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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
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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 .

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The One Sentence to Get Telemarketers Off the Phone

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Judy
Judy from QLD commented:

Telling them to get a real job seems to work! 

Evan
Evan from VIC commented:

If they are selling solar systems and you have nothing better to do agree to one of their reps visiting and tell them not to contact "donotcall" numbers 

Peter
Peter from WA commented:

Very good 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

I have tried, but I can not block them! 

David
David from VIC commented:

Just like ignoring the Do Not Call list, these marketers also ignore the requests for privacy. Rather than ask them to observe second requirement, they should be accountable for ignoring the Do Not Call list. I suspect that you'll find that the legal power and/or those legislations are close on useless. (just like a lot of other useless and ineffective measures (eg grocery watch, petrol price watch) which seem to be services created by government employees principally to create more useless employment and spending programs.. 

Someone
Someone from SA replied to David:

I’ve been told by Do not Call to write down the date and the exact time of the calls and let them know and they can then contact them or try to see where the call was from. If it’s overseas they cannot stop them! 

Les
Les from NSW replied to David:

100% correct David. The government is full of such people, over -populated and extremely costly to us all. 

george
george from NSW commented:

How do you block them when number always comes up private from these foreign calls 

Someone
Someone from SA replied to george:

I’ve also been advised if you answer some of these numbers the call charges are reversed to you and you could end up with a big bill. Something needs to be done here! 

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