Thursday, July 29, 2021

The Scam

 Scam calls have reached a new level.

Tim answered the phone and I heard him say, "What? I don't know what you're talking about. (pause) This is the first I'm hearing about it. (pause) What? We don't have a transmitter." 

Me, eating my sandwich: "Tim, who is it?" 

He shook his hand at me in a gesture to be quiet, and continued on in the same vein. 

Me, still eating my sandwich: "Tim, do you know who you're talking to?" 

He hissed, "The neighbor!" and made the 'shush sign' again. He continued on just like before. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Me, not finished with my sandwich" (probably would have been if I wasn't talking so much) "Tim, is this a scam call?" 

Impatiently, he said, "Talk to my wife," and handed me the phone.

Someone using a voice scrambler said, "This is Christine, your neighbor over on 4th."

Me, holding my sandwich: "We don't know any Christine over on Fourth."

Voice: "I'm asking you nicely to turn off the transmitter you have aimed directly at my house."

Me, incredulously: "Who the hell is this? You're using a voice scrambler and you're either nuts or this is a scam, but if you've got a problem, I suggest calling the police and reporting us. I'd sure be interested in what they have to say about this situation." 

Voice: "Now, I am asking you nicely..."

I swore, Weaver. Sorry. But I had a sandwich to eat, so I swore at them, and told them to call the police. I hung up and they called back again twice more, immediately.

I didn't answer. I was eating my sandwich.

19 comments:

  1. Asking you nicely or what? What exactly did they plan to do if you didn't turn off the transmitter? Do you have caller ID? Maybe it's kids pulling a prank.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It may be, but I was talking to the neighbors. There's some weird stuff happening in the 'hood, including someone showing up on a doorstep, and trying to see inside someone's house. One person got a call from the same number, told them to call the police, and hung up, only to have the same number call on her cell phone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That sounds creepy.

    If it were me, I'd be reporting the calls, and the number they came from, to the police, and recommending my neighbours do the same.

    Peggy

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is totally crazy. So weird!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Definitely report it. That does not sound good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We are plagued with scam calls on our landline and mobile phones. I only answer calls that aren't in my phone book/contacts if I am expecting a call from a strange number. If it's important, they will leave a message.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We no longer have a landline and I only answer calls from numbers I know or from people who have left a message.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Debby you don't have to apologise for swearing!! Some calls that are scams really call for it even if I can't bring myself to say that word.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like an inside job more than a robo call. Someone playing a practical joke to get your goat.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Actually the person appears to have a directory of a group I belong to and is calling specifically members of the group. I have an idea who it is. She has some mental issues, but I don't believe she is dangerous. Just some one who gets a real kick out of thinking she is the smartest person in the room.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't answer if I don't know the person calling. My caller ID showed "Possible scam call" two times the other day and I thought, "Really! Why would I answer then?" Strange!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That is SUPER WEIRD. I can't imagine what they would be trying to gain by accusing you of pointing a transmitter at them. I have a feeling someone is struggling with mental illness. Doesn't that sound like a paranoid delusion?

    ReplyDelete
  13. As you say in the comments, it sounds like the kind of mental issue it can be hard to help.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've got 5 calls from men calling me grand ma. I know it is not one of my grandsons but I play along. They say don't you know who I am and than I give him a name and he says yes that is me. I have a good time feeding him false info and he just keeps agreeing. Than I say I need to send you some mony to help(whatever he tells me he is into) He is so thankful u til I tell him my grandsons work for a living and would never asks me for thousands of dollars and I have no g.s. by the neme I gave him. Once I told him I was good friends with the police chief and we would get him out of jail, he hung up. I know every time they think oh an old lady this will be an easy scam. I live near a retirement area and people get scammed with this grandson needs help scam all the time. Our local paper even warns people don't fall for this, ask questions, call their children to see if the kids need help. don't send money or give out bank numbers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. That us weird. Seems like more of an old fashioned prank call.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just odd. If I get scam calls I say hang on a minute, put the phone down on the desk and start playing my saxophone - that usually gets them to hang up!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Turns out that scammers are getting ahold of directories. Using google, they can pick out your neighbors and cross streets, etc. to speak familiarly about where you live and your neighbors. The goal is to engage you in conversation. The conversation is recorded and they can piece it together to use n other scams.

    It actually is pretty horrifying the amount of information people can glean once they have a name.

    ReplyDelete
  18. At least that sounds more interesting that most of the silly scam calls I get. Mostly my callers have a pronounced Indian accent, say they're from Microsoft, and tell me I have a problem with my laptop. They always receive a two word farewell.

    ReplyDelete
  19. LOL. I don't even have to think to figure that one out.

    ReplyDelete

I'm glad you're here!

Weary

I am sure that everyone has seen the video of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I lived in Baltimore for a couple years while my...