Today I came home to phone message on my answering machine telling me that my neighbor “Shelly” had lost her cat. It gave a very brief description of the kitty and a number to call if spotted the animal.
Here are a few more critical details. The message was obviously pre-recorded and left by an automated calling machine; there was not one hint of personalization in the message, like my name. It was left by a third party, not my supposed neighbor “Shelly.” In addition to a phone number, the message gave a website address – something like lostpuppy.com.
I live in an apartment building in the heart of NYC. I have tons of “neighbors” – that is, people who live in, say, a 100 yard radius of my apartment. I don’t know 99% of them by name, including the possibly-mythical “Shelly.”
So, does there exist some service that will locate, then auto-dial your neighbors when you lose your pet? Or is it some sort of scam that is trying to get me to call some number or click on some website? (Or something else?)
There are services that will assist people in finding lost pets, and I suppose that in an area with a concentrated population, robot-dialing would be the most efficient way of getting word out…but yeah, it would also seem sort of telemarketer/scammish. Which, if there really is a lost pet, would be counter-productive.
http://www.findtoto.com I heard about this service on the radio when they were talking about Jessica Simpson’s lost dog. They do use an automated message and are apparently legit.
If the website doesnt exist Id ignore the message. Somebody told me once, and Im not sure if they knew what they were saying, that companies can use data like you returning a call to check to see if the line is being actively used. They could then use that information to send telemarketers at you. I heard it a while ago though so I dont think it is true now, if it ever was.
I’m so glad I opened this thread. I woulda thought “scam” immediately, too, though I like to think I also would have checked the URL given in the shady-sounding message.