Sky-haired Miranda 💙🐙

I'm sharing again my tip against robocallers and telemarketers, because I just used it successfully again.

From what I understand, at least where I'm living, those systems work in the following way:

  • An automated system calls a number from a database
  • If the call is answered, it tries to detect who or what is answering: a person? A voicemail or other machine? For old landlines, a fax or modem?
  • If it's person, transfer to a human operator. Otherwise, hang up.

So here is my strategy : if you get a call from an unknown and possibly dubious number, take the call and then remain absolutely silent. If it's a real person, they will end up speaking. If it's a call center, the system will just wait for you to speak and, after a few seconds where you don't, end the call by itself. Without any interaction with a telemarketer.

Nov 10 at 3:00pmWeb
Show threadEfi (nap pet) 🦊💤Nov 10
@miranda_blue funny caveat: when I speak at these robots they hang up anyway (???)
Show threadKranston 🪑Nov 10
@efi @miranda_blue assigned nonhuman identity by robocallers
Show threadErik AblesonNov 10

@miranda_blue Can confirm this works. Initially an accident getting my headphones connected, but noticed the pattern, so I pick up and say nothing and if they hang up, well that’s on them.

There are still some old school call centers that aren’t to the same level of automation that will get through, but it’s an easy filter to use.

Show threadHigh intensity squirrel 🏳️‍⚧️Nov 10

@miranda_blue

Side effect bonus:

The software will also log the call attempt as a pickup, silence, hang up, etc in the database.

The automated dialer can be configured (and probably is) to remove the number from the call list after x number (sometimes as low as 1!) of pickups but “no human” (ie silence).

Source: Used to do tech support for a call center, their automatic dialer, phone system, and even built a call center one time from the ground up : D

Show threadTim 🛥️🌈Nov 11
@totalclaireity @miranda_blue counter source: me. One call centre tried multiple times despite the silent treatment. I gave in and spoke to them. They wanted to yap about life insurance, so after the caller ran out of their long preprepared speech I said I didn't have any life insurance, and didn't need any (as far as they were concerned). After a brief apology the caller said they would take me off the list.
Show threadSky-haired Miranda 💙🐙Nov 11

@spodlife I guess those things vary with place, time, legislation and individual call centers. My experience is that for telemarketers in my area, even if you ask to be removed from the list, they won't do it, regardless of what they say. (I think the operator often just doesn't have the power or the authority to do it?)

Even if the system retries aggressively, the fact that they don't speak when I remain silent identifies them as an automated call, and then I can block the number. I don't mind doing that, if I avoid speaking the operator that's the important thing to me. Those interactions are a mildly annoying waste of time and energy to me, and I suppose it's best for the operators if they just don´t talk to me either since that would lower their sale statistics or whatever they're evaluated on. (I wish those things didn't exist but that's a regulatory issue, I have no beef with random people working in call centers.)

@totalclaireity