AIBU to give false answers to phone survey?

[RevengeOfTheReindeer]

Just had a phone call: "We're taking a survey for mumble mumble. Do you have time to answer a few questions?"
RoTR "Yes, ok."
"What's your address?"
Me "I don't want to give out personal details. Sorry."
Put phone down.

The guy calls me back "You said you would take part in the survey so why did you put the phone down?"
"I said I don't want to give out my personal details."
"But you agreed to take part, so now you have to. Where do you live?"
"County"
"What is your address?"
"You don't need to know that."
"Are you working?"
"No."
"Why not? Are you ill?"
"Yes."
"Do you have the flu or are you under treatment?"
"Treatment"
"How many people live with you?
"5"

How bizarre. How did they get your phone number? Did they want your banking details too?

Was it wrong of me to start making stuff up?

Not at all. It's a sort of hobby of mine. Great fun.

God no, you can get really creative with it. I know it's awful and they're just doing a job but it's constant some days that you end up fielding calls you've never wanted or asked for or sought out, all asking for personal details.

I tell them I'm the Nanny and the homeowners are arseholes. It shuts them right down.

Be very careful not to give out personal data such as dates of birth, bank details etc. Scammers can sound terribly plausible. They may well use the “doing a survey” route now that we’ve all become aware of the “BT/Microsoft/computer fault/bank security hack” scams.

I would make it more obvious than that, like pick a celebrity and give them all their details out, or tell them your name is Elizabeth Windsor and your address is Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London...

How did they get your phone number? Did they want your banking details too?

No they wanted my insurance details. Car details, who it's insured with, household, if we had private health insurance.

Be very careful not to give out personal data such as dates of birth, bank details etc.

On the contrary, give them more than they can handle. All made up of course. While they're busy trying those out and getting nowhere, they aren't scamming some more trusting soul.

Sounds like a dodgy call trying to identify when house will be empty for a break-in.

As soon as he told me I "had to" take part I would make up more and more ridiculous details to bugger up the survey. It would include assertions that I share the house with a police officer, an army sergeant, a member of the SAS, a body builder and a boxer in case they're trying to work out whether to burgle us.

I do it all the time

One of these knocked on my door once. DD(16) answered and us too polite and not confident enough to say no. She was stood at the door in her pyjamas and he was asking all kinds of personal household info that a 16 yr old obviously wouldnt know. I came down and found her really uncomfortble and bumbling through the questions. He was quite a mature gentleman and really should have known better. I sent him on his way and DD has never told me off for being rude when getting rid of doorstep callers again.

YANBU in fact it is your duty to give false answers to bs like this. Too many curtain-twitcking-goddams , prying into our lives.

alternatively

"Is that Mrs Stiggins?"

"No I've murdered her, the place is awash with blood and I've eaten her liver mwah ha ha".

I would have told him to fuck off as soon as he said I "had" to participate, you are more polite than me!

But at least he wasn't bothering others while you led him down the garden path.

Quineo - 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

That sounds like they were fishing for personal info they could use for scams.

I don't think that was a genuine survey.

That’s so weird. He was so pushy.

Recently I reported a minor issue on a train to the transport police. The case was instantly closed as it was that minor, but they randomly referred me to victim support even though it was unnecessary. The woman called me and I explained that I don’t need their services, she then proceeded to ask me lots of survey questions like “On a scale of 1-10 how much has victim support helped” etc - I told her I haven’t used your services so I can’t really comment. She was a bit taken aback but didn’t push it!

No way was that a genuine survey. A real survey wouldnt need your surname or full address (maybe first 4/5 digits of postcode for location) and they would never ring back and say "you agreed to answer so now you have to".

To be honest if someone rang back and told me I had to complete their survey, I would be asking for the company name and details plus their name and details, and see how they like it.

The best thing I ever did when I was being plagued with calls was this:
Caller: Can I speak to Mrs 81?
Me: Speaking!
Caller: Can you confirm your post code as AB1 23C?
Me: No, sorry, that's not my postcode.
Caller: Would you mind telling me your post code?
Me: Yes it's DE4 56F
Caller: First Line of your address?
Me: Cherry Tree Farm House
Now when all the companies they sold those false details to ring, we just say "No, sorry, we don't live there" and hang up.

quineo going to try this one.