Keep getting home improvement scam calls. Decided to have a little fun with one of them.

Unfortunately I think the FTC is too slow. That's why I ask for a quote for something, provide a fake name, and see who calls. Let the contractors know they are buying improperly acquired leads. Ruin their reputation and shrink their client base.

Call or e-mail your Senator and Representative to support House bill HR5573 and Senate bill S2705.  Both bills will give the FCC increased ability to address the overseas scammers problem and pressure providers like Verizon to address the problem.  It's a govt fix to address the problem, probably won't work with the Feds involved, but it's better than nothing.

Yeah, I get these home improvement calls on almost a daily basis. And the callers always have a thick Indian accent and use generic names like 'John Smith' and 'Amy Jones'.

Just got another one. It's the same foreign outfit from before, since they had my fake name / address / etc from the previous call and they are the same pushy jerks. I've had one more since my Modernize experience (previously posted) that was a different company. Now it's time to wait and see who calls, drag them around before I tell them I'm on the DNC (after finding out where the contractor got the referral). So will it be a repeat of Modernize? The second one? Or have they been forced to find a third home improvement referral service for their scam?

As usual thanks for your input TT.  If I can make a suggestion...  Once you find out upon whose behalf these calls are being made (i.e. the contractor, loan company etc) PLEASE  either file a complaint with the BBB or put it on YELP. This really, really helps those of use who pursue them in court. It shows that they are aware that illegal calls are being made on their behalf and therefore vicariously liable.

I'll try to do more of that. I have done Google Reviews on some businesses, too.

Ooo, yeah, good idea! File a complaint with one of the most toothless, worthless organizations on the planet!

That's great T.T.  As I'd mentioned when you can show the judge that additional complaints have been made and ESPECIALLY if they respond to them "It wasn't our fault, it was a 3rd party who called you"  you've got them. It shows they are aware of the problem and have not intervened.
Appreciate all your input too. I don't suppose you know how these "opt-in" sites function?  The kind where the initial caller gets your info and apparently puts in on some website.  The company then claims that YOU were the one who'd asked to be contacted. I haven't figure out how the initial caller gets paid.

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The kind where the initial caller gets your info and apparently puts in on some website.  The company then claims that YOU were the one who'd asked to be contacted. I haven't figure out how the initial caller gets paid.

Most likely its the marketing company that robo-called you that are the ones who go to Opt-in sites to get your info spread onto Lists generated by those Opt-in sites. This way they have something to show you as "requesting to be contacted".
Thats just a guess and I have no sources to demonstrate its what actually goes on. The better the Marketing company is that protects its Clients, the better they get paid for their services. Those Opt-in sites are probably affiliate Marketing companies as well and share info among each other to cover each others "you-know-what".

Everyone should always check their spam to see where the site is that sent them spam email and use their Opt-out options to prevent further spreading of their lists. If they have Opt-in, by Law they must also have an Opt-out.

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The CAN-SPAM Act, a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-cent ... -guide-business

They are likely paid as lead brokers. Who sell "qualified leads" to places like Modernize, who then sell the leads to home improvement contractors. If this last one does sell the leads to Modernize, and they recognize my number, Moderize would be smart to delete the lead - however that should red-flag that lead broker as being one that breaks the law. But do they continue to accept the rest of the leads they haven't gotten complaints about? That's the question. And as a single person, it's hard for me to answer without more people involved.

This is why I think more people ought to respond to these. If contractors continually get "illegal leads" which they have paid hard money for - they will lose faith in them. The higher percentage of bad leads (and subsequent complaints) they get - they will stop doing business with these lead brokers because it hurts their business more than it helps.

All this telemarketing is about money. So anything that messes up the cash flow is a good thing. Also, I think this helps demonstrate that even though it's a foreign telemarketing company that is untouchable - they are working for US-based companies which ARE touchable - if you work to pierce that veil.

Thanks Mike and TT. Im sure that's correct. Ive got to find out how money changes hands.  I assume the lead caller puts the info on a site run by someone like Modernize or Lending Tree and THEY are the ones who pay and then pass it on to the seller.
I include a copy of one of these opt in sites as evidence using D Trump as the contact person to show the judge how easy it is to put information online

And we have a winner! HomeAdvisors.com is the latest purveyor is illicitly gained "leads". Just had a nice chat with a contractor.  Apparently, HomeAdvisor charges them $100 per lead, and their customer service is pretty bad.

Check out the complaints from people on BBB:
https://www.bbb.org/us/co/lakewood/profile/co ... ustomer-reviews

Page after page of 1 star reviews from contracting companies... Lots of bad leads. I wonder how much they paid the foreign telemarketing company for my "lead", and then charged 3 to 4 contractors $100 each for it?

Well, we have a name and an address.  Now how many people are going to file TCPA lawsuits?  Anyone?  Probably not, which would be the perfect way to put them out of business.

Nah, it'll be a typical case of everyone waiting for someone else to do it but not actually stepping up themselves.