# Don't call those spam numbers!!! You'll be charged!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 22, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221 "2014-09-22T11:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/1 "2014-09-22T11:42:47Z")
Don’t call, even out of curiosity or to harass them. Those are 900 numbers which means that you may be charged some unknown amount per minute. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/2 "2014-09-22T11:44:00Z")
You would think that they would be gone by now ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/3 "2014-09-22T11:45:47Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > You would think that they would be gone by now Unless… UNLESS THEY’RE BEING POSTED FROM INSIDE THE BOARDS! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/4 "2014-09-22T11:49:47Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > You would think that they would be gone by now Unfortunately, there are no mods who are awake during US night hours. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/5 "2014-09-22T12:01:08Z")
“I have a collect call for spammer from kayaker. Will you accept the charges?” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/6 "2014-09-22T12:03:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Unfortunately, there are no mods who are awake during US night hours. That’s why **Rust** should be made a moderator. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/7 "2014-09-22T12:06:40Z")
Welp, I called. I now have a crazy-monkey sex spell I’m casting on all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/8 "2014-09-22T12:07:04Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Don’t call, even out of curiosity or to harass them. Those are 900 numbers which means that you may be charged some unknown amount per minute. While I’ve no doubt it’s a scam of some sort, do 900 numbers work the same in India as they do in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/9 "2014-09-22T12:09:52Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Welp, I called. > > I now have a crazy-monkey sex spell I’m casting on all of you. Yes!!! (anything would be an improvement for me) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/10 "2014-09-22T12:12:13Z")
I’m afraid the the much feared Dopeageddon has arrived. :eek: Marley followed through with his threat and Banned all the other Mods. Coming to his senses, he then banned himself as an act of penance. The only hope is the Great Cecil Himself, who retains the One Password to Rule Them All. But Cecil admitted final failure months ago in his 41-year old fight against Ignorance and fled to Tahiti with a contortionist from Cicero. Heaven help us now. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/11 "2014-09-22T12:42:15Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > While I’ve no doubt it’s a scam of some sort, do 900 numbers work the same in India as they do in the U.S.? Maybe. Maybe not. But I wouldn’t risk it. For one thing, I think you have some legal protections in the US and can dispute 900 charges. I’m not so sure about India (assuming that they are pay per minute). The way they’re spamming points to the idea that they’re just trying to get people to dial for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/12 "2014-09-22T12:51:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > That’s why **Rust** should be made a moderator. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/13 "2014-09-22T12:54:45Z")
Why can’t they simply ban all threads with a 900 number in their title? I made three reports around 6 AM and the GQ at least is still totally polluted. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/14 "2014-09-22T13:03:25Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from General Questions to About This Message Board. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/15 "2014-09-22T13:27:00Z")
Those were phone numbers? I thought they were GPS coordinates for the upcoming zombie invasion. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/16 "2014-09-22T13:33:15Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Why can’t they simply ban all threads with a 900 number in their title? Because there might be parts of the world where a 900 telephone code is perfectly legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/17 "2014-09-22T13:34:22Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Because there might be parts of the world where a 900 telephone code is perfectly legitimate. No one should be posting phone numbers in thread titles. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/18 "2014-09-22T13:34:47Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Maybe. Maybe not. But I wouldn’t risk it. For one thing, I think you have some legal protections in the US and can dispute 900 charges. I’m not so sure about India (assuming that they are pay per minute). Well, we’ve got at least a couple of Indian posters. Maybe one of them will notice this and clue us in. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/19 "2014-09-22T13:45:49Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Why can’t they simply ban all threads with a 900 number in their title? I made three reports around 6 AM and the GQ at least is still totally polluted. I doubt there is any good way to do that. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221/20 "2014-09-22T13:59:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Unfortunately, there are no mods who are awake during US night hours. We do have one mod in Europe, and we have a couple of mods who are usually checking over the SDMBs early morning Eastern (US) Time. Regardless, we don’t try to schedule shifts, so at any given time, there may or may not be mods on the boards. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-call-those-spam-numbers-youll-be-charged/699221.md?page=2)