Phone Tag (telemarketing?)

[BradC]

Interesting tidbit I learned though, the "robot" is listening for a certain total energy level for activation.  Most people answer with a bright and cheery "Hello!" which it finds easily, even if the spectrum is shifted for a deeper or higher voice.  If you're on the fence about it, go ahead and answer the phone but use your best lazy Eeyore voice.  If it's a human, all's well.  If it's a robot, you may be able to just get the dead-air hangup.

That's what I was just saying. Just pick up the phone and don't say hello for 3-4 seconds and you'll get the click. No different to picking up the phone while trying to wrestle a toddler, there's still enough delay that the robo dialler hangs up, and your human on the other end either starts with "hello?" or waits for you to say something.

[MarvinTheMartian]

Keep an old smoke alarm on your desk. The next time you get one of those telemarketers, put the phone over the alarm and press the button.

Totally understand the sentiment/frustration (we also get these calls despite the Do Not Call register!). 

I too would love to do this.

However, using this tactic on the poor saps manning the phones is not really fair (I used to manage staff in a legitimate call centre for incoming calls only).

• The owners/managers of the Call Centre in some third-world country will not give a sh$t about the workers health or any compensation/sick leave
• The owners/managerswill not grow a 'conscience' if you do this
• You will damage the operator's hearing
• The operators are paid a pittance
• The operators are told to just follow their 'script'
• The operators time is micro-managed to the minute and they are under pressure to get results

[MarvinTheMartian]

If it's not a number I recognise I answer the call with silence. Seems that 99% of robo diallers listen for about 3 seconds and hang up if they don't get any noise. As soon as you speak it tries to patch you through to a human.

Good tip

I've just been saying hello and if there is no answer, hang-up straight away - but this will still work in the robocaller's favour.

[MarvinTheMartian]

Quote from: TimFox on Today at 04:17:07

I have seen warnings that some of these calls want to you to answer "yes" to a normal question (e.g., "Is this John?") asked by the automated system so that they can record you saying "Yes" and insert that into some kind of fraudulent order.

Scary!

Won't be using 'yes' any more! 

[BradC]

Won't be using 'yes' any more! 

Check out the Peppa Pig episode where they play the "Yes No" game. She'll teach you how to do it effectively