How do you deal with 'telemarketing' scams when they mention 'fire dept' or 'police'? (used, business)

[GypsySoul22]

I've been dodging these calls for 2 weeks now. Caller claims to be from **** Town Police Association. Looking for $$.

I usually tell them no, but they call back with in a few days. The phone registers private caller, no ##.

I never give $ over the phone to anyone, especially those who 'use the police or fire dept.' as a cover.

What do you tell them when they call? Apparently NO is not enough of a deterrent to these people.

We had so many calls for 'Park State Police" collecting $$$. Finally I told the guy I am unemployed, what can you do for me??

[maciesmom]

I just tell them I never respond to any solicitations over the phone then hang up.

[Mattie]

^^ same here, although registering our phone numbers with the federal do-not-call folks has cut way down on this.

The charities that use outside call centers to raise funds only receive a (tiny) fraction of the money they bring in. I used to ask how much the particular charity got. That usually ended the conversation.

[Flamingo13]

I don't answer, but if by some fluke I have I tell them I donate directly to my fire and police departments, thereby ensuring they get 100% of my donations as opposed to approximately 10%. They have stopped calling.

[harry chickpea]

Depends on how much you want to play. Call over to that town and find the names of the policemen and firemen, then when the tm calls ask them if they know so-and-so. If they do, ask them more questions. Just keep on asking questions. If they don't know anyone, then you can make up a story about how they refused to come when the aliens landed in your back yard and were trying to get your dog into the saucer. Otherwise, just say "I've stopped responding to all telemarketers."

The whole thing is a guilt trip ride anyway. Start ranting about how much you pay in taxes and how nobody is calling around to get you extra money, and will they donate to YOU, and so on. They'll hang up.

[moonshadow]

Gypsy if they call again and identify themselves, don't say anything, just rest the phone on the bench and go about your day for a while.

That's what I do when they refuse to stop calling...

I find that after that they tend not to call back.

[Houston3]

I called our police department once and asked if they were in the business of collecting money over the phone...They told me they were not...The calls stopped..

[NCN]

I am on the national don't call list. Why are you calling this number? Then put them on the speaker and listen to the four letter words.

[GypsySoul22]

One time I told a person who tried to hit us up in the name of the police, "My neighbor is a cop and told me there is this scam going on."

They stopped calling!

[5kidsmama]

ask them you'd be interested in literature, and to please stop calling