Neat trick!

I got a call on my mobile earlier with the display number +88686702212596. I immediately recalled hearing and reading numerous stories about how con artists from China or Hong Kong call you up informing you that you have won something and to cash in your prize, to please bank in xx amount into a bank account for transfer fees or whatever. So with slanted eyes, I picked up.

fadedbutterfly: hello?
woman: halo siao cheh, ni huay chiang hua yue ma?
fadedbutterfly: sorry, no *in a haughty brit-eessshh accent*
woman: oh okay

And hung up.

So I related this to gecko who quickly told me that I should have kept her on the line to waste her phone bill! He further went on to teach me how he treats telemarketers and wrong-numbers.

Step 1 - pick up
Step 2 - "hello?"
Step 3 - having confirmed they are one of the above
Step 4 - leave phone beside you on the table and continue doing what you were up to before being interrupted. Wait for "toot toot toot" tone when caller hangs up in frustration
Step 5 - repeat if the caller attempts a second time, or third, or fourth..

I think that's a darn neat trick!! I always get very agitated when wrong-numbers call me because as soon as I inform them that they got the wrong number; they usually insist that they got it right, or asks me what number they dialled, or hangs up so abruptly without a word or a hint of an apology. That's just plain rude!! -_-

I had a telemarketer call me up once inviting me to a re-launch of their old hotel. I immediately told her very politely that I was just not interested because I did not want to waste her time talking and explaining it to me when she could be reaching someone who is genuinely interested. That little b*tch went all rude and hung up on me. The nerve!!

So next time when you get a call from any of the above, just repeat Steps 1 to 5 above. I'm sure you'll be feeling so satisfied with this little neat trick that you can't wait for the next wrong caller!

And if you see a number similar to the above calling you - DO NOT GET CONNED!!

*the above is based on fadedbutterfly's personal opinion and is no way responsible for any consequences resulting from the above actions by readers*