On 7/20/2018 1:51 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 7/20/2018 3:26 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
I had one of these calls yesterday - "your computer has stopped
communicating with the Windows server", or something like that.

I used my usual: "hang on while I get the police on the other line";
that usually makes them hang up pretty smartish.

However, thinking about it afterwards, I wondered: would it be possible
to devise something that could do something to their systems, while
pretending to do whatever they ask? I've never gone beyond the initial
call - I have always seen through them so far, it's not been difficult!
- so I don't know what they ask you to _do_.

I suspect it isn't likely to be possible, but it would be _so_
satisfying ... (-:

If I am sitting at my PC when the phone rings, I sometimes have my PC's
Fax application answer. I told my daughter that, if she calls and hears
Fax synchronization tones, she should hang up; wait a full minute; and
then call again.


By the way, I get many non-robo telemarketer calls, mostly from
home-improvement contractors. Sometimes, instead of merely hanging up,
I ask for the name of the contractor. Then I ask for the contractor's
liceense number. I live in California, where the law requires
contractors to provide their license number when requested if they are
soliciting customers. Usually, the caller hangs up instead of giving me
the number; but I already have the contractor's name.

Now it can be interesting. I go online to http://www.cslb.ca.gov/ and
do a search for the contractor, either by name or by license number. If
the search shows that the license has expired or been revoked by the
state, I file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board.

If the license is current, I file a complaint with the FTC's "Do Not
Call" registry. I also file a complaint with the Contractors State
License Board if the telemarketer fails to provide the license number.

I know the FTC will not start an investigation from my complaint alone.
However, an accumulation of complaints can indeed result not only in an
investigation but also in a fine against the telemarketer.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

Attorney-General Sessions claims the bible favors imprisoning illegal
aliens. However, God repeatedly commanded us to welcome the stranger in
our land. For example, see the following:
Exodus 22:20 at
http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=2&CHAPTER=22#P2 131
Exodus 23:9 at
http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=2&CHAPTER=23#P2 151
Deuteronomy 10:19 at
http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=5&CHAPTER=10#P5 200