Robocalls Suck


So, you're in the middle of doing something, and the phone rings. You stop what you're doing and prepare to answer the call, depending on who's calling. Often it turns out to be a robocall, phone spam.

There is a Do Not Call government program. You register your phone number(s) (it's free) and unsolicited business phone calls to those numbers are then illegal, regulated by the FTC, with fines up to $40,000. I have all my phone numbers registered.

When my phone(s) ring, here's what I do. I answer the phone. If it's a robocall, or a live phone spammer, I wait for the caller to inform me of some terrific offer like I have won a free weekend at a luxury hotel or I can save thousands installing solar panels or have my carpets cleaned (they'll clean the hallway carpet for free!) or some other offer I am totally not interested in.


And, because the call distracted me from what I was doing, and is illegal, I like to mess with them. I wait for the robo voice to tell me: "If you want to talk to someone, press ___". I press the number, happy to speak to a human spammer/scammer. When a human answers and starts their spam spiel, I interrupt and say,"This phone number is on the Do Not Call list. Congratulations, for illegally calling me, you have won a $40,000 fine! I'm going to report you - and your organization - right now, to the Federal Trade Commission. Goodbye." Then I hang up, gleefully.

No, I have no interest in spending my time and energy on turning them in, I just like scaring the sh-t out of the caller. Revenge is sweet. Robocalls are not.