News

NewsThe One Sentence to Get Telemarketers Off the Phone
The One Sentence to Get Telemarketers Off the Phone

The One Sentence to Get Telemarketers Off the Phone

Tags: Scam Safety
Last updated by The FiftyUp Team on

Having a phone automatically means receiving calls from telemarketers. Registering on the Do Not Call list helps a little but what about the ones who call anyway?

Is there a way to get them off the phone and stopping them from contacting you in the future?

The answer is yes.

Ask them this question:

“CAN YOU MAIL ME OUT YOUR PRIVACY AND OPT-OUT POLICIES, PLEASE?”

The very simple question indicates you are serious about not being contacted and now that you have requested it, the company is under obligation to send it to you. If they don’t send it to you, they are liable for further action.

Your request of their privacy and opt-out policy also means you have a hard copy of your request to not be contacted, a record of the date you requested the policy, when you were called, and when you requested to be taken off the list.

If the calls still continue after your request, you can take further action against them.

WHILE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PHONE CALLS, if you are getting a lot of phone calls from an unknown number in a foreign country, think twice before picking up or calling back.

If you don’t know anyone in Latvia or Africa, don’t answer the phone or call back.

The scam is called “wangiri”, loosely translated from a Japanese word that means “one ring and cut”.

The scammer hopes you call them back because you’ll rack up a hefty bill as the number you are calling is a premium line similar to the psychic hotlines and sex lines that cost you a small fortune.

PROTECT YOURSELF

  • Ignore any unexpected missed or received call from an international number you don’t recognise
  • Block the number of any repeated missed calls
  • Block international calls on mobiles used by children so they don’t accidentally call

Scammers prey on the vulnerable, so when in doubt, don’t answer the phone.
 

Read more on Scams & Privacy
My Identity Has Been Stolen
5 Ways to Safeguard Your Bank Accounts
Protect Yourself Against this US Visa Scam
Protect Yourself Against Harvesting Scams
Protect Yourself Against Email Scams
Protect Yourself Against Phone Scams
How to Have Privacy on Facebook

Originally posted on .

Join the conversation

FiftyUp Club
The One Sentence to Get Telemarketers Off the Phone

Share your views with other members. 

Want to leave a comment? or .
Read our moderation policy here.
Helen
Helen from NSW commented:

If you ask the question and your asking them to mail out the privacy and opt-out policy you would need to give them your address. Would this not lead to more problems? 

vincent
vincent from QLD commented:

What i do when i receive a telemarketers call; i wait for it to ring out. Then i simply hit the reject button. They still try several times to call; but you cannot hear them ring; but their number will still appear on your phone. After a short while they give up. I'ts that easy. 

dianne
dianne from SA commented:

A few weeks ago I started receiving phone calls from unknown numbers - 12 digits, beginning +44. I didn't answer them! In total, about about 6 calls. except the last 3 digits were all different. Looked up international dialling code - stated that it was UK. Obviously scammers!! I NEVER answer unknown numbers! 

dianne
dianne from SA commented:

A few weeks ago I started receiving phone calls from unknown numbers - 12 digits, beginning +44. I didn't answer them! In total, about about 6 calls. except the last 3 digits were all different. Looked up international dialling code - stated that it was UK. Obviously scammers!! I NEVER answer unknown numbers! 

Ian
Ian from QLD commented:

speak up, My recorder is on but not quite picking you up! 

Kevin
Kevin from QLD commented:

We will try it next time. Thanks 

Colin
Colin from NSW commented:

Thanks . Useful advice 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

I use- Can I have your phone number to call back? To confirm your identity and I will have the police on the line with me, as I have a current identity fraud case on going!" They hang up immediately every time! Joe Reeves, philipreeves@bigpond.com 

PAUL
PAUL from QLD commented:

I have the latest Samsung mobile and a message will automatically come up on the screen saying "Suspected Spam!" sometimes when I receive a call. I know not to answer that call and I can block it. I did not have to install anything. It was already operational when I purchased the phone. Maybe other phones have this feature too. 

PAUL
PAUL from QLD commented:

Buy yourself a loud footy umpire's whistle. If the call is a telemarketer, tell them you need to turn the television down can you please hold on. Grab your whistle after putting on your ear protection and go back and blow as hard and long as you can into the mouthpiece of the phone. Then just hang up. This gives them the clear message not to ring back. 

Comment Guidelines