DAMN!

..issues and just need your medicare # to get the free brace sent to you. I was taking care of my elderly mother and father when a call came thru like this. Sounds perfectly fine as mom had these issues and I was new to dealing with all the social services they had..including VA! I was willing to provide them her # and asked them if I could call them back when I got it from her. They didnt want to wait..they needed it now! I was firm and told them to either give me a number to call back or to call again another time.

Now I am NEVER fooled by scams...but this one came at the exact same time I was actually dealing with the situation they described.

Bob. Then they say. "Well, can I interest you in new windows (or something)." Then I hang up.

The want to "thank me for being a loyal 'member'". There is the "satisfaction survey" version, usually from a utility or cable company. Then there is the "request I made for follow up". It's all crap.

I once pressed 9 to be removed from the list, and I think the frequency just went up.

I get the medical braces one too. There goes the phone now, I let it ring 4 times before pickup, no one on the line. The one that comes in early in the morning only lets it ring twice and ends call.

Getting on the "Do not call list" did stop the septic system calls.

The "Your Microsoft Windows isn't working" is another frequent caller.

I once looked up a phone number left on my answering machine through a web site and found two addresses for a woman living by the Great Lakes. (She was supposed to be the IRS.)

It's just amazing to me that they know about whatever is causing pain today. Clairvoyance, or aliens, I'm sure.

If it's someone we want to talk to, they'll leave a message.

And we turn off the damn phone at night. Our sleep is more important!

"Hello, this is Poindexter." I truly hate it when there's a pause, then someone says, "Is this Poindexter?" I often respond by saying, "Didn't you listen to how I answered the phone?" Sometimes I'll tell them to call back and pay attention when I answer next time.

Oh, and no one should ever need the Medicare or SS number for anything, certainly not over the phone.