Public Service Announcement

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Bob Farmer
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Public Service Announcement

Postby Bob Farmer » April 9th, 2018, 5:22 pm

We've all received those fake phone calls from people with odd accents claiming: to want to fix our computer; to be filing a lawsuit from the IRS for back taxes; to be a rich prince in Nigeria needing our support. I now have a standard response.

"You've reached the Federal Security fraud service. We are tracing this call and we will be informing the secret police in your country who you are and where you are and they are coming for you and your family right now! Stay where you are and put your hands up."

Usually they hang up before I get to the part about putting their hands up.

Tom Gilbert
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Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby Tom Gilbert » April 9th, 2018, 9:03 pm

Ha, I didn't believe you for a second.

MagicbyAlfred
Posts: 2388
Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm
Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby MagicbyAlfred » April 10th, 2018, 5:52 am

Bob Wrote: "Usually they hang up before I get to the part about putting their hands up."

How rude of them! Some people just have no common courtesy.

Anthony Vinson
Posts: 349
Joined: July 10th, 2010, 12:34 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby Anthony Vinson » April 10th, 2018, 5:54 am

Careful! Shortly after one of those scammers came close to talking my mother into giving them remote access to her computer, I received a similar call. Being indignant at their (yes, I personified them at a single entity for the purposes of my outrage) effrontery I launched into a diatribe that may or may not have included language not usually considered polite. That night, somewhere around midnight, my phone rang. It was the scammer I'd earlier berated. He himself launched into a diatribe filled with impolite language, offering to sodomize both me and my mother. Simultaneously. I hung up. He called back. I unplugged the phone. This went on for three days until he finally got bored and moved along. Since then I just hang up...

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erdnasephile
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Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby erdnasephile » April 10th, 2018, 6:38 am

As funny (and perhaps satisfying) as Bob's reply is, answering the phone can cause your number to be flagged as "live" on spammer lists.

I favor Google voice, as it can be set to automatically block a huge percentage of spam calls. In addition, Nomorobo is a phone spam blocking service (free for landlines) that gets a lot of good reviews as well: https://www.nomorobo.com/

MagicbyAlfred
Posts: 2388
Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm
Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby MagicbyAlfred » April 10th, 2018, 8:48 am

You know, this has all got me to thinking that - gosh - maybe there is a good use for that whoopee cushion that's been relegated to the magical junk drawer for so many years...

But then again, with my luck, it would turn out to be the real IRS calling.

Jonathan Townsend
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Location: Westchester, NY
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Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby Jonathan Townsend » April 10th, 2018, 8:55 am

Yes, fraud reporting hotline, how may we help you?
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

Bob Farmer
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Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Short card above selection.

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby Bob Farmer » April 10th, 2018, 9:21 am

My approach encourages no callbacks.

performer
Posts: 3508
Joined: August 7th, 2015, 10:35 pm

Re: Public Service Announcement

Postby performer » April 10th, 2018, 3:08 pm

The best and most fun solution to these matters is Lenny. Have you ever heard of him? Here he is:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-styl ... 13081.html



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