But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has worked pretty good:
1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.
2) If I hear a large number of people talking in the background when I pick up, I hang up the phone.
3) If someone replies to my "hello" with another "hello" I hang up the phone (think about it--no one who knows you and has called you will simply reply 'hello' after you've picked up the phone).
It also helps to speak a language you don't think the telemarketer understands...they'll hang up the phone pretty quickly if you're talking in Chinese, for instance. (And if they have a Chinese accent I'll talk to them in Spanish.)
From: Steve Schear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: How to Stop Telemarketers...
Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2002 19:07:04 -0800
Most Telemarketers use what is called Predictive Dialers, which are PCs
with software that dials ever number in a phone exchange until it gets
lucky. Now you can use their own technology against them, and it's legal...
Here is how their system works: the dialer calls your number, you answer,
and you have probably notice the line appears dead after you said, "Hello".
What their computer is doing is listening for a short burst of audio, your
"HELLO", followed by a period of silence. With this heard, it will log your
phone number as valid and transfer the call to an available telemarketer,
the reason for the delay before someone comes on line.
Now, if their computer receives a long audio burst (an answering machine) "
Hello, this is Alan Carlton", then it will disconnect, but it will log you
phone number as valid, for a later call-back. Oh Lovely! Some are even
capable of detecting Fax tones and will even transmit a fax trying to sell
selling something you're probably are not interested in. However, do not
answer, or when you do answer the phone, or if fax tones are detected, or
if it detects an answering machine, in all four (4) cases IT LOGS YOUR
NUMBER AS A GOOD PHONE NUMBER FOR FUTURE CALL- BACK --- PLUS THE COMPANY IS
ALSO SELLING THESE VERIFIED VALID NUMBERS LIST TO OTHER TELEMARKETERS.
A SIMPLE WAY TO STAY OFF THE LIST IS TO USE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY AGAINST THEM.
The predictive dialer's software also looks for NON-valid phone numbers,
and there is a simple way you can make your phone number appear invalid to
the telemarketers' computers, thus they do not call back and accumulate no
database, at least with your number, to sell other Telemarketers.
Here is how to do it: If you call a number that has been disconnected or is
no longer in service you will hear 3 short tones, "doo...dah...dee", thanks
to Ma-Bell. Each time you Refresh this page you should hear,
"doo...dah...dee". The actual frequency of these tones are 985.2 Hz, 1370.6
Hz, and 1776.7 Hz. Guess what the telemarketers' software does when it
detects these 3 tones at the beginning of your outgoing message? It thinks
it has reached a line that is disconnected or is no longer in service. So,
it disconnects and does not log your phone number as a working number. BINGO!
NOW record these onto you outgoing message or voice mail announcement, and
start exterminating telemarketers. Try this example, but use your own name,
"doo...dah...dee, Hello, This is Tyler Durden". It must be at the beginning
of your announcement to work. You may have to explain it to you friends,
but they will soon have it on theirs' too.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO PLAY THE 3 TONES.
http://www.flash.net/~carlton2/telemark.htm
steve
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