To hang up on a scam call from a donkey sanctuary?

[borogovia]

Just had an odd phone call which I am guessing is a scam - I've not had one like this before though, usually they claim to be from Microsoft or some insurance company. Went like this:

'Hello I'm calling from Dogs UK can I speak to you for a minute.'
Me 'What?'
'Do you have a dog?'
Me: 'No.'
'Would you accept a call from the donkey sanctuary inviting you to play in the donkey lottery.'
Me: 'No I hate donkeys , I don't think they should be saved.' (This isn't true, I just wanted to end the call.)

Anyone else had this? What exactly is the scam? Or was I unnecessarily rude to a real donkey sanctuary?

A real donkey sanctuary wouldn't have the time or money to be cold calling people.
You said more words than I would have done.

Never heard of this. The Donkey Sanctuary is a well known charity though. I would be inclined to find their email and let them know that either someone is trying a scam that sounds like them, or it's an odd approach to fundraising that I would have thought unlikely to work as a cold call.

Wouldn't give this a split second of thought. Just report the number as spam, even if it's not, cold calling should be made obsolete by now.

I sponsor a donkey with the Donkey Sanctuary never had a call, I do get sent raffle tickets.

But why would they ask about dogs?? Doesn't seem legit to me.

The dogs first and then the donkeys makes it sound dodgy.

It’s easier to just not engage and end the call , you don’t need to say anything to end the call .

Yeah exactly, it just all sounded off. I assume the idea is you just mention dogs, donkeys, and lotteries and it hooks people in emotionally and it's easy to get personal information out of them.

I would have hung up sooner then you did tbh

https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-texts-and-nuisance-calls/

Report the buggers.

Well I wouldn't have answered the call in the first place

If you just wanted to end the call, you could've just hung up?

It's a mystery to me where all the donkeys that need rescuing come from, and begging sanctuaries give me the rage.
Who has them/breeds them and what for?

You can't ride them, eat them, they don't have any possible use.
Mystified

'Hello I'm calling from Dogs UK can I speak to you for a minute?’

’Yes, you’ve reached Helen at London Police Station and this call is being recorded. What would you like to say?’

I play doddery old lady with scam calls, I don’t engage them in conversation apart from “ hold on a minute dear, I am just going to look for my glasses”. Then I get on with my day until they hang up.

Nothing you do to scam callers is wrong.

3Lemons, viques: 😆

@borogovia

Sign up - if not already - to Telephone Preference Service. This should prevent all "reputable" organisations calling and - if someone does call - you can simply say "we are registered with the TPS and do not take any calls" - phone down!

Is this for real?
I've supported the Brooke Horse and Donkey sanctuary for many years.
Donkeys are used as working animals in many third world economies. The people often don't have the money , or knowledge , to care for these animals properly, let alone provide them with veterinary care. Providing help to care for these animals helps the people to exist.

I sometimes do the hold on to i get a pen, and then write down the name of the company.
Most of the time they hang up before I get to confirm the company name and get the spelling correct.

😄

”was that an s for scammer or f for fraud dear?”

Well, to be fair that applies to a lot of animals - tigers, pandas, orangutans etc. Doesn't stop them being used, abused, killed, habitats destroyed etc.
Donkeys are used as beasts of burden - & whilst not much used in the UK now, are still used in many other countries with less industrialisation & much poorer communities. The Donkey Sanctuary seeks to help those communities through education & veterinary care & training, rescues were necessary etc. I'm not a member of Charity, btw, but I have been to their Sanctuary in Sidmouth.

Now, you may believe that there are other causes more worthy or deserving, but it still has value & donkeys aren't pointless.

Anyway, back to the OP - that call sounds dodgy as anything, so you did the right thing. If you're feeling charitable might be worth a message to the two charities to make them aware a scam is being committed in their name.

Some of these scammers don't even bother to sound credible. There's no such charity as Dogs UK, never mind the sudden species switch to donkeys.
I just had an email saying that my 'royal parcel' has gone astray because they don't know my address.

A mystery as to where the donkeys who need rescuing come from? They have no possible use??

I can't tell if you're trying to wind people up or if you're very very naive or maybe a child who hasn't finished school yet. You really think donkeys have no use?

An animals purpose and value isn't based on what humans what to use them but for but for what it's worth they ARE ridden and they ARE eaten. They are also working animals in many countries and are treat like shit. Hence being rescued!

A quick two second google can show you why so many need rescuing, it doesn't have to be a mystery to you.

I use the app and can't edit typos and mistakes in my last post, I'm having a RA flare in my hands so it's a mix of hitting wrong letters and auto correct.

I suspect that if you had said yes, you did have a dog they would have launched into a 'give us your card details to sponsor a poor lost alone little doggy' spiel. Because you said you didn't, they switched to donkeys.