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"Mr. Shedlock you told a colleague of mine a few months ago to call you back when we have a really good investment opportunity".

Interesting pitch.

When I had the landline, I frequently got those, "Since you own your home there, ... "

I would interrupt, "No, I rent."

{click}

I knew they were either selling siding or windows. Occasionally, they might be trying to sell resurfacing the driveway.

They were, however, less problematic than the 'I calling from the Fraternal Order of Law-persons for your area ...' or 'I calling from the social service organization that provides work for the disabled in your area ... and our 10-year guaranteed lightbulbs are only $5.00 a piece ...'

[One time, I succumbed and bought the lighbulbs. The bulbs didn't last as long as the K-Mart specials. Of course, there was no way to get hold of them to honor the guarantee, because there really wasn't one.]

One day I was painting outside and someone came by passing out literature for a local politician running for office. I kind of grunted at him and took is papers and went back to painting.

A few days later he called me, told me who he was and said that he noticed I was a particularly intelligent and motivated person and he had an opportunity for me. I told him right away that from my grunting response he had no idea if I was a modern day Einstein or the village idiot and I wanted to know what he was trying to sell. Turned out it was some multi-level marketing program that made Amway look good. Way to get me interested in your scheme by lying to me with your first words on the phone.

I found the best way to deal with those

You are not obligated to have any conversation with telephone salesmne so I just say “STOP!” and as politely as possible tell them “I do not take telephone solicitations of any kind, please remove me from your list, Thank you” and hang up