I have just had someone on the 'phone and when I said that I wasn’t buying anything they asked me if I was British and how long I had lived in France.
They then asked me if I had a daughter.
I find this highly disturbing and am interested to know if anyone else has had a call like this.
What an annoying experience!
I think there is a tendency for cold callers, rebuffed, to become unpleasant – probably especially to women.
They don’t get that far with me, Jane, if I don’t see a name they get the red button and then I pages jaune inversee them to see who they are. Thay are always cache.
If it is a mobile number and I am feeling generous I text a simple message back ‘seulement SMS a cet numero’. Never receive one.
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Not nice, getting weird phonecalls… and, of course, sounds like they were just trying to get you to feel some sort of rapport… many tricksters are adept at such conversations, casual questiona and remarks…
Had they been bona fide… I reckon they would have introduced themselves, explained why they were contacting you… etc etc… not trying to draw you into conversation in this oblique manner…
Strange, when I think about it, it sounded as they were in a call centre, but they did not call me by name and it was a mobile number.
He also spoke with a mid European accent.
On a completely different topic I’ve been wondering if anyone knows of a really loud sturdy metal whistle that will last for years that I can keep handy
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Know any Boy Scouts? 
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00193Q3LM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I bought these. Loud.
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2 for the price of one from Amazon.fr €6.99 plus postage direct from Amazon.
Sturdy and loud
I looked for the one I use, which is plastic with a different tone each end but I couldn’t see it listed.
Probably just as well if you don’t want Shanna turning up on your doorstep. 
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Yes, I think I might get one.
Yes some of them can be quite aggressive. I did have a very pleasant experience a few weeks ago. I received a call whilst watching a program on IPlayer, I was very polite and explained I was having a relaxing wank and would they call back in 30 minutes. Guy was very understanding and in fairness he rang me back at the appointed hour. Unfortunately for him I wasn’t in need of his services but I was impressed with his persistence.
(True story)
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We managed to stop all our nuisance calls and save money. We cancelled our landline. Now if someone rings and they aren’t in my mobile stored numbers, nor do they leave a message, I ignore them!
With a wifi working off a box we bought for 50€ that shares our 250gb data allowance with my mobile phone, we are still able to use tablets, stream films on the TV etc using the extra SIM card in the purchased wifi box and neither pay for a landline or the accompanying wifi hub rental.
I had a chappie call, and after I had exhausted his offerings and he had nowhere to go, he calmly asked if I would send him 100€…
Not very nice Jane… I immediately block the phone number of any worryingly dodgy calls or sms’s. But it’s unsettling.
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Yes, exactly.
What sort of people think that is amusing?
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My son recently gave me his old smart phone as it was not dealing with the internet very well and he needs it for work. However much I protested about giving up my old mobile, I don’t use it for internet or anything other than alarm clock and making/receiving calls, I am impressed now at how it says “suspected scam call” when calls come in.
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The Acme Thunderer. As used on the Titanic, according to James May, who blew his every time his wine-tour companion, Oz Clarke went off on what May called ‘wine bollocks’.
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Thank you all of @captainendeavour , @David_Spardo , and @Porridge for the whistle suggestions.
I’ll take a look and sure any you’ve suggested wlll do nicely. Though the Acme suggested by Captain Endeavour, does have a certain appeal as I recall running up and down muddy fields in a gym slip dodging others’ hockey sticks and yearning for whichever teacher was referee today to blow theirs…
I must admit to having whistle lust when I saw the Acme
Oh God. To think it has come to this.