- Oct 9, 1999
- 21,014
- 137
- 106
For whatever reason (Have I offended the gods? I really don't remember doing that.), I'm getting multiple calls a day from scammers in India pretending to be Visa or MC and telling me my credit card interest rate will be reduced to 0%. They always spoof caller ID with a different local number - no way to block. The calls are annoying but I realized on days I work from home, I can keep them engaged for a while and still get work done. I'd like to think I'm saving some other people from getting called by tying up one of their scammers for a while. Their script never changes, I just hit speakerphone, I talk slow and try to sound old, and keep working while the dance begins.
Starts with the enticing offer, want to know roughly how much I owe, then they want me to "verify my information" by giving them info from my credit card...
"So which credit card do you owe the most balance? Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express...?"
The one from the bank.
"What bank?"
Maple Valley Bank.
"OK, is it a Visa or Mastercard?
It's blue. From the bank.
"What kind of card is it?"
It's a blue card.
"Yes, but is it Visa or Mastercard?"
I don't know, it's blue. It's a blue card. It has a blue color.
"No, no, is it a Visa or Mastercard? What does it say on the card?" <frustration level rising>
I don't know, I don't have it in front of me.
"Could you get your card?"
It's upstairs, I have to go get it.
"That's OK, take your time, I will hold."
<at this point I stop talking. While I work I can still hear background noises from their end. Then after a couple minutes I will hear...>
"Hello? Hello? <pause> Are you there? <pause for a minute or two> Hello? Are you there?"
My personal best was one guy who stayed on for 10 minutes before hanging up.
But today was different.
<typical opening>
"Is it a Visa or Mastercard?"
It's blue.
"You can roll up that blue card and shove it up your ass."
I guess we had spoken before.
Starts with the enticing offer, want to know roughly how much I owe, then they want me to "verify my information" by giving them info from my credit card...
"So which credit card do you owe the most balance? Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express...?"
The one from the bank.
"What bank?"
Maple Valley Bank.
"OK, is it a Visa or Mastercard?
It's blue. From the bank.
"What kind of card is it?"
It's a blue card.
"Yes, but is it Visa or Mastercard?"
I don't know, it's blue. It's a blue card. It has a blue color.
"No, no, is it a Visa or Mastercard? What does it say on the card?" <frustration level rising>
I don't know, I don't have it in front of me.
"Could you get your card?"
It's upstairs, I have to go get it.
"That's OK, take your time, I will hold."
<at this point I stop talking. While I work I can still hear background noises from their end. Then after a couple minutes I will hear...>
"Hello? Hello? <pause> Are you there? <pause for a minute or two> Hello? Are you there?"
My personal best was one guy who stayed on for 10 minutes before hanging up.
But today was different.
<typical opening>
"Is it a Visa or Mastercard?"
It's blue.
"You can roll up that blue card and shove it up your ass."
I guess we had spoken before.