Speaking from experience, the Do Not Call List is a joke especially when it comes to spoofed phone numbers.

So lately, I've been getting the same kind of call from different spoofed numbers in the area code in which I used to live in (and that is still part of my cell phone number). I don't believe the numbers are from the same "company" but each one was likely sold a package to allow them to set up their system - auto-dialers, initial recording, multiple phone line handling like in a telemarketing place. The recording is always the same voice and spiel - if you want to lower your credit card interest rate, press 1, at which point you're transferred to a live operator (foreign accent every time), who asks you which of your cc's you want to get the lower rate on - the Visa or Mastercard. Say Visa, and he says, "Yes, we just need to verify your card so read it out to me. It's the one that starts with a 4." (All Visas start with 4. All MC's start with 5. It's a nice touch). At this point, I read a phony card number to them. Give them more phony info if they ask for it -birthday (I've given November 31st several times now), SSN, etc. They put you on hold while they try to gain access to/control of your card. Doesn't happen, and they come back and tell you. I ask them to read it back to me. "Oh, you must have gotten these two numbers mixed up... It's not XY, it's YX. Try it now." Same thing happens. "Read me back what you wrote down. Well, gee, that looks right. Huh... OH! I see the problem. That last 0 is really an 8. It's just been eroded away with so much use! Now we'll get somewhere!" They come back and tell me it's not working. I ask them to read me back the card number (sometimes ask them to start over - the sound dropped for a second), expiration date, the 3 digit code on back, etc. "Well," I say, "The only reason that this card couldn't be working is that I gave you a fake one because I know you're a scam, and I'm deliberately wasting your time."

Usually get cursed at in a mixture of English and their native language, and they hang up. But not before, I suspect, they put ME on their do not call list.

TlalocW

My favorite start is to say I have something on the stove and I'll put them on speaker phone and yell I'll be right back. Every minute or so, I holler I'm almost done.

When they get too impatient, I'll go on the line and ask them if they are legit. This discussion is good for another few minutes before the information starts flowing. They ask your full name. I go, I thought you called me because my rates were too high, you should know my name. Oh, you just need to verify, ok. And so forth ...

When I'm bored or it seems like they are about to give up, I try to terminate the call with a few choice words and a blast from my Acme Thunderer drum major whistle.

I used to mess with the email scammers, the ones who mail you bad checks, have you deposit them, keep 20% and wire the rest to them. I'd tell them how badly I needed the work. Eventually I'd inform them I was too poor to have a bank account and would they please mail me some cash to open a bank account. Sorry, a check would take several weeks to open an account, cash only.

I've been on Match.com almost since the beginning - 20 years (and it's not done me a damn bit of good - makes me feel real good about myself ). In the beginning it was free so I've been grandfathered in and will never pay to have an ad on there. Now it's only really good for playing with the scam artists. About once or twice a year, I get a message from a very attractive woman from Africa who just happened to be living close to me before she had to go home to Ghana to take care of a sick mother but wanted to start communicating with me. I dragged one on for a couple of weeks (I was impressed with the slow con) until we had finally declared our mutual love for each other, and we were talking about my coming to Ghana to see her. And then I told "her" I didn't have that much money, but if she could buy me a ticket, I would pay her back. Never heard back from her again.

Bitch broke my heart.

This is an interesting story. I don't know if he has his blog still up, but he had tons of stories about scamming scammers. The best one was convincing some to recreate Monty Python's, "Parrot Sketch," for entry into an amateur video contest with a large grand prize.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7688138

TlalocW