[RajT88]

When you ask for the company name, they hang up on you usually.

You have to sound like a potential buyer (sucker) in order for them to properly identify themselves.

This is true for Auto Warranty, Medicare, Timeshares, etc. robocallers.

[ipython]

Exactly right. It’s actually a fun exercise in social engineering, and can be a fascinating sociological experiment if you’re into that sort of thing.

The most successful persona unfortunately is that of a slightly senile senior citizen. Senile enough that you seem gullible to the caller, but believable that you have enough money and sense to continue with the transaction.

[sydbarrett74]

I love watching videos of Kitboga and some of the other scam-baiters impersonate elderly individuals and then unmask themselves at the very end.

[RajT88]

Correct. Sounding old and slightly senile is what gets them on the hook most effectively.

Unfortunately - when they're calling, they also seem to have all your personal info, and know your name and how old you are. So I put on my best senile guy voice, they confirm my name, and then they hang up.

It's actually quite concerning!

[ipython]

I have several personas that have made the rounds in the underground somewhere. It’s actually kind of interesting - I made up a persona back in 2016 or so and even six years later I’ll get calls for that “person”.

So while sometimes the information is legitimate - especially if you’re not opted out of the major internet people search engines (ref optery which is a yc graduate company) - but you can also “poison the well” enough to get your fake persona disseminated.

[squeaky-clean]

In my experience it's usually a 2-step system. I get a spam call frome either a robot voice or someone with a heavy accent. This company is generally not based in the US. After collecting some basic information like your name and eligibility for Medicare, they forward you to a US based company.

I'm not a lawyer, but even though the foreign scam call company illegally called you, I don't believe the US based company is liable for anything because the scammers make you agree to be transferred to a Medicare licensing office.

[giantg2]

The money has to be sent somewhere. Those accounts are usually more traceable.