How to turn tables on the cold callers

LAST MONTH we asked our readers to tell us about how they deal with scammers and pesky cold callers . . .

MY HUSBAND and I always try to think of funny responses when we get a scam call. When one cold caller asked to speak to my husband, he said he was a burglar who had broken into the house. Next time, if someone asks whether I’ve been in an accident, I’m going to tell them I fell off an elephant in India.

J.N., Crawley.

I HAVE a little fridge magnet shaped like a set of bagpipes which plays a stirring version of Scotland The Brave. If someone rings and I suspect they are not genuine, or they are being rude, I push the ‘play’ button and walk away from the phone. I feel it provides the caller with a little entertainment. C.B., Cropwell Bishop,

Nottingham.

IF I receive a call from a scammer, I often tell them they have to go through security before I can speak to them. I ask for their date of birth and then their mother’s maiden name. On other occasions I will simply tell them that I am a pensioner and that my children have told me not to speak to strangers.

C.M., Edinburgh. MY TACTIC for scaring off scammers is to ask them ‘What would Jesus do’, before saying that I will need to pray to God before I make a decision. Most will end the call once I do this. Alternatively, I will set off a personal alarm next to the handset, which emits an eardrum-bursting screech.

N.K., Liverpool.

I HAVE a few ways of dealing with scammers, but I’d like to share two of my favourites. Sometimes I will answer the phone in Welsh and then carry on the conversation in that language. On other occasions, I will tell them that I have to ask ‘Mr Tiddles’ before I can agree to anything. After that, I start purring and meowing down the phone.

H.F., Hook, Hampshire. AS A rule I try to ignore all cold calls, but I have a routine if I inadvertently answer one and end up speaking to an actual person. I always introduce myself as PC Jones and ask the scammer how they knew the deceased and where they are calling from. Funnily enough, no one ever stays on long enough to answer me. B.D., Wigan.