If Trump called you right now, What would you say?

[Cyber Liberty]

What I am looking at is the percentage in that...
I can't believe they are making any sales to speak of, using deceptive practices and pissing people off... It's no more valid a marketing platform than blowing a thousand popups onto your computer desktop - I can guarantee that I am not much different than anyone else in that respect - I will not give them any satisfaction, for the intrusion alone... Not to mention calling at dinner time, or before 9am, or on the Sabbath...

So I doubt very much there are enough sales in it to matter. Something else is going on.

I don't get it either, @roamer_1.  Seems to me the last thing a salesman would want to do is enrage the prospect.  But what else could it be?  Establishing a list of "known" phone numbers?  Hacking you if you answer?

[roamer_1]

I don't get it either, @roamer_1.  Seems to me the last thing a salesman would want to do is enrage the prospect.  But what else could it be?  Establishing a list of "known" phone numbers?  Hacking you if you answer?

@Cyber Liberty
I don't know the purpose. But it can't be what it seems IMHO... Look back at the advertising through invasive trojans as an instance... Nobody was buying that crap, and the owner/prospect got the benefit of paying someone like me a hundred or two to clean their system up too... It was never about sales.

But it did expose flaws in a nationwide system... and caused people to scream for a more locked down system... To the point now, nearing completion, where everyone will be ID'd before being granted access. It FEELS more free, but as an instance, anything you do from your phone, 'they' know exactly who you are, and where you are...

I don't know, like I said. Just thinking out loud. 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I don't get it either, @roamer_1.  Seems to me the last thing a salesman would want to do is enrage the prospect.  But what else could it be?  Establishing a list of "known" phone numbers?  Hacking you if you answer?

Most of them are automated, with a "press 2 to speak to an a-hole in India".  Virtually no cost to them to make millions of calls.  Only need the tiniest percentage to bite.

[Cyber Liberty]

Most of them are automated, with a "press 2 to speak to an a-hole in India".  Virtually no cost to them to make millions of calls.  Only need the tiniest percentage to bite.

There's that.  There will always be people who bite the hook when they get a call about a family member in jail needing Bond, or the cops are on the way to your house within the hour because of an IRS bill.

[Applewood]

LOL! I stopped contributing to them after a 'disaster relief' van of theirs failed to yield, speeding, T-boned my vehicle, and they didn't even want to pay for may car. The ensuing concussion would have ended my grad school stint if I hadn't decided to drop out and go to work already. Later I found out from vets, from WWII, Korea, and Nam, that the contents of their Red Cross packages were (more often than not) 'available for purchase'...and these guys were in combat.

...

My late father, a WWII vet, would corroborate your statement.  He said the Salvation Army handed out supplies, cigarettes and such for free, while the Red Cross charged for these things.  Dad didn't trust most charities; always said they were crooks.  But he had high praise for the Salvation Army and even donated to them.  After he passed on, I started donating in his memory and still do. 

[Cyber Liberty]

My late father, a WWII vet, would corroborate your statement.  He said the Salvation Army handed out supplies, cigarettes and such for free, while the Red Cross charged for these things.  Dad didn't trust most charities; always said they were crooks.  But he had high praise for the Salvation Army and even donated to them.  After he passed on, I started donating in his memory and still do.

Red Cross is notorious for that.  Mrs. Liberty's ex was a cop, and they would charge them for the coffee and donuts served to the line officers during riots and other civil disturbances like natural disasters.

[Sanguine]

My late father, a WWII vet, would corroborate your statement.  He said the Salvation Army handed out supplies, cigarettes and such for free, while the Red Cross charged for these things.  Dad didn't trust most charities; always said they were crooks.  But he had high praise for the Salvation Army and even donated to them.  After he passed on, I started donating in his memory and still do.

Same here.  The Salvation Army is my go-to whenever I want to contribute to a specific event or cause.

[Bigun]

Red Cross is notorious for that.  Mrs. Liberty's ex was a cop, and they would charge them for the coffee and donuts served to the line officers during riots and other civil disturbances like natural disasters.

ARC is a labor intensive organization with $1.414 billion (or 54% of revenue) spent on salaries, pensions, benefits, and payroll taxes for the 21,435 employees (which equates to about $70,000 per employee). Most revenue is going to support the staff and office costs associated with collecting, testing, and distributing biomedical supplies so high staff expenses are to be expected.

1,248 employees received more than $100,000 in total compensation.

Source: https://paddockpost.com/2018/01/26/executive-compensation-at-the-american-red-cross/

[libertybele]

Build the darn wall already, no red flag laws, and no infringement on the 2A, and for heaven's sake Mr. President, do yourself a huge favor and get Jared and the Princess out of the White House!

[Cyber Liberty]

Source: https://paddockpost.com/2018/01/26/executive-compensation-at-the-american-red-cross/

So the fee for coffee and donuts is to subsidize the blood operation (which I'd be fine with) and over half is for salaries that are higher than the average for regular, private-sector workers (which I am not)?

[berdie]

Red Cross is notorious for that.  Mrs. Liberty's ex was a cop, and they would charge them for the coffee and donuts served to the line officers during riots and other civil disturbances like natural disasters.

I volunteered for the RC for a couple of years. Our chapter didn't charge anybody anything. But the disorganization made me crazy. I'm sure that is true with any large organization composed of volunteers. I only lasted a couple of years. I took the whole thing seriously...many didn't.

[berdie]

My late father, a WWII vet, would corroborate your statement.  He said the Salvation Army handed out supplies, cigarettes and such for free, while the Red Cross charged for these things.  Dad didn't trust most charities; always said they were crooks.  But he had high praise for the Salvation Army and even donated to them.  After he passed on, I started donating in his memory and still do.

My Dad, also a WWII vet, said the same thing. He was appalled when he found out that I was volunteering. I also donate to the SA.

[Bigun]

My Dad, also a WWII vet, said the same thing. He was appalled when he found out that I was volunteering. I also donate to the SA.

You are a wise one @berdie!  The Salvation Army's administrative overhead is minuscule compared to that of the AMC.

http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/religious/salvation-army-national-corporation-in-alexandria-va-1221

[Smokin Joe]

What I am looking at is the percentage in that...
I can't believe they are making any sales to speak of, using deceptive practices and pissing people off... It's no more valid a marketing platform than blowing a thousand popups onto your computer desktop - I can guarantee that I am not much different than anyone else in that respect - I will not give them any satisfaction, for the intrusion alone... Not to mention calling at dinner time, or before 9am, or on the Sabbath...

So I doubt very much there are enough sales in it to matter. Something else is going on.

I have wondered if this is one of those "Make a gozillion dollars in a month in your spare time from home scams. Some sucker would be provided (for a fee) with the software to spoof, the voice track, etc.

But who in their right mind would deal with someone who cold calls from a spoofed number, anyway?

Besides, if they can't given me an extended warranty on my '41, they are of no use to me. All my vehicles are old enough to vote, and about half could go in the bars....

[Smokin Joe]

There's that.  There will always be people who bite the hook when they get a call about a family member in jail needing Bond, or the cops are on the way to your house within the hour because of an IRS bill.

The IRS sends letters. They don't start anything with a phone call.
You can't legally participate in and win a foreign lottery, especially one you didn't enter.
There are more Nigerian Princes than Cherokee Princesses....but don't expect them to be real.
If they want you to pony up money, deposit a check and send them some cash, or are offering something for free, don't, don't, and they won't, as a rule.

[roamer_1]

I have wondered if this is one of those "Make a gozillion dollars in a month in your spare time from home scams. Some sucker would be provided (for a fee) with the software to spoof, the voice track, etc.

But who in their right mind would deal with someone who cold calls from a spoofed number, anyway?

Besides, if they can't given me an extended warranty on my '41, they are of no use to me. All my vehicles are old enough to vote, and about half could go in the bars....

I dunno what it is... I just know what it ain't. Nobody is buying anything from someone spoofing the ID and cold calling with such rude insistence.

[Cyber Liberty]

I dunno what it is... I just know what it ain't. Nobody is buying anything from someone spoofing the ID and cold calling with such rude insistence.

I'm sure as shit not gonna.

[Sanguine]

I'm sure as shit not gonna.

Old people with extended family. It's very cruel.

[Smokin Joe]

My late father, a WWII vet, would corroborate your statement.  He said the Salvation Army handed out supplies, cigarettes and such for free, while the Red Cross charged for these things.  Dad didn't trust most charities; always said they were crooks.  But he had high praise for the Salvation Army and even donated to them.  After he passed on, I started donating in his memory and still do.

During the flood, (Grand Forks, ND, 1979) we were out on a dike in East Grand Forks. Seven of us unloaded and set seven semi loads of sandbags in the rain, pushing a bulge out of the polyethylene liner in the dike.

The only other people we saw before daylight were in a Salvation Army mobile canteen food truck, who stopped, fed us a hot meal and gave us coffee.
They have received donations from us whenever we were able to give, and for years we were involved in setting up toy runs for kids through them as well. 

[Smokin Joe]

I dunno what it is... I just know what it ain't. Nobody is buying anything from someone spoofing the ID and cold calling with such rude insistence.

Exactly. They couldn't pick a worse business model.

[Smokin Joe]

Old people with extended family. It's very cruel.

They are thieves. It's about the only thing I think the Muslims have right, their treatment of a thief. 'nuff said.

[Cyber Liberty]

Old people with extended family. It's very cruel.

My mother, in her 90's got hit with both the "Your Grandson is in jail" and "The IRS agents are on the way to arrest you" scams.  Also a pigeon drop, where she was told she won a bunch of money, but she had to send them the tax on it before she could claim it.  I told her, "No way, Jose!" so she told them they have permission to deduct the tax and send her the balance.  LOL.

[Applewood]

It's important that those of us who have elderly loved ones warn them about these scams.  I have an elderly aunt who used to be rather sharp about these things, but I think her mental faculties are declining.  Since her husband passed away and she has no children, I've taken it upon myself to warn her  about every scam I hear about. 

[EdJames]

Yes, the spoofing of a local number is really insidious for older people....  they certainly want to answer the phone thinking that it is a call from a neighbor, or maybe a local business that they deal with.....  adding that to the fact that a lot of older folks that are a bit lonely, are actually eager to answer the phone.....  just to talk to someone....

Very cruel and evil.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yes, the spoofing of a local number is really insidious for older people....  they certainly want to answer the phone thinking that it is a call from a neighbor, or maybe a local business that they deal with.....  adding that to the fact that a lot of older folks that are a bit lonely, are actually eager to answer the phone.....  just to talk to someone....

Very cruel and evil.

Of course they're cruel and evil.  They're criminals, bunko artists.  It's what they do.