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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sdcsvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!bob
From: bob@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Junk Phone Calls
Message-ID: <537@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 26-Feb-84 21:39:40 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.537
Posted: Sun Feb 26 21:39:40 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 28-Feb-84 07:21:11 EST
Organization: EECS Dept., U.C. San Diego
Lines: 27

[reposting; original didn't make it out of San Diego alive.]

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from an answering machine
running in reverse.  It dials each of a list of phone numbers in
turn, waits for an answer, and plays a speil (complete with two
sleeze-bucket marketing pukes and car horn!).

Then the fun begins:  it plays back your phone number, and starts
asking questions.  What's happening is that you're being recorded;
a human will scan the tape later and call the "hot" prospects back,
or more likely, send another sleeze-bucket out to your house.

Now for netflame time!  What are the ethics of these devices?  The
phone company says they're just like any other cold sales call
(hence legal).  Even if legal, the machines are nasty -- they
reduce the cost of prospecting so much that I expect a flood of
phone-hype any week!  How can we (a) outlaw these machines, or
(b) discourage their use?

I got several answers from folks in San Diego.  Some ideas are:
(a) generate noise on the line while they're recording -- my
modem did quite well, (b) sound incoherent, (c) give the phone
company business office address & phone number.

Go ahead, MAIL to me, and I'll summarize.

--bob hofkin (..!sdcsvax!bob)