Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Mike Rosing
On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tyler Durden wrote:

> But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has
> worked pretty good:
>
> 1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.

Yeah, I've done that for a while now.  But here in wisconsin (USA)
we have a new law that goes into effect on Jan 1: The state maintains
an official "no call" list.  If your name is on the list and telemarketers
call, the state can take them to court.  I don't know how effective it'll
be,  but I think losing money in court would be enough of an incentive to
pay attention to the list.

If enough  states do it the telemarketers may decide it's worth fighting
in court.  Life gets interesting at that point...

Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Greg Pelcak
But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that 
has worked pretty good:


From a former telemarketer, the best strategy is to use federal law to 
your advantage.  Federal law requires telemarketers to maintain a "do 
not call" list, which is rather self explainatory.  I think once your 
name and number are added to this list they cannot call you for 
something like 10 years.  There are not that many major telemarketing 
firms, and if you knock a few of the biggest ones off you will get very 
few (if any) calls.

The best way to say it is "Please add me to your do not call list", you 
don't need any confirmation after that, you can just hang up.  Some 
telemarketers will try to read you a disclaimer saying that it may take 
up to 30 days to remove your name and blahdy blah, but they are still 
required to put your name on the list.  Be careful not to simply say 
"take me off your list" because the major firms are very crafty about 
that, they'll say something like "we'll immediately remove you from 
this list, is there anything else I can do for you?" and that only 
takes you off *that* specific calling campaign.  The "do not call" list 
is mandated by law, though, and is company wide.

Using this technique I haven't gotten a telemarketing call in about... 
2 months, and probably 2 months again for the one prior to that. The 
tone phreaking trick is pretty cool, though, a technical solution to a 
social problem.



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Tyler Durden
I'll have to try this (and it should work seeing how I'm Tyler Durden!).

But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has 
worked pretty good:

1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.
2) If I hear a large number of people talking in the background when I pick 
up, I hang up the phone.
3) If someone replies to my "hello" with another "hello" I hang up the phone 
(think about it--no one who knows you and has called you will simply reply 
'hello' after you've picked up the phone).

It also helps to speak a language you don't think the telemarketer 
understands...they'll hang up the phone pretty quickly if you're talking in 
Chinese, for instance. (And if they have a Chinese accent I'll talk to them 
in Spanish.)






From: Steve Schear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: How to Stop Telemarketers...
Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2002 19:07:04 -0800

Most Telemarketers use what is called Predictive Dialers, which are PCs
with software that dials ever number in a phone exchange until it gets
lucky. Now you can use their own technology against them, and it's legal...

Here is how their system works: the dialer calls your number, you answer,
and you have probably notice the line appears dead after you said, "Hello".
What their computer is doing is listening for a short burst of audio, your
"HELLO", followed by a period of silence. With this heard, it will log your
phone number as valid and transfer the call to an available telemarketer,
the reason for the delay before someone comes on line.

Now, if their computer receives a long audio burst (an answering machine) "
Hello, this is Alan Carlton", then it will disconnect, but it will log you
phone number as valid, for a later call-back. Oh Lovely! Some are even
capable of detecting Fax tones and will even transmit a fax trying to sell
selling something you're probably are not interested in. However, do not
answer, or when you do answer the phone, or if fax tones are detected, or
if it detects an answering machine, in all four (4) cases IT LOGS YOUR
NUMBER AS A GOOD PHONE NUMBER FOR FUTURE CALL- BACK --- PLUS THE COMPANY IS
ALSO SELLING THESE VERIFIED VALID NUMBERS LIST TO OTHER TELEMARKETERS.

A SIMPLE WAY TO STAY OFF THE LIST IS TO USE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY AGAINST 
THEM.

The predictive dialer's software also looks for NON-valid phone numbers,
and there is a simple way you can make your phone number appear invalid to
the telemarketers' computers, thus they do not call back and accumulate no
database, at least with your number, to sell other Telemarketers.

Here is how to do it: If you call a number that has been disconnected or is
no longer in service you will hear 3 short tones, "doo...dah...dee", thanks
to Ma-Bell. Each time you Refresh this page you should hear,
"doo...dah...dee". The actual frequency of these tones are 985.2 Hz, 1370.6
Hz, and 1776.7 Hz. Guess what the telemarketers' software does when it
detects these 3 tones at the beginning of your outgoing message? It thinks
it has reached a line that is disconnected or is no longer in service. So,
it disconnects and does not log your phone number as a working number. 
BINGO!

NOW record these onto you outgoing message or voice mail announcement, and
start exterminating telemarketers. Try this example, but use your own name,
"doo...dah...dee, Hello, This is Tyler Durden". It must be at the beginning
of your announcement to work. You may have to explain it to you friends,
but they will soon have it on theirs' too.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO PLAY THE 3 TONES.

http://www.flash.net/~carlton2/telemark.htm

steve


_
Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Harmon Seaver
   My understanding of the WI law is that we get $100 if they call us, so you
want to find out who is calling. However, the telemarketers claim they can call
to "ask if it's alright to make telemarketing calls to you". 



On Fri, Dec 06, 2002 at 10:11:13AM -0800, Mike Rosing wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tyler Durden wrote:
> 
> > But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has
> > worked pretty good:
> >
> > 1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.
> 
> Yeah, I've done that for a while now.  But here in wisconsin (USA)
> we have a new law that goes into effect on Jan 1: The state maintains
> an official "no call" list.  If your name is on the list and telemarketers
> call, the state can take them to court.  I don't know how effective it'll
> be,  but I think losing money in court would be enough of an incentive to
> pay attention to the list.
> 
> If enough  states do it the telemarketers may decide it's worth fighting
> in court.  Life gets interesting at that point...
> 
> Patience, persistence, truth,
> Dr. mike

-- 
Harmon Seaver   
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Harmon Seaver
   Yeah, but that stuff doesn't stop the calls. We use caller ID and don't pick
up for anything that says "unknown caller" which stops most, but just the
ringing pisses me off. I'm going to try the tones. I've also read of a little
box you can buy which does the same thing, but so you don't even hear the phone
ring at all.

On Fri, Dec 06, 2002 at 12:08:22PM -0500, Tyler Durden wrote:
> I'll have to try this (and it should work seeing how I'm Tyler Durden!).
> 
> But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has 
> worked pretty good:
> 
> 1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.
> 2) If I hear a large number of people talking in the background when I pick 
> up, I hang up the phone.
> 3) If someone replies to my "hello" with another "hello" I hang up the 
> phone (think about it--no one who knows you and has called you will simply 
> reply 'hello' after you've picked up the phone).
> 
> It also helps to speak a language you don't think the telemarketer 
> understands...they'll hang up the phone pretty quickly if you're talking in 
> Chinese, for instance. (And if they have a Chinese accent I'll talk to them 
> in Spanish.)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Steve Schear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Subject: How to Stop Telemarketers...
> >Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2002 19:07:04 -0800
> >
> >Most Telemarketers use what is called Predictive Dialers, which are PCs
> >with software that dials ever number in a phone exchange until it gets
> >lucky. Now you can use their own technology against them, and it's legal...
> >
> >Here is how their system works: the dialer calls your number, you answer,
> >and you have probably notice the line appears dead after you said, "Hello".
> >What their computer is doing is listening for a short burst of audio, your
> >"HELLO", followed by a period of silence. With this heard, it will log your
> >phone number as valid and transfer the call to an available telemarketer,
> >the reason for the delay before someone comes on line.
> >
> >Now, if their computer receives a long audio burst (an answering machine) "
> >Hello, this is Alan Carlton", then it will disconnect, but it will log you
> >phone number as valid, for a later call-back. Oh Lovely! Some are even
> >capable of detecting Fax tones and will even transmit a fax trying to sell
> >selling something you're probably are not interested in. However, do not
> >answer, or when you do answer the phone, or if fax tones are detected, or
> >if it detects an answering machine, in all four (4) cases IT LOGS YOUR
> >NUMBER AS A GOOD PHONE NUMBER FOR FUTURE CALL- BACK --- PLUS THE COMPANY IS
> >ALSO SELLING THESE VERIFIED VALID NUMBERS LIST TO OTHER TELEMARKETERS.
> >
> >A SIMPLE WAY TO STAY OFF THE LIST IS TO USE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY AGAINST 
> >THEM.
> >
> >The predictive dialer's software also looks for NON-valid phone numbers,
> >and there is a simple way you can make your phone number appear invalid to
> >the telemarketers' computers, thus they do not call back and accumulate no
> >database, at least with your number, to sell other Telemarketers.
> >
> >Here is how to do it: If you call a number that has been disconnected or is
> >no longer in service you will hear 3 short tones, "doo...dah...dee", thanks
> >to Ma-Bell. Each time you Refresh this page you should hear,
> >"doo...dah...dee". The actual frequency of these tones are 985.2 Hz, 1370.6
> >Hz, and 1776.7 Hz. Guess what the telemarketers' software does when it
> >detects these 3 tones at the beginning of your outgoing message? It thinks
> >it has reached a line that is disconnected or is no longer in service. So,
> >it disconnects and does not log your phone number as a working number. 
> >BINGO!
> >
> >NOW record these onto you outgoing message or voice mail announcement, and
> >start exterminating telemarketers. Try this example, but use your own name,
> >"doo...dah...dee, Hello, This is Tyler Durden". It must be at the beginning
> >of your announcement to work. You may have to explain it to you friends,
> >but they will soon have it on theirs' too.
> >
> >CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO PLAY THE 3 TONES.
> >
> >http://www.flash.net/~carlton2/telemark.htm
> >
> >steve
> 
> 
> _
> Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online 
> http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

-- 
Harmon Seaver   
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread jet
At 12:08 -0800 2002/12/06, Tim May wrote:

>If you don't wish to be telephoned, keep your number secret.

One word: "wardialing".
-- 
J. Eric Townsend -- jet spies com
buy stuff, damnit: http://www.spies.com/jet/store.html




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Greg Pelcak
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 02:08 PM, Tim May wrote:


Consider this. I have your phone number, either through a phone book 
or told to me or however gotten, fully legally. I call your number. I 
offer something, perhaps something for sale, whatever.

I believe the law in question specifies who is affected by it, and 
limits it to the more automated forms (where large lists are used for 
dialing).  However, I'm not 100% sure; if anyone has more info I'd 
gladly stand corrected.  I was drawing on the training for 
telemarketers I received at a large credit card bank.


And anyone interested in liberty should be repulsed by such laws, 
regardless of their "practical" benefits.

This I see as more of a differing in philosophy; the age-old contrast 
between Thoreau's "wash your hands" ideals and those of the 
pragmatists.  The plain fact is that we live in a state where laws like 
this exist.  Unless you are willing to live completely independent of 
said state (id est, moving to the middle of the desert and living in an 
Earthship, or what have you), you need to decide where to draw the line 
between repulsive and just distasteful.  For some it may be the use of 
public roads, for some "privacy" laws, and for some the death penalty.

In this instance the law in question falls into the distasteful 
category for me, but not so far as to prevent me from using all 
available resources to accomplish a goal (in this case peace and 
quiet).  Best justification I can provide on little sleep.



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Tim May
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 10:10  AM, Greg Pelcak wrote:


The best way to say it is "Please add me to your do not call list", 
you don't need any confirmation after that, you can just hang up.  
Some telemarketers will try to read you a disclaimer saying that it 
may take up to 30 days to remove your name and blahdy blah, but they 
are still required to put your name on the list.
...

The "do not call" list is mandated by law, though, and is company wide.


And anyone interested in liberty should be repulsed by such laws, 
regardless of their "practical" benefits.

Consider this. I have your phone number, either through a phone book or 
told to me or however gotten, fully legally. I call your number. I 
offer something, perhaps something for sale, whatever.

You say to me: "Put me on your do not call list."

I say, "Say what? Send me $30 and I'll put you on that list."

The point being that there is no requirement in a free society that I 
keep such a list, that I honor requests to be added to such lists, and 
so on. If you don't wish to be telephoned, keep your number secret.

I don't need permission from Big Brother to call your number.

Nor does your request that I not call you obligate me not to.

(Nothing personal, but I hate seeing list members here advocating 
statist solutions.)



--Tim May
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, 
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance 
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, 
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new 
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight 
efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." --Robert A. 
Heinlein



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Tim May
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 10:11  AM, Mike Rosing wrote:


On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tyler Durden wrote:


But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that 
has
worked pretty good:

1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the 
phone.

Yeah, I've done that for a while now.  But here in wisconsin (USA)
we have a new law that goes into effect on Jan 1: The state maintains
an official "no call" list.  If your name is on the list and 
telemarketers
call, the state can take them to court.  I don't know how effective 
it'll
be,  but I think losing money in court would be enough of an incentive 
to
pay attention to the list.

If enough  states do it the telemarketers may decide it's worth 
fighting
in court.  Life gets interesting at that point...

So, I cannot call you without first accessing this list?

This support from you and Greg for state solutions which interfere with 
uncoerced contacts is surprising.


--Tim May
--
Timothy C. May [EMAIL PROTECTED]Corralitos, California
Political: Co-founder Cypherpunks/crypto anarchy/Cyphernomicon
Technical: physics/soft errors/Smalltalk/Squeak/ML/agents/games/Go
Personal: b.1951/UCSB/Intel '74-'86/retired/investor/motorcycles/guns
Recent interests: category theory, toposes, algebraic topology



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-06 Thread Steve Schear
At 12:08 PM 12/6/2002 -0800, Tim May wrote:

On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 10:10  AM, Greg Pelcak wrote:


The best way to say it is "Please add me to your do not call list", you 
don't need any confirmation after that, you can just hang up.
Some telemarketers will try to read you a disclaimer saying that it may 
take up to 30 days to remove your name and blahdy blah, but they are 
still required to put your name on the list.
...

The "do not call" list is mandated by law, though, and is company wide.



The point being that there is no requirement in a free society that I keep 
such a list, that I honor requests to be added to such lists, and so on. 
If you don't wish to be telephoned, keep your number secret.

I don't need permission from Big Brother to call your number.

Nor does your request that I not call you obligate me not to.

(Nothing personal, but I hate seeing list members here advocating statist 
solutions.)

With this logic no one could knock at your door without first checking a 
list.  If you want to prevent the knock put a dog in your yard to screen 
"applicants".

steve



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Tim May
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 02:15  PM, jet wrote:


At 12:08 -0800 2002/12/06, Tim May wrote:


If you don't wish to be telephoned, keep your number secret.


One word: "wardialing".



Three words: "screen your calls" (as many of us already do).

Many of us have at least two phone numbers: one that is widely 
accessible, published even. Another that is private, often a cellphone. 
In my 6 years of using a cellphone, whose number I do not give out to 
many, I have only gotten two spam calls that I know of: both were from 
a hotel company that I gave my cellphone number to when I was 
traveling. I told them the first time not to call me again, that this 
would make me less likely to use their hotel. The second time I yelled. 
That was more than a year ago and my cellphone has remained blissfully 
spamfree.

Between Caller ID screening, answering machine screening, use of 
cellphones, and hanging up immediately, telephone spam should not be a 
problem requiring government solution...especially as the language of 
the First Amendment is so strong.

Technological solutions are preferable over statist solutions (which 
don't usually even work, as the statists write the rules and exempt 
themselves and their friends).

--Tim May
"The Constitution is a radical document...it is the job of the 
government to rein in people's rights." --President William J. Clinton



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Harmon Seaver
   Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing calls on his, but
really that's only because, at this point at least, the cellphone number lists
haven't been sold. This might change in the near future, as several wireless
providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists. 
   It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since, unlike landline
calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to your cellphone would cost *you* money. 

 -- 
Harmon Seaver   
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Adam Stenseth
On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tim May wrote:
>
> If Bob wants to have a cellphone number that is not sold to others, he
> should make arrangements with the cellphone company.

Just for my own edification, does this apply to landline service
as well(or other government-sanctioned monopolies)?  For example, are your
calling habits and landline number "assets" of your phone company?  Many
of them seem to think so.

Of course, this isn'y [generally] as applicable with wireless
service since [at the moment, in most places] you can shop around for
service.  But when a local monopoly telco says that your data is their
asset and the prospect of having that data sold is a condition of doing
business with them, from a libertarian perspective, is regulation of what
they can do with that data acceptable?

I suppose from a libertarian perspective you'd try to avoid
monopolies, gov't sanctioned or otherwise, but in certain fields(utilities
like water, power, phone, and data should be) it's fairly impractical to
have multiple competing groups building out infrastructure(laying pipes or
cables) in the same area.

-adam




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Adam Stenseth
I've heard through the grapevine that it is illegal in the US (ie,
federally) to telemarket to cell phones(on the same logic that makes it
illegal to send spam-faxes, it consumes the receiver's resouces, and
probably just about as effective).

Google, sadly, does little to resolve the issue, since the internet
contradicts itself a good bit on this particular topic(as it is wont to
do).

Anyone know for certain?

-adam


On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Harmon Seaver wrote:

> Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 18:53:04 -0600
> From: Harmon Seaver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...
>
>Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing calls on his, but
> really that's only because, at this point at least, the cellphone number lists
> haven't been sold. This might change in the near future, as several wireless
> providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists.
>It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since, unlike landline
> calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to your cellphone would cost *you* money.
>
>  --
> Harmon Seaver
> CyberShamanix
> http://www.cybershamanix.com




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Tim May
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 04:53  PM, Harmon Seaver wrote:


   Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing calls on 
his, but
really that's only because, at this point at least, the cellphone 
number lists
haven't been sold. This might change in the near future, as several 
wireless
providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists.
   It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since, unlike 
landline
calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to your cellphone would cost 
*you* money.

Again, there's a very straightforward analysis. Surprisingly, much of 
contract law is in precise agreement with what most libertarians would 
think about this. Namely,

Alice can sell her list of numbers she has with Alice Cellular if she 
chooses to, unless she has made contractual obligations (the 
much-referenced "consideration") with Bob and Chuck and Dora and so on.

As simple as that.

If Bob wants to have a cellphone number that is not sold to others, he 
should make arrangements with the cellphone company.

Whether incoming calls "cost him money" is neither here nor there to 
the basic issues.


--Tim May



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Mike Rosing
On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tim May wrote:

>
> So, I cannot call you without first accessing this list?
>
> This support from you and Greg for state solutions which interfere with
> uncoerced contacts is surprising.

I never said anything about supporting the law, I just pointed it out.
Caller ID works for me just fine.

That's why I said things could get interesting if the telemarketers take
the law to court :-)

Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Dave Howe
Tim May wrote:
> Many of us have at least two phone numbers: one that is widely
> accessible, published even. Another that is private, often a
> cellphone. In my 6 years of using a cellphone, whose number I do not
> give out to many, I have only gotten two spam calls that I know of:
> both were from a hotel company that I gave my cellphone number to
> when I was traveling. I told them the first time not to call me
> again, that this would make me less likely to use their hotel. The
> second time I yelled. That was more than a year ago and my cellphone
> has remained blissfully spamfree.
Unfortunately, this isn't possible in the uk - the cellphone number space is
something like 80% utilised; wardialling gives a very high "hit" rate, and
although you can't do any pre-targetting I don't think spammers really care.




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Tim May
On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 05:49  PM, Adam Stenseth wrote:



On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Tim May wrote:


If Bob wants to have a cellphone number that is not sold to others, he
should make arrangements with the cellphone company.


	Just for my own edification, does this apply to landline service
as well(or other government-sanctioned monopolies)?  For example, are 
your
calling habits and landline number "assets" of your phone company?  
Many
of them seem to think so.

The principal is clear. If Alice knows something about Bob, and has not 
made contractual arrangements with Bob to restrict her, she may of 
course sell that information as she wishes.

This follows from the noncoercion principal, formally.

If Bob doesn't wish Alice to obtain, remember, sell, or otherwise 
transfer what she has learned, it is up to him to arrange in advance 
for Alice not to do these things. This may involve a contract, or it 
may involve technology. (For example, using throwaway cellphones.)

	Of course, this isn'y [generally] as applicable with wireless
service since [at the moment, in most places] you can shop around for
service.  But when a local monopoly telco says that your data is their
asset and the prospect of having that data sold is a condition of doing
business with them, from a libertarian perspective, is regulation of 
what
they can do with that data acceptable?

I look to ways of bypassing so-called monopolies, not to using state 
power to ameliorate the effects of state-granted monopolies. Thinking 
the same state which granted the monopoly is the place to go for a fix 
is silly.


--Tim May
(.sig for Everything list background)
Corralitos, CA. Born in 1951. Retired from Intel in 1986.
Current main interest: category and topos theory, math, quantum 
reality, cosmology.
Background: physics, Intel, crypto, Cypherpunks



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-07 Thread Sunder
I was thinking of disabling all the ringers in my phones and setting up an
old Mac with a cid enabled modem to announce all calls.  The unavailable
ones it would keep silent for. :)  Getting wires all over the house and a
PA amp is the part I haven't done yet.

Could work well as an alarm clock too.. :)


--Kaos-Keraunos-Kybernetos---
 + ^ + :NSA got $20Bil/year |Passwords are like underwear. You don't /|\
  \|/  :and didn't stop 9-11|share them, you don't hang them on your/\|/\
<--*-->:Instead of rewarding|monitor, or under your keyboard, you   \/|\/
  /|\  :their failures, we  |don't email them, or put them on a web  \|/
 + v + :should get refunds! |site, and you must change them very often.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sunder.net 

On Fri, 6 Dec 2002, Harmon Seaver wrote:

>Yeah, but that stuff doesn't stop the calls. We use caller ID and don't pick
> up for anything that says "unknown caller" which stops most, but just the
> ringing pisses me off. I'm going to try the tones. I've also read of a little
> box you can buy which does the same thing, but so you don't even hear the phone
> ring at all.
> 
> On Fri, Dec 06, 2002 at 12:08:22PM -0500, Tyler Durden wrote:
> > I'll have to try this (and it should work seeing how I'm Tyler Durden!).
> > 
> > But I have utilized a stopgap strategy for a number of years now that has 
> > worked pretty good:
> > 
> > 1) If I hear silence for more than a moment or two I hang up the phone.
> > 2) If I hear a large number of people talking in the background when I pick 
> > up, I hang up the phone.
> > 3) If someone replies to my "hello" with another "hello" I hang up the 
> > phone (think about it--no one who knows you and has called you will simply 
> > reply 'hello' after you've picked up the phone).
> > 
> > It also helps to speak a language you don't think the telemarketer 
> > understands...they'll hang up the phone pretty quickly if you're talking in 
> > Chinese, for instance. (And if they have a Chinese accent I'll talk to them 
> > in Spanish.)
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > >From: Steve Schear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >Subject: How to Stop Telemarketers...
> > >Date: Thu, 05 Dec 2002 19:07:04 -0800
> > >
> > >Most Telemarketers use what is called Predictive Dialers, which are PCs
> > >with software that dials ever number in a phone exchange until it gets
> > >lucky. Now you can use their own technology against them, and it's legal...
> > >
> > >Here is how their system works: the dialer calls your number, you answer,
> > >and you have probably notice the line appears dead after you said, "Hello".
> > >What their computer is doing is listening for a short burst of audio, your
> > >"HELLO", followed by a period of silence. With this heard, it will log your
> > >phone number as valid and transfer the call to an available telemarketer,
> > >the reason for the delay before someone comes on line.
> > >
> > >Now, if their computer receives a long audio burst (an answering machine) "
> > >Hello, this is Alan Carlton", then it will disconnect, but it will log you
> > >phone number as valid, for a later call-back. Oh Lovely! Some are even
> > >capable of detecting Fax tones and will even transmit a fax trying to sell
> > >selling something you're probably are not interested in. However, do not
> > >answer, or when you do answer the phone, or if fax tones are detected, or
> > >if it detects an answering machine, in all four (4) cases IT LOGS YOUR
> > >NUMBER AS A GOOD PHONE NUMBER FOR FUTURE CALL- BACK --- PLUS THE COMPANY IS
> > >ALSO SELLING THESE VERIFIED VALID NUMBERS LIST TO OTHER TELEMARKETERS.
> > >
> > >A SIMPLE WAY TO STAY OFF THE LIST IS TO USE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY AGAINST 
> > >THEM.
> > >
> > >The predictive dialer's software also looks for NON-valid phone numbers,
> > >and there is a simple way you can make your phone number appear invalid to
> > >the telemarketers' computers, thus they do not call back and accumulate no
> > >database, at least with your number, to sell other Telemarketers.
> > >
> > >Here is how to do it: If you call a number that has been disconnected or is
> > >no longer in service you will hear 3 short tones, "doo...dah...dee", thanks
> > >to Ma-Bell. Each time you Refresh this page you should hear,
> > >"doo...dah...dee". The actual frequency of these tones are 985.2 Hz, 1370.6
> > >Hz, and 1776.7 Hz. Guess what the telemarketers' software does when it
> > >detects these 3 tones at the beginning of your outgoing message? It thinks
> > >it has reached a line that is disconnected or is no longer in service. So,
> > >it disconnects and does not log your phone number as a working number. 
> > >BINGO!
> > >
> > >NOW record these onto you outgoing message or voice mail announcement, and
> > >start exterminating telemarketers. Try this example, but use your own name,
> > >"doo...dah...dee, Hello, This is Tyler Durden". It must be at the beginning
> > >of 

RE: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Lucky Green
Adam Stenseth wrote:
>   Just for my own edification, does this apply to 
> landline service as well(or other government-sanctioned 
> monopolies)?  For example, are your calling habits and 
> landline number "assets" of your phone company?  Many of them 
> seem to think so.

Yes, they are. Just as the details of your credit card transactions are
the property of the credit card company. Which is why your detailed
transaction records, including your name, are available for sale from
your credit company to anybody that wants to buy thousands of them.

--Lucky




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Tyler Durden
"Technological solutions are preferable over statist solutions (which don't 
usually even work, as the statists write the rules and exempt themselves and 
their friends)."

Ya know Tim May, you say a lotta crazy shit but every now and then you say 
something that really makes some sense. (Suspiciously like Choate...)










_
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. 
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Bill Stewart
> It also helps to speak a language you don't think the telemarketer
> understands...they'll hang up the phone pretty quickly if you're 
talking in
> Chinese, for instance. (And if they have a Chinese accent I'll talk to 
them
> in Spanish.)

So if you tell them "Put me on your 'Don't Call List'" in Chinese or Spanish,
does that satisfy the US requirements for telling telemarketers not to call 
you?



Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread jet
At 15:15 -0800 2002/12/06, Tim May wrote:
>On Friday, December 6, 2002, at 02:15  PM, jet wrote:
>
>>At 12:08 -0800 2002/12/06, Tim May wrote:
>>
>>>If you don't wish to be telephoned, keep your number secret.
>>
>>One word: "wardialing".
>>
>
>Three words: "screen your calls" (as many of us already do).

I don't want to be telephoned in the first place.

-- 
J. Eric Townsend -- jet spies com
buy stuff, damnit: http://www.spies.com/jet/store.html




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Tim May
On Saturday, December 7, 2002, at 06:20  PM, Lucky Green wrote:


Harmon Seaver wrote:

   Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing
calls on his, but really that's only because, at this point
at least, the cellphone number lists haven't been sold. This
might change in the near future, as several wireless
providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists.
   It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since,
unlike landline calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to
your cellphone would cost *you* money.


Given this fact, one wonders why the cell phone providers have not yet
made the list available for download by anybody. Well, they'll figure 
it
out in due time.

Someone will, but as an act of vengeance against their bosses. Or a 
rival cellphone company that doesn't charge for incoming calls 
(airtime) and hence have no incentive to promote incoming calls.

Why this counterintuitive effect? The golden goose effect. If customers 
of Sprint or Verizon, etc., are being bombarded by incoming spam calls, 
some of them will switch off their phones completely, will switch to 
services with no incoming call fees, or, in some cases, will stop using 
cellphones altogether.

(And some fraction will call their cellphone companies and demand their 
number be changed, make threats, cause PR hassles, etc.)

This makes it unwise for anyone to leak the numbers...unless they wish 
to embarass the companies or drive business to no-incoming-fees 
providers.

--Tim May
"Ben Franklin warned us that those who would trade liberty for a little 
bit of temporary security deserve neither. This is the path we are now 
racing down, with American flags fluttering."-- Tim May, on events 
following 9/11/2001



RE: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Lucky Green
Harmon Seaver wrote:
>Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing 
> calls on his, but really that's only because, at this point 
> at least, the cellphone number lists haven't been sold. This 
> might change in the near future, as several wireless 
> providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists. 
>It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since, 
> unlike landline calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to 
> your cellphone would cost *you* money. 

Given this fact, one wonders why the cell phone providers have not yet
made the list available for download by anybody. Well, they'll figure it
out in due time.

--Lucky




Re: How to Stop Telemarketers...

2002-12-08 Thread Harmon Seaver
On Sat, Dec 07, 2002 at 06:20:02PM -0800, Lucky Green wrote:
> Harmon Seaver wrote:
> >Tim mentioned cell phones and the lack of telemarketing 
> > calls on his, but really that's only because, at this point 
> > at least, the cellphone number lists haven't been sold. This 
> > might change in the near future, as several wireless 
> > providers have been considering selling their subscriber lists. 
> >It's hard to see how they could do this, however, since, 
> > unlike landline calls -- annoying enough -- spam calls to 
> > your cellphone would cost *you* money. 
> 
> Given this fact, one wonders why the cell phone providers have not yet
> made the list available for download by anybody. Well, they'll figure it
> out in due time.
> 

   Why would they do that, any more than the landlines would release unpublished
numbers, since that's what cell numbers are now? And I'm sure there would be
tremendous demand for them to a) not charge for incoming calls, or b) start
filtering for spammers. But I imagine there'd be no small number (or rather a
large class action) of suits for releasing unpublished numbers if the cell
company did it deliberately. And if it were "leaked", they'd just be forced to
change them all. 
   I seriously doubt very many would put up with having their precious minutes
wasted by spammers. Especially those who have already given up their landlines
altogether to be rid of the hassles. 

 -- 
Harmon Seaver   
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com