Cold Callers Who Lie

[Bliss]

String them along, then at the last minute change your mind. (that is, if you can spare the time).

Kind of like 419 eaters. If you have the time you can save a few innocents making they waste theirs

[Imogene]

I got one of these calls, on my parents' phone line.
Ph: "Yeah, do you have a copier?"
M: "Kind of... it's a combo fax/copier..."
Ph: "Oh, well, you need ink for that."
M: "Yes, yes I do, and I usually get it from Staples."
Ph: "What? No, you need high-grade ink."
M: "Not unless I decide to do some spectacular printing... it's a home office printer/fax. You've called a residential phone number, now go away."

[Ghel]

Here's one from today. I don't think she was lying, necessarily, but she followed the same pattern.

CC: I'd like to speak with whoever's in charge of customer service. Can you tell me who that is?
Me: <DING! DING! Warning!> What is this regarding?
CC:This is regarding customer service.
Me: I'm customer service. What. is. this. regarding? <Now I'm just trying to get her off the phone, since I have a customer at my desk.>
CC: What is your name, please?
Me: I just told you - it's Ghel. I'm helping a customer at my desk right now. What can I help you with?
CC: I can call back later.
Me: If you like.

She calls back about an hour later.
CC: I'd like to speak to whoever's in charge of customer service.
Me: I can help you with that. <No customer this time, so I figured I'd let her do her spiel. It wasn't much of one.>
CC: I'm _____ and I'd like to send you a free trial of our publication. <I think she gave it some generic name, like Customer Service Stories.>
Me: No thanks. We already get more than enough magazines that we never read.
CC: It's a free publication... are you still there?
Me: I haven't hung up on you yet. <Although I would have, if I had a customer at my desk.>
CC: It's loaded with useful information to help increase sales blah blah blah...
Me: Don't send us anything. We won't read it anyway.
CC: Oh. Thanks for your time. Bye.

The head teller and one of our regular customers were the only people in the lobby to overhear the conversation. They lol'd.