More and more people with malicious intent are trying to steal from their victims by telephone. But a behavior annoys them to the point that they are no longer likely to call back.
Fraudulent calls have never been so numerous. Indeed, scammers are perfecting their techniques: some pose as bank advisors, others imitate the voice of a loved one in distress to ask for emergency money. These manipulations can be very convincing. However, as soon as doubt sets in, a simple behavior often allows you to turn the situation to your advantage.
On Reddit, an Internet user shared a method that he considers “the most satisfactory” to neutralize these dishonest callers. It is not a question of blocking the numbers or installing an application, but of a reflex to adopt directly. By applying this specific behavior, the scammers find themselves destabilized, frustrated, and hang up on their own. The author of the message assures that once exposed to this “most satisfactory method”, these fraudulent numbers never call again.
The key, according to him, is to make them waste as much time as possible and play with their nerves, test their patience… He says: “I let them run their intro script through to the end, then I ask them repeatedly, ‘Who is this?‘ “. This simple repeated question is enough to drive them crazy. In another account, a person describes responding to a so-called Microsoft employee: “No, you don’t work for me”. Another user says: “I was working in tech support and received a call from a call center. The guy said, “Hello! This is your IT guy!” So, I replied: “My friend, I’m the technician“, and he remained silent.
To protect yourself over the long term, a few simple reflexes can avoid a lot of trouble. Never disclose personal or banking information over the phone. Be wary of anonymous, international or unexpected calls. Installing call screening tools can also reduce the risk. Finally, it is worth remembering that no serious bank or company will ever ask for codes or payments over the phone without prior verification. If in doubt, it’s better to hang up.
