Those silent calls are scams

[Retro]

We've all had them: the phone rings, it's some unfamiliar number, usually a mobile or a witheld number, we say "Hello", no response. We say it again and the line hangs up. Silent calls like that are very frustrating and we wonder why they happen.

The video explains why these are just the first stage in scams by large criminal enterprises and that the best way to defeat them is to never say anything, just listen, as a genuine caller will start talking.

I've done this a few times now and when the call is genuine, the caller does indeed start talking, leading to a slightly awkward start to the conversation as they were waiting for the greeting before speaking as per convention, but that's soon cleared up when I explain why I said nothing. And yes, sometimes, muscle memory kicks in and I do say "hello" only to be greated by silence and a hang-up. Very easily done in the heat of the moment.

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[Hitcore]

I don't pick up incoming calls from numbers I do not know.
Hell, half the time I don't even pick up calls from numbers I do know, lol.

 

[ulumen55]

We've all had them: the phone rings, it's some unfamiliar number, usually a mobile or a witheld number, we say "Hello", no response. We say it again and the line hangs up. Silent calls like that are very frustrating and we wonder why they happen.

The video explains why these are just the first stage in scams by large criminal enterprises and that the best way to defeat them is to never say anything, just listen, as a genuine caller will start talking.

I've done this a few times now and when the call is genuine, the caller does indeed start talking, leading to a slightly awkward start to the conversation as they were waiting for the greeting before speaking as per convention, but that's soon cleared up when I explain why I said nothing. And yes, sometimes, muscle memory kicks in and I do say "hello" only to be greated by silence and a hang-up. Very easily done in the heat of the moment.

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This is 100% the right move. I’ve been doing the 'silent pickup' for a year now and the amount of spam calls I get has dropped significantly. If you don't give them a voice signature, your number eventually gets dropped from their high-priority 'active' lists. It feels rude at first, but your privacy is more important than being polite to a bot.

 

[Hitcore]

Wait, you neurotypicals PICK UP the phone from numbers you don't know??
My autistic ass will pick up the phone for maybe like the 3 people dearest to me. Everyone else can pretty much fuck off, I feel no obligation whatsoever to pick up the phone if you are not in my innermost circle, let alone are a total stranger, lol.

 

[Hitcore]

I don't pick up incoming calls from numbers I do not know.
Hell, half the time I don't even pick up calls from numbers I do know, lol.

Oh lol, apparently I already replied to this subject. And it seems that my phone protocol has become even stricter since then.

 

[Retro]

Wait, you neurotypicals PICK UP the phone from numbers you don't know??

It gets worse: I even answer calls from withheld numbers!

 

[Tiffany]

When I read started reading this thread and responses, I immediately thought of AI scamming and they are recording your voice when you say "hello". I don't answer my phone for any number I don't recognize. Now I'm going to be on high alert more than ever. Ugh, this world!

 

[Hitcore]

It gets worse: I even answer calls from withheld numbers!

Ffs Retro, do you WANT to be scammed?

 

[Retro]

Unfortunately sometimes it's the hospital calling and those calls are important. I don't usually say anything though and let them start talking first. If I'm expecting a call though, then I just starting blabbing, lol.

 

[Retro]

My autistic ass will pick up the phone for maybe like the 3 people dearest to me.

So, that'll be Kika, Prom and Uufje then. Perhaps even Dibbetje on a good day.

 

[Hitcore]

Not Uufje and Dibbetje. Those autistic kittehs never call me. They're just chillin' in their own respective safespaces. Which I totally understand.
Kika and Prom however call me all the freakin' time. Especially Prom, he's asking every other hour when I get my Dutch ass home to open up a can of delicious store-brand cat food.