# Had to share this scam phone call **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2024, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258 "2024-07-15T10:25:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/1 "2024-07-15T10:25:58Z")
So I answer my phone and after a while (presumably the scammer was checking several calls for an answer) a voice says “Hello?” Me: Hello Scammer: I’m with your Internet provider. Have you got your computer switched on? Me: What is my account number? Scammer: Your Mum is a ho 🤢 and they ring off. Apart from reminding everyone not to fall for scams, I do have a follow-up. Does the use of ‘Mum’ indicate an English caller? (That’s what I called my mother.) Does the use of ‘ho’ indicate an American caller? (That’s NOT what I called my mother.) ---
**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:** [July 15, 2024, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/2 "2024-07-15T10:34:05Z")
It indicates that, as usual, the writer of the script is trying to sound either American or British and not knowing the difference. Did the caller have an accent? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/3 "2024-07-15T10:43:03Z")
Well it was a short call - perhaps a hint of American? ---
**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:** [July 15, 2024, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/4 "2024-07-15T10:53:36Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Well it was a short call - perhaps a hint of American? - Probably using filtering to eliminate the accent. I seldom get scam calls but I had a few that the cadence, (mis)pronunciation and word choice (plus a faint trace of accent at the beginning of some words) gave away an Indian caller. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/5 "2024-07-15T11:36:33Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Does the use of ‘ho’ indicate an American caller? (That’s NOT what I called my mother.) My understanding is that the English youth of today can listen to wireless programmes from all around the world, so they may have picked up the slang term from an American broadcast. It’s not just The Archers and Hancock’s Half Hour anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/6 "2024-07-15T11:48:19Z")
A younger Australian person would call your Mum a ho in normal usage. You could get back at them by asking if they were English. Then you’d hear some even more choice opinions about your Mum. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/7 "2024-07-15T11:51:29Z")
my understanding is that phone scammers are overwhelmingly from India; where they are taught British English in school. Hence the use of Mum. Ho, is probably more universally recognized. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/8 "2024-07-15T12:09:42Z")
I don’t think the last line indicates that they’re “trying” to sound like much of anything. At that point they know they’re found out and they’re trying to keep their self-esteem by insulting you. I’ve never had that happen on the phone, but I have had that happen with the old “speakers from the back of the white van” people. I knew that they were not trying to insult me to close a sale because they insulted me as they were starting to drive off. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-to-share-this-scam-phone-call/1004258/9 "2024-07-15T12:34:31Z")
[Moderating] I guess that the question is “Do the use of the words ‘mum’ and ‘ho’ indicate a nationality for the speaker?”, but even those questions are pretty squishy for FQ. And this thread seems to be more about relating the odd thing that happened. So it’s probably a better fit for MPSIMS.