all your information so I can give it to my fiduciary. If I answer and no one is there I put it in my contact list as "no one there". Plus I have about 75 "spams" in my contact list.