During the last 7 days this number (416) 628-4561 has called daily. I have answered twice.

First time, male caller asked if Ms. XXX was there. I said "Not available, who is calling please?" Caller said "oh it's just a thank you call, I'll call back" and hung up. Thank you for what?

Second time different male caller if asked if Ms. XXX was home. I again said "Not available, who is calling?" He then asked "Are you Mr XXX?". I responded "Who's calling please?" He insisted "Are you Mr. XXX?" I again asked who was calling, and said "please identify yourself". He hung up.

Sorry friends but these CANNOT be legitimate fundraising tactics. I suspect the telemarketer is Xentel as reported on the CBC on Sept 22, 2010. A fundraising "firm" which will keep the majority of any money it collects.

Do NOT let guilt trick you into giving any money over the phone to anyone. And do NOT give away any personal information to these sharks. Their calls are not innocent, the peolple calling are NOT volunteers, but crooked TELMARKETERS, basically scum.

Thanks Rita.

As I implied, I do not know for sure that it is Xentel, I just suspect them based on what I have read and heard. However, here are a couple of points I have discovered since I made my first post:

The only "Sick Kids Hospital" that the Shriners actually support is in Montreal, not the one in Toronto.

Moreover I don't believe that the Shriners, Toronto Police or Toronto Firefighters even solicit donations over the phone, either directly or via any telemarketing companies. Thus I am pretty certain that ANY calls pretending to represent those organizations are pure fraud.

Listen for subtle differences in how they describe themselves versus the real organization. Apparently there are many scamsters who want trick us out of our money by using names that sound legitimate.

Basic rules to apply are:
1) Give out NO information to anyone who calls you who you do not know, especially your identity and financial data.
2) Do not confirm or deny your name even if they get it right until after they clearly identify themselves. 3) Ask to have your number put on their internal do not call list.
4) Best tactic is to remain cool and polite as well (getting angry can backfire, especially if you are dealing with a fraud).

All you want is to be left alone eventually.

Number calls me, I don't answer but they never leave a message, must be telemarketer.

Thank YOU so much for your post.

We receive an inordinate amount of calls, and, can tell from the background noise that it's a "Call Centre".  And, they ALWAYS call soliciting donations for "The Shriners", "Toronto Police Widows and Orphans Fund", "Burn Victims" and various other Charities (I don't recall offhand).  However, I've always been suspect, because their people are so crass and belligerent......to quote one of them, "You don't want to give $$$ to burn victims?  How could you NOT want to help burn victims?".  If it is Xentel, they might consider training their personnel to NOT YELL at people.  When I asked, "Who's calling please?"  He responded, "Why do you want to know?" I asked him to identify himself, and, was told, "Oh, you want my name?  It's Mike Rotch!".

Legitimate or not.  They're RUDE!

Not sure what this is... "Due to a..." gets cut off, but it keeps calling me!

During the last 7 days this number (416) 628-4561 has called daily. I have answered twice.First time, male caller asked if Ms. XXX was there. I said "Not available, who is calling please?" Caller said "oh it's just a thank you call, I'll call back" and hung up. Thank you for what?Second time different male caller if asked if Ms. XXX was home. I again said "Not available, who is calling?" He then asked "Are you Mr XXX?". I responded "Who's calling please?" He insisted "Are you Mr. XXX?" I again asked who was calling, and said "please identify yourself". He hung up.Sorry friends but these CANNOT be legitimate fundraising tactics. I suspect the telemarketer is Xentel as reported on the CBC on Sept 22, 2010. A fundraising "firm" which will keep the majority of any money it collects.Do NOT let guilt trick you into giving any money over the phone to anyone. And do NOT give away any personal information to these sharks. Their calls are not innocent, the peolple calling are NOT volunteers, but crooked TELMARKETERS, basically scum.