# New Rip-off Attempt (I Assume) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474 "2013-10-28T19:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/1 "2013-10-28T19:10:48Z")
Previous threads have documented my encounter with Ann/Tiffany/Lying Bitch _du Jour_ from Account Services, and her repeated violations of the Do Not Call Dammit List to try to get me to accept her credit card or whatever it is. I have also encountered the lying rectum with the Ghandi accent attempting to convince me that he is from Microsoft and that my wife’s computer is infected with some virus (it’s an Apple, for heaven’s sake). But today I got what I think is a new one. Twice in the last hour, I got a call from some chirpy voice assuring me that someone was trying to call me collect, and the name of this caller is “Adam ferscchlurgerngmnubrmdr”. I don’t know anyone of that name, but what put me off was when I remained silent after hearing “Press 1 to accept. Press 2 to decline. Press 3 for rates.” was that I should have my credit card ready to set up an account. Fortunately, I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night, so I hung up without response. About fifteen minutes later, same thing. Anyone gotten this lately? I assume it is someone with the gall to not only call me out of the blue to try to get me to sign up with a long-distance carrier, but to charge me collect for the call, or simply some marginally creative career criminal who will get my credit card details and then go crazy charging up a storm until the Visa folks shut him down. The other possibility is that my wife is involved in a prison ministry, and one of her group is calling her collect for something or other, but that is less likely, as she never gives anyone her phone number (indeed, it is against the rules, for obvious reasons). So my money is on “clumsy rip off attempt”. Accordingly, a rousing “kindly kiss my wrinkly old butt you bad Lily Thomlin impersonator and here’s hoping someone pees in your Halloween candy”. Regards, Sho-damned ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/2 "2013-10-28T19:16:36Z")
Pretty clear that they want to get in your pants… pocket that is. Does their number appear on your caller ID? If so, I’d google the number. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/3 "2013-10-28T19:27:51Z")
I don’t have caller ID. I suspect something like [this](http://www.path2usa.com/experiences/telecom-companies/1603/mci-collect-calls). Regards, Sho-damned ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/4 "2013-10-28T19:31:54Z")
“Gandhi”. “Tomlin”. “ **Shodan** ”. 😃 Just kidding, I didn’t realize you’d changed your handle! I like it, it’s a good color on you. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/5 "2013-10-28T19:37:41Z")
You just can’t trust folks nowadays. Although I am fortunate to have good people looking out for my interests, like the nice employees at “[service@intl.peypal.com](mailto:service@intl.peypal.com)”, who have just sent me an e-mail alerting me that “Unfortunately, Your account has been blocked” and that I must update my billing information. I will be responding soon to give them my credit card information, and if they need it, my social security number. Aren’t they nice to give me warning and prevent unsightly interruptions of service? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/6 "2013-10-28T19:41:58Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > “Gandhi”. > “Tomlin”. > “ **Shodan** ”. 😃 > > Just kidding, I didn’t realize you’d changed your handle! I like it, it’s a good color on you. What change? _urp_ Regards, Sho-damned ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/7 "2013-10-28T20:58:00Z")
> [@Sho-damned](#): > > I don’t have caller ID. So get caller ID. If you don’t recognize the number let it go to voicemail, they won’t leave a message. Why stress yourself with their nonsense? If a dog barks at you, do you answer them? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/8 "2013-10-28T21:46:16Z")
> [@Sho-damned](#): > > I don’t have caller ID. > > I suspect something like [this](http://www.path2usa.com/experiences/telecom-companies/1603/mci-collect-calls). > > Regards, > Sho-damned That appears to be legitimate third party gouging and is a predictable result of deregulation. If someone calls you collect from a payphone belonging to Joe’s Telecommunications, what is the disincentive for Joe to charge whatever he feels like? This summer my wife called me from the Toronto airport because someone stole her phone. My phone company put $18.79 on my bill for a two minute call on behalf of [WIMACTEL, INC](http://www.scambook.com/company/view/52936/WiMacTel-Inc). That’s right, $9.385/minute. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/9 "2013-10-29T02:01:25Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > That appears to be legitimate third party gouging and is a predictable result of deregulation. If someone calls you collect from a payphone belonging to Joe’s Telecommunications, what is the disincentive for Joe to charge whatever he feels like? > > This summer my wife called me from the Toronto airport because someone stole her phone. My phone company put $18.79 on my bill for a two minute call on behalf of [WIMACTEL, INC](http://www.scambook.com/company/view/52936/WiMacTel-Inc). That’s right, $9.385/minute. I’m confused - I thought if someone called me collect, it would show up as a call on my phone bill? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/10 "2013-10-29T02:31:45Z")
Collect calls are billed to the recipient (if I recall correctly).ETA: And now I see that isn’t what you’re asking - I didn’t know that they could just charge whatever they want for collect calls, either. My favourite calls are from the credit card services, calling to tell me that they can help me out with my credit card debt. All $95 of it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/11 "2013-10-29T02:38:47Z")
Prisoners are only allowed to call collect through a government approved phone company which can charge about whatever they want. I have only received one of these calls and it was from someone I know but I don’t remember whether the operator said the call was from a prison. This might have been one of those and the prisoner simply got the number wrong. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/12 "2013-10-29T12:37:46Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > Prisoners are only allowed to call collect through a government approved phone company which can charge about whatever they want. I have only received one of these calls and it was from someone I know but I don’t remember whether the operator said the call was from a prison. > > This might have been one of those and the prisoner simply got the number wrong. > > Bob In my experience the automated “operator” will ALWAYS tell you that the collect call is being placed from a correctional facility. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/13 "2013-10-29T14:03:08Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > This summer my wife called me from the Toronto airport because someone stole her phone. My phone company put $18.79 on my bill for a two minute call on behalf of [WIMACTEL, INC](http://www.scambook.com/company/view/52936/WiMacTel-Inc). That’s right, $9.385/minute. I had the same thing (sort of) happen about five years ago. Had to make a payphone call on my credit card from a courthouse. Third party carrier charging $9 a minute. I can only hope the village got a nice contract out of letting the phone carrier gouge people. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/14 "2013-10-29T19:55:17Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > That appears to be legitimate third party gouging and is a predictable result of deregulation. If someone calls you collect from a payphone belonging to Joe’s Telecommunications, what is the disincentive for Joe to charge whatever he feels like? > > This summer my wife called me from the Toronto airport because someone stole her phone. My phone company put $18.79 on my bill for a two minute call on behalf of [WIMACTEL, INC](http://www.scambook.com/company/view/52936/WiMacTel-Inc). That’s right, $9.385/minute. That doesn’t seem hugely unreasonable for an international call. That’s what they sell phonecards for. Of course, if you live in Canada, that’s hugely unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/15 "2013-10-29T21:38:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That doesn’t seem hugely unreasonable for an international call. That’s what they sell phonecards for. Of course, if you live in Canada, that’s hugely unreasonable. I was in Canada. Two provinces over. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rip-off-attempt-i-assume/672474/16 "2013-10-29T21:57:56Z")
Oh, well fuck those guys.