Next time, take the hint.

[dakhur]

About 12 stores in the West Oz BP chain got caught a few years ago by a scam like this. Someone rang up saying they had an order for a printer cartridge and needed to confirm the order number and name of the person to send it to. Several stores gave the info over the phone and ended up having to try and send the cartridges back a week later. Got very complicated.

[scruff]

Only today I got a random phone call from someone from "IBM" who was offering my company software to help us. They couldn't explain what this software was, or how it would help, and were somewhat confused that I told them that the basic MSWord and Excel were all we used and needed. (And seriously, IBM is so strapped for cash they are ringing up random builders and offering software?)
He offered to send me more info, so I rattled off my email address, spelling out my surname. I've not recieved a brochure yet, probably cos he can't spell the company name. :-)

[EricKei]

It may very well have been on this site, but one of the more sarcastic responses to this sort of thing I've heard (without going so far as to be abusive or use foul language) was this...

Tell the people selling toner that you don't need it because you write everything by hand -- you make "copies" by writing it down twice -- you receive faxes by just listening to the incoming data "squeals", translating them, and writing down the resulting message.

If you can't beat 'em, confuse 'em! ^_^

[Cat Herder]

you make "copies" by writing it down twice --

or at least that you used to, until one day, you told your boss, "I would prefer not to."

If you can't beat 'em, confuse 'em! ^_^

A professional Dominatrix would say, "If you can't beat 'em, they're not potential customers."

[Cat Herder]

Tell the people selling toner that you don't need it because you write everything by hand -- you make "copies" by writing it down twice -- you receive faxes by just listening to the incoming data "squeals", translating them, and writing down the resulting message.

Perhaps you could follow that up with something like this:

"But you know what? Maybe it's time we did start using some of that 21st century technology. In fact, I want to place a large order now, so I'm going to transmit our corporate credit card information right now, okay? Here it comes:

*very audibly draws a deep breath*

"SqueeEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAALLLLLLLLeeeeyyyrrrrrLLLLLLL LLEEEEEEEYYYYYYEEEAAAlllllyyyrrrrrryyyylllllllllll lrrrrrrrrrrrlllllll!

"Huff-puff-pant-pant - there, did you - huff, puff - get all that?"

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Perhaps you could follow that up with something like this:

"But you know what? Maybe it's time we did start using some of that 21st century technology. In fact, I want to place a large order now, so I'm going to transmit our corporate credit card information right now, okay? Here it comes:

*very audibly draws a deep breath*

"SqueeEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAALLLLLLLLeeeeyyyrrrrrLLLLLLL LLEEEEEEEYYYYYYEEEAAAlllllyyyrrrrrryyyylllllllllll lrrrrrrrrrrrlllllll!

"Huff-puff-pant-pant - there, did you - huff, puff - get all that?"

Yes. Just YES.