I don't know if they do this anymore but at one time, you could request the person calling to make a note in their computer not to call you anymore and they suppose to honor your request.

A lon time ago, I worked for a bank that it's tel-marketers were told to honor this request from it's customers or potential customers.

I love it when at the end of a computer generated call they asked you, "if you do not want be called, select option three". Then you select option three and you still get calls from the same company.

What do I know? I have more hang-ups than the phone company. :)

I speak to them with an incredulous "You guys advise to watch out for scams, especially those conducted with a phone call" and then I hang up

put them on hold
 

and forward the call to the BBB :pepper2:

Legit?
 

I had one once at home (yes, they're all over the country). I let him ramble on and then he asked me if they could count on my support again that year (hadn't given it in the past, either). When I told him, "No", he said, "B****", and hung up.

How legit do you think that call was???:a20:

dillywho, my guess is that call wasn't prefaced by "this call is being recorded for quality assurance purposes . . ."

My brother had a job as one of the "officers" calling a number of years back. He didn't like it but the money was great. He eventually left when they told him he'd have to be "more forceful" when he "had a fish."
They figured (and probably correctly) that many people are afraid to hang up on the police and can be squeezed for a few bucks.

I always just answer "We never contribute to anything over the phone"...that usually stops the conversation. Years ago, I knew of someone that would make calls like this, then go over and collect money....total scam! I don't trust any telephone solicitations, if it's a legitimate operation they shouldn't be phoning you. My inlaws were actually intimidated by someone calling for contributions. The callers knew my inlaws were seniors and made vague comments about knowing their address...they were quite frightened. Whenever someone calls, don't engage them in conversation...just get off the phone.