# Strange phone call **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477 "2007-05-17T17:19:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/1 "2007-05-17T17:19:05Z")
I got an odd call last night. I picked it up and they asked for my wife. OK, so I ask who’s calling. “John” No last name. “John? From where?” “Schenectady” This is unhelpful, of course. Usually they will mention an organization. “What are you calling about?” “Who are you?” That throws me. “I’d like to know your reason for calling.” “Why are you screening her calls?” “Goodbye,” I said, and hung up. It was weird – most solicitors will tell you where they’re from, and I’ve never seen any of them who didn’t tell you who they were calling for. He didn’t call back, so whatever it was, I missed out. I’m heartbroken. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/2 "2007-05-17T17:21:52Z")
It’s not her boyfriend, is it? (I kid…it was probably a telemarketer.) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/3 "2007-05-17T17:24:05Z")
I got a similar one a few weeks ago. The caller was obviously some kind of telemarketer, and he asked to speak to my wife (by name). I asked, “May I tell her who is calling?” He said, “My name is Alex.” “What company are you with?” “I’m not allowed to disclose that information.” “Then you’re not allowed to speak with my wife.” (click) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/4 "2007-05-17T17:24:11Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] “John? From where?” “Schenectady” [/QUOTE] I fear upon hearing this I would have laughed in his fa… err… ear. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/5 "2007-05-17T17:43:56Z")
She is sooooo steppin’ out on you. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/6 "2007-05-17T17:53:55Z")
[Weirdest call I ever received.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=386469&highlight=powerpuff+girls) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/7 "2007-05-17T17:55:10Z")
And when you told your wife, what did she say? Does she know a socially impaired John from Schnectady? (Probably not, my bet is on the telemarketer.) ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/8 "2007-05-17T18:33:28Z")
It could have been a collections call. There are laws that prevent them from telling anyone other than the person they are persuing who they are or why they are calling. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/9 "2007-05-17T20:20:08Z")
My guess is the PBA (Police Benevolent Association) They typically call and ask for my husband by first name, when I ask who it is, they always respond with a very common name (John, Eric, Joe). I of course, fall for it most times and hand him the phone, which he then says, “No thanks, I’m not interested.” and hangs up. It always sounds like it is a personal phone call. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/10 "2007-05-17T21:10:10Z")
\*\*Mindfield \*\* wins. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/11 "2007-05-17T21:16:59Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] My guess is the PBA (Police Benevolent Association) [/QUOTE] They lie? The police _lie_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/12 "2007-05-17T22:41:47Z")
I’m guessing the call was from one of those Fraternal Order of Police (or Firefighters or whatever). They are sneaky liars one and all. I had a thread a long time ago about my dealings with them. They are not police (or firefighters or whatever) charities at all. They are telemarketers hired by a (usually dubious) charity organization. If you give them ten dollars, you would be fortunate if twenty five cents of that donation went to any actual useful programs. Most of the money, 85% or more, gets eaten up by the telemarketers fees before it is turned over to the actualy charity that hired the telemarketers. Try asking questions, any question at all, and they will hang up on you. Then, you will be lucky if they don’t put you on their harrassment list. Ask them for some literature and they will refuse (either outright or with some excuse). Ask them if they are a charity (if you are on the do not call list) and they will just hang up. My harrassment calls got so bad I wound up making a complaint with the State Attorney General’s office before they quit calling me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/13 "2007-05-17T23:20:57Z")
Interesting about the police – my wife gave them money last year. Hmmmn. I don’t laugh at Schenectady – I live there (well, in Schenectady county; I’m just outside the city). ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/14 "2007-05-18T00:17:41Z")
You mean you’re the one that supplies all the ideas? :eek: Wow, I never thought I would get to meet you. Well, virtually anyway. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/15 "2007-05-18T02:13:16Z")
A few weeks ago someone from a blocked number called asking for “Mrs. \”. I’m not married, so I truthfully said, “There is no Mrs. \ at this number.” _click_ It’s gotten to the point where I no longer answer blocked calls. Who needs the grief? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/16 "2007-05-18T02:21:13Z")
[QUOTE=Lok] You mean you’re the one that supplies all the ideas? :eek: Wow, I never thought I would get to meet you. Well, virtually anyway. 😃 [/QUOTE] Why do you think I write science fiction? I can get the ideas from the source! BTW, I mentioned the speculation here to my wife. Turns out the state police fundraising group called her this morning. I think we’ve found the culprits. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/17 "2007-05-18T02:34:01Z")
My housemates and I have a landline only because it makes our internet and cable tv cheaper. We all use cell phones, so no one we know has the number. Well, it rings about once a day with a telemarketer call, so I just answer it with whatever I happen to be thinking at the time. My favorite conversations so far: \ \ “Hello, Greta’s House of Undying Love” (Greta is our cat) \ “Um, May I speak to tofergregg?” \ “I’m sorry, he’s with a client right now. Can I interest you in Raul? He’s new, and _fantastic_.” \ \ \ “Did you know that President Eisenhower met with Aliens on a trip to California in 1952??” \ “Um…may I speak to tofergregg?” \ “You don’t understand: _ALIENS_” \ “Well…is this tofergregg?” \ “ALIENS!!” \ “Can I ask you a few questions?” \ “I’m afraid this is more important than you think. Our President, President Eisenhower, met with ALIENS.” \ \ \ “United States Marine Corps.” \ “Er…may I speak to tofergregg please?” \ “Corporal Gregg is currently deployed!” \ “Oh, uh…sorry.” \ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/18 "2007-05-18T02:54:04Z")
Pretty cool, tofergregg. Best I ever did was,[sonorous voice] “Grover Funeral Home. This is Mr. Crump speaking.”[/sonorous voice] ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/19 "2007-05-18T03:01:42Z")
From last night: (Cell phone rings) Me: Hello? (two second pause) Me: Hello? Caller: Yeah, who this? Me: Well, you called me. You should know who I am. Caller: Fuck you, motherfucker! Just tell me who you is! Me: No. I think you got the wrong number. Caller: You shoulda’ told me that to begin with, mother fucker! Goddamn motherfucker fuckin kick yo’ ass … (click) I’ve been getting a LOT of wrong numbers on my cell phone lately. The callers, male and female, always start off with “Who this?” or “Who you?” I know they’re not crank call soundboards, they’re real people. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477/20 "2007-05-18T03:08:38Z")
I’m afraid you are much too polite sir. Whenever someone calls me and says “Who are you?” my response is “Uh, what? You called _me_. Who are _you_?” Or at least it would be. If anyone ever called me and asked me who I am. But they never do, probably because they sense that I would bite their figurative head off. Trust me, I am waiting for the day… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-phone-call/404477.md?page=2)