Really smart stuff.
I have a US line that redirects to my local mobile here. I have received many-a-robocalls so I can spot them even before the tape starts rolling. Thanks to truecaller too.
But I got one 2 days ago…it called and I was in correspondence for what seemed like 3 minutes the first time, and didn’t even notice I was talking with a bot until a re-call yesterday.
Very organic pauses, realistic stops and breaks as expected from real phone conversations. It naturally interprets simple replies.
Me: hello, who’s this?
Bot: hello, I am calling from XYZ services
Is this a good time to speak?
(She Pauses)
Me: Eh…yep. Go ahead
Bot: We are calling as regards a discount on our travel service…(blah blah).
- some cruise to Bahamas or something. I noticed an unnatural speed and precision with which she carried-on after I gave her a go, but I just taught oh well a fast-talking sales girl. Sweet voice too.
Bot: Would you be interested?
Me: Hmmm… (For 10 seconds)
Bot: Are you still there?
Me: Yes
Bot: (She rephrases the questions) Ok good. Would you also be making any trip in the next 18 months.
Me: Maybe. It depends, but probably not the Bahamas.
Bot: I didn’t hear that.
I cut the call in my first call here. In the second call it continues thus;
Bot: OK. That’s fine.
Do you have a minutes for a short survey? To see if you qualify.
Me: OK. Got ahead.
Bot: Thank you…
She started a 3 point survey. The way she phrased one of the questions was too precise with a conversation I remembered the first time.
She never stuttered, she was simply perfectly precise. Those gave her away.
At this point I decide to stop talking.
Bot: Are you there?
Me: (Says gibberish in Igbo)
Bot: OK. That’s fine.
Me: Gotcha
- she continued without me, either way.
I had another 2 minutes of fun before I ended the call.
The interesting thing about this is that this particular line will go unnoticed for several months without being blacklisted.
And I realized what they wanted was to shortlist prospects via the 3 point surveys. Which is brilliant because for each question you’re simple required to answer yes or no. And the bot can get almost every called number to that point without suspicions.