A slightly improved SPAM caller algorithm?

@TheHorse (205948)
Walnut Creek, California
May 24, 2023 12:27pm CST
I just received a call. I didn't have my glasses on, so I picked up. (delay, letting me know it was a bot call.) "Hello, Horse?" (Yes, the bot had my real first name.) "No, this is Fred. How can I help you?" (another delay.) "Oh, it's OK. I can speak with either of you." At that point I hung up. So their algorithm is programmed to respond to "No this is is..." Good for them. Technology is improving. I was not asked, "How are you today?" so I was not able to say "My hemorrhoids are flaring up today." I believe one bot actually responded "Sorry to hear that" before launching into its BS. OK, I know most of you just hang up when you get a bot call. But I am curious about whether they're trying to use voice recognition and AI technology to improve "the art of SCAMming." Do you ever "mess" with bot callers? Just to see what happens? If not, what would your fantasy response be? Remember that it can't be angry. Then "they" win.
19 people like this
20 responses
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
24 May
I find this funny. . AI is improving how these scammers can scam people. Bot: Hello, Jena. Me: Hello, scammer, how are you today? Bot: I'm sorry but I'm not a scammer. Me: Okay, so what's the call all about? Bot: You have won one of our online prizes, congratulations! Me: Really? Yay! When will I receive it? Bot: You will receive it as soon as you provide your complete name and address and your bank account number. Me: Sure, my complete name is Jena Isle, from Hell Hole Road, Jaws of Hell Subdv, Hell City my bank account is now blocked by the Devil, Thanks for the prize. God bless you! By the way I've been meaning to ask this. I assume you're male? Sorry, for asking. If you don't want to reply, it's okay.
3 people like this
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
25 May
@TheHorse oh, not sure... before the Bot spoke? I'm sorry. I was trying to be funny. I guess it didn't work.
2 people like this
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
25 May
@TheHorse Thanks for saying that.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
@Jenaisle I am humor challenged. But I did smile.
1 person likes this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (57829)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 May
Most of the time, no I don't. But, I do think they are getting smarter. I have people trying to sell me the same health insurance I already receive.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May
Um, that doesn't sound smart. But you're just a number to the bot. I don't think they really "care about you."
3 people like this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (57829)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 May
@TheHorse Well, it's not smart in the sense they're trying to sell me what I have. However, they're starting to realize the disabled are an untapped market that might not be that smart. Well, unless they cross me.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
@kaylachan I reported some scam or another to the FBI (they have website) years ago. Of course I never heard from them.
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (45526)
• India
24 May
AI and other advanced technologies have positive benefits. Yet many scammers, criminals and sick minded people are putting them to bad use. Well for many calls, I let an App on my phone block those numbers.
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (45526)
• India
25 May
@TheHorse Yet for a few things like Online photo or videos transfer or certain bill payments, you would have to use some Apps?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I don't use apps. They scare me.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111223)
• El Paso, Texas
24 May
I always mess with them, it confuses them and I like that
3 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111223)
• El Paso, Texas
25 May
I usually yell at those, you do know they record what you say, right?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
Even if they're bots?
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95346)
• Marion, Ohio
24 May
I do if I get a real person. It's not fun with a recording
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95346)
• Marion, Ohio
24 May
@TheHorse I had one call me wanting to help me with pain management. He asked where I had pain at. Told him in my as s. He about choked. . Others with that same line had acted like they didn't hear me That bot had a real person start it
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
@wolfgirl569 I am happy if you made a real person chuckle.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May
What do you say to a real person? I rarely get a real person, though one bot did say (after a pause), "Yes I'm a real person."
2 people like this
Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
24 May
A bot call can actually have a sane conversation with a person? I never pick up the phone unless it’s a number I know or I am expecting a call from someone but don’t know their number.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
What if it's my future ex-wife?
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
@lovebuglena Heh. I stole that line from an old Country song. But hey, it's all about the moments. I still relish the good times I had with certain ex-es.
Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
25 May
@TheHorse if she’s a future ex why bother lol?
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (85586)
• United States
24 May
When my brother-in-law gets a spam call like that he usually starts talking in limited Spanish, pure and utter nonsense. That way, whether they know Spanish or not (and they usually don't), they hang up on him.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I should try that.
1 person likes this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
25 May
On those occasions when I accidentally answer a bot call and don't hang up and am in the mood for a little fun, I keep changing from English to French to Spanish to Korean and even throw in the few words of German I know. Thus far, I've succeeded in getting the bot to hang up first.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
Small victories are victories.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73502)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 May
Very lovely flowers, I had flowers like that by my front fence in Latvia or similar ones anyway. I am glad when I hear these things I do not have a mobile phone. That would drive me up the wall,
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I don't know if I get SPAM calls on my smart phone. I'm too stupid to check calls on it. These calls come in on my land line.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 May
Vince likes to mess with them sometimes but I just hang up. I do like your answers/responses though.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I thing it would be amusing to be AI technician, discussing bothersome physical conditions to respond to. If I said something like "I'm in pain. I tried to treat erectile dysfunction with Ben Gay," and the bot had a clever response, I might stay on the lone longer.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
24 May
I usually don’t answer but sometimes I do just for the heck of it. I did sing them a song a couple of times.
2 people like this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
25 May
@TheHorse You could tell them a joke. That would be interesting to see how they reply. I need to think of a good joke and do that myself.
ihasaquestion
@ihasaquestion (8274)
•
24 May
I didn't know that there's such a thing as a bot call. I only know automated voice response for calling say, a customer service hotline or something.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 May
Love those blue flowers. What are these? All spam goes to trash on my phone.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I actually don't remember. Sigh.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 May
@TheHorse No problem. They are a nice shade of blue.
Raj
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
25 May
I mostly ignore these calls
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
I mostly ignore those calls too.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 May
@Butterfingers Better? Butter? Batter?
1 person likes this
Raj
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
25 May
@TheHorse better
1 person likes this
popciclecold
@popciclecold (35157)
• United States
24 May
Good thought.
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45511)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 May
I got a call yesterday where the "person" kept saying "This is a call for" and not continuing. It said it about three times before I finished the sentence with "for someone who doesn't have this number anymore." I think I also told it to FOFF.
allen0187
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
25 May
I mess with cold callers any chance I get.
Anindita Sengupta
@aninditasen (15744)
• Raurkela, India
25 May
My smartphone shows in red that it's a spam or a fraud and I don't receive the call.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156488)
• United States
25 May
I used to mess with SPAM callers...now I just don't answer the phone. Eventually most of them gave up. Have a great day.
DINNERLADY
@lazydaizee (6738)
• United Kingdom
25 May
I always tell them that I do not live here any more, then put the phone down. But you have made a valid point about them trying to engage us in conversation so that they can copy our voices to scam people we know. Maybe it is best to leave an automated answering machine on and only pick up the phone yourself if you know who it is calling.