Answering unknown number calls on my cell phone like a receptionist really confuses scammers.

"Good afternoon, thanks for calling!"

"Hello."

"Hi, who's calling please?"

"This is Experian Security Services calling to discuss an urgent issue with your account."

"Who are you trying to reach?"

"I am looking to talk to the owner of this phone number."

"I'm sorry, I'll need a name to help you."

30 seconds of silence.

Call hangs up.

@vees This is brilliant AND fun! I generally don't answer the unknown callers, but if I do accidentally, I will try this approach!
@ColesStreetPothole @vees
I had my screening off the other day and got a vaguely work adjacent cold call “Hi this is [rando] from [acronym] calling for [mangles my name].” I answered “from *WHERE*” to which he explained who the acronym company was… to which I responded “I don’t need that” and hung up. Hopefully nobody needs whatever consulting he said, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be giving him my number. Sad.
@sollat @vees Extra points if you said "Ain't nobody got time for that!""
@ColesStreetPothole @vees
I can’t land that one. I can hang up fast though.