This is probably a very effective scam. This is another “Fraternal Order of Police” soliciting donations for the families of cops tragically killed in the line of duty. Of course we want to support such a charity. I think this particular company is operating legally, but not all of them do. This charity gives a small percentage of the take to the actual charity, but it’s more than they would have collected on their own, so everyone wins, right?
Well, except us. We all get these calls all the time. Next time this charity is collecting for someone else, they’ll call you. If your number is on their list, good luck getting rid of them.
So this call demonstrates a few interesting things:
- They use professional voice talent that sounds like a cop
- A “low level” soundboard operator is controlling these cop messages by clicking buttons on their PC and listening to my responses.
- My robot manages to convince this operator that I am a qualified donor and then transfers me to the “records department” (to continue the cop theme)
- The “records department” operator knows I’m down for $10 – this can be easily done but it demonstrates more “computer telephony integration” than I expected.
- She is a professional and doesn’t waste any words with my bot. It still manages to keep her busy for several minutes. It’s not very entertaining unless you get these calls yourself all the time – then you’ll cheer on my robot. Go robot! Waste as much time as you can!
So please keep sending these scammers and bad charities to my robot. I’m interested in the IRS scammers. It’s tax season so I assume some of you are getting these! Let me know if you get one!
Enjoy this call and let me know what you think!
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First of all let me say how incredibly amazing you are sir. My entire family is now using your service , to our collective utterly joyous entertainment. However, I’ve recently come across a new applicarion that requires your genuis. Email! Especially craigslist emailing scams…. It would be so delightful to put these blokes theough the ringer. I have no clue how it would work, but it seems theres a very large, untapped market waiting for you 🙂
Wow mike that is a very nice compliment! Are any of your calls entertaining enough for everyone to hear? Email me if so at Roger at jollyrogertelephone.com
As for your second point, unfortunately I’m a humble phone guy. I assume there are lots of spam algorithms that can filter craigslist scams. I’m more concerned about your telephone. I love telephones and want you to love yours again.
I appreciate that you are taking on these telemarketing companies. I received an IRS scam call yesterday that was very scary – threatening arrest, federal court action, etc. if I didn’t make immediate payments. I have no IRS issues so I knew the voicemail was a scam, but it was still the scariest telemarketing call I’ve ever received. It came from a Los Angeles number, 213-674-6886. I wanted to let you know about this so that other people were aware. I’m sure with tax season upon us there will be more of these types of calls. Thank you for your work!
That one is terrifying and probably very effective. I would like to get one of these scammers into my bot but I think they require a callback and they use these burner numbers.
I was able to keep calling back, using 2 phone lines. I would get a live person, play with them (speak in an Indian accent) & they would hang up. There appeared to be only 3 voices. They finally started hanging up as soon as my calls connected. After about 30 minutes of this, the number was disconnected. Interestingly, the 800 number they hijacked was Caterpillar Corporation’s. I contacted Caterpillar to let them know their 800 number was not working due to these IRS SCAMERS. In the end, my phone is for my outgoing calls. If I don’t know the incoming number, v/m answers. 9 x’s out of 10, no message is left anyway.
Captain! Keep up the fantastic work! This call is hilarious, and I am so thankful for your product. I received my first pesky telemarketing call on my cellphone today, so I’m sure more will follow… I can’t wait to deploy your robot! I will spread the word to my friends as well. Many thanks!
-LP from Texas
Wow thank you for the nice compliment!
I’m my own “Robot.” It wastes time, I Know. Last weekend the auto warranty assholes called. Usually, it’s an Indian or Filipino (the initial contact Was-I Think) but, then, I got an African American. They Always KNOW the make and year of my car(!) I was kind of vague and wishy-washy, said I was trading it in soon. “But, SIR, this is a valuable investment you have to protect!” They Also said that everything was covered “Except the gaskets.” I’m no car expert, but it seems to Me that if a Gasket is blown the whole Engine can seize up. I delayed him while I “went to get my credit card.” Then I said “Usually-it’s someone from a foreign country. I’m on the DNC list, and You don’t know who your Daddy Is…and Now I’ve wasted your Time”!
I tell these Robos…my car was stolen..cops haven’t found it yet..call again in a few months…
412-719-0217 has been calling me with the same script but a different and deeper voice. Feel free. 🙂
Good job. You should look up “expert systems” which is something people working in Artificial Intelligence have been doing for a very long time. I did something similar back in college for a class assignment although we only had text and did not have a voice interface. My roommate programed one on his TRS-80 (a pre-Apple MacKintosh PC).
Normally, I would just report the call to the No Call List violation website, but the scumbags are using a loophole in the law which excludes “charities” from being fined if they call a number on the list. There is only one charity I give to for support of all first responders which includes law enforcement officers (LEO) – The 100 Club of my city and they have NEVER called me. There are chapters all over the US. Furthermore, I urge anyone who reads this to spread the word on the following point: in the US it is ILLEGAL for a LEO to solicit donation. It is also illegal to pose as a LEO. If the telemarketer answers “yes” when you ask them “Are you a police officer/sheriff?” he just broke the law. The tricky part is you have to have prove he said it and you don’t know his (real) name.
Omg jack. Please email me at roger at jollyrogertelephone dot com. My first computer was a trs80 color computer. Was yours the color model???
I just got one of these, but it took awhile to start after I picked up the phone, during which time I exchanged a couple of quizzical “hello?”s with someone before the husky-voiced solicitor began his pitch (which I hung up in the middle of). The thought I wanted to contribute is — I don’t think they’re using “professional voice talent”. I think the caller’s voice is electronically enhanced to sound more intimidating and cop-like, which seems just that much sleazier to me.
Anyone else get drawn in by a southern accent and then get transferred over to an Indian accent to collect info?? Very clever….
I got a call from supposedly the Fraternal Order of Police Michigan State Lodge and they wanted me to offer a donation so I said okay $5 then they transferred me over to some lady who was very adamant about me donating $20 and would not take no for an answer even though I told her that I was disabled and was unable to work but she did not care about that.