Re: They are not usually so honest

In article <10329ko$7gl9$1@dont-email.me>,
Evelyn C. Leeper <evelynchimelisleeper@gmail.com> wrote:

On 6/19/25 3:36 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:

In article <83885kd5o69dn3sbdnn2m4d7ltng2e97j1@4ax.com>,
Joy Beeson  <jbeeson@invalid.net.invalid> wrote:

>
Spammer:  First we need to verify your information
>
Me:  First we need to verify that you got my number from a
legimate source.
>
Spammer:  That is not the case

 
[Hal Heydt]
not quite the same thing, but one of my latest tactics on cold
calls is the ask who they are trying to contact.  Amazing how
often that is followed by a few seconds of silence and a <click>.
 
I still get calls asking for my late wife--who died at the end of
June 2022.  My standard answer is that she is no longer at this
number. It's mildly surprising that no caller ever asks if I have
a new number for her (it's been suggested that I supply the
number of Dial-a-Prayer) and no one ever asks why she is not
longer available.
 
A real irritation is the kind of call I got this morning asking
for her.  When told that she was no longer at this number, the
guy launched into his fund raising spiel at me.

>
I got a spam call two days after Mark died.  When the spammer asked how
I was, I said "My husband died two days ago; what do you think?" and he
immediately launched into his spiel.

[Hal Heydt]
Typically crass behavior.  I don't confirm or deny data,
particularly medical data.  Often, I will ask where they got what
they claim is medical data about me (which is either so common to
be pure guesswork or flat out wrong).  I will push for them to
tell me what doctor supplied it, with the implication that
*somebody* is going to be in trouble over HIPAA violations.

One call actually named a doctor...but not one of mine (I think
he pulled a name out of his posterior because I was pushing for
one).

I never tell them Dorothy has died.  Only that she is no longer
at this number. It's none of their f'ing business.

(I normally don't answer the landline, but while Mark was in the
hospital/nursing home, and then afterwards for a while, I did, because
it could have been important.)

Good reason to answer.  Might relieve some stress to yell at
them.