Automated phone calls

[Bryn]

I shall demand my day in court

Didn't quite have you down as a courtier.

[Cockney Sparrow]

As I understand it, the lists are rented out to fraudsters for a period of weeks. They see what they can make out of it and then the list awaits a new renter.
They are compiled from numbers where people are known to answer 9 to 5. So, before Covid, more likely to be retired {rather a coarse method of gathering that data, though. Increasingly, the younger generations don't have a land-line so that increases the bias to older age groups.)
I have to be careful, as 99% of the calls I answer are these scamsters but I don't want to speak peremptorily to a genuine caller. Once I know its not a genuine call I just say loud and clear "take me off your list: no one here will tell you anything" and ring off.
I'm not sure, but I think the number of calls is declining. I could leave the caller to use the answering machine but all in all, its quicker and easier to answer and terminate the call.

[Anastasius]

Several weeks go by without any scam telephone calls at all then they all come in a rush, perhaps half a dozen a day in a concentrated burst of a few days. After that it all goes quiet again.

Never understood what factors are at work here.

Just a computer algorithm. No need to worry. Your turn will come round again

[Dave2002]

I had a human this morning "I'm X from Y" [as if I know him - X, and Y].
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm X. I'm doing a survey about Z - probably Home Energy" [ we had a similar one a few days ago ...]
"No - not interested - Byeeeee".
[phone clicks down]

[Andrew]

I receive several calls a month informing me that my Microsoft computer has developed virus and that I ned to take urgent action to avoid loosing data. I don't have a Microsoft computer (we're all Appled up here!) but I played the guy for 20 minutes last time they called, along the lines of "every time I switch it on all it does is 'ping' at me...." the reply doesn't help, but I persevere and eventually add a surprised comment to the effect that I'd thought the caller had been questioning me about my microWAVE, not my MicroSOFT.... it amuses me, if no-one else and at least while I'm keeping them occupied they're not terrorising anyone else!

[oddoneout]

I had a human this morning "I'm X from Y" [as if I know him - X, and Y].
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm X. I'm doing a survey about Z - probably Home Energy" [ we had a similar one a few days ago ...]
"No - not interested - Byeeeee".
[phone clicks down]

I get clusters of those, all using local tel numbers, so they get answered sometimes. When I point out that they shouldn't be phoning my number as I'm registered with the TPS I now get the argument about having to renew the registration and I haven't so that's why they can phone me. Wrong, as the TPS doesn't need renewing unless something's changed. A couple of the male callers have been really unpleasant, and told me I don't know what I'm talking about. Presumably they get paid for getting a call answered so it doesn't matter too much if their appalling manner scuppers further contact.