"Hi, this is Stan," is the opening line of a Robocall. It is intended to have the recipient continue to listen while he mentally searches his memory to see if he knows anyone named Stan.

In the meantime the sales pitch continues in an attempt to get you hooked into listening to more. I head this off by simply hanging up and putting the calling number on my "ignore" list.

An alternative approach is, "Is (insert any name) there?" When you reply that there is no one by that name at your number, the caller plunges into his sale pitch with, "Well, maybe you can help me." That's when I hang up and add the calling number to my "ignore" list.

I have quit being polite in terminating these annoyance calls. At least, so far, I haven't gotten around to name calling yet.

Carl in Tampa

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