# This telemarketing call was weird. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120 "2010-05-12T00:25:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/1 "2010-05-12T00:25:29Z")
The phone trilled and since the number on the call display appeared valid, I took it. The guy at the other end asked for me. It was an Indian accent, and the noises in the background seemed as if the caller was in a home. I could hear voices and metal clanging as if something had dropped on the floor. Caller: Sir, we provide a service from the government that will help you in screening out telemarketing calls that you don’t want. Me: (thinking that sounds interesting because there is nothing more that I would want, but suspicious) How does that work? Caller: After this call is over, you will receive an automated call and you will be given a 5 digit number that you can use to stop the irritating telemarketing calls. Me: OK. I disconnect the line and wait And sure enough, in about 2 minutes the phone rings again. I pick it up and the voice gives me a number and says that I should not share it with anyone. It does not tell me anything else. No instructions or anything on what I am supposed to do with the number. A minute later the phone rings again and I see the first number on the call display again. I respond to see if I can understand what I am supposed to do with the 5 digit number that I have been given by an automated system. This is the second part of the conversation with the initial caller- Caller: Did you get the 5 digit number? Me: Yes. But what do I do with the number. How am supposed to use it? Caller: When you get an unwanted call, just lift the handset and punch in the number that you have been given. Me:😕 What purpose will that serve? I have already taken the call. Keying numbers when talking can do nothing as far as I can see. Caller: Please give me the number that was given and I will confirm whether the number you have been given is correct or not. Me: But I was told not to share the number given to me. Caller: No…No…please give me the number and I will verify if you have the authentic number or not. Me: But I don’e understand how punching in a number when I am connected to a line already is going to help. And second, why should I give you a number that I have been asked not to share? Caller: You don’t understand. Please give me the number and I will explain how it will work. I hang up. What was this? A scam? An attempt at gathering some information? What? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/2 "2010-05-12T00:31:15Z")
Maybe trying to get you to give up permission for long distance charges? I believe there is still a way to punch codes in for that? I remember scams supposedly from prisons using that method. ---
**Author:** ![Sanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanders)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/3 "2010-05-12T00:38:57Z")
So… what was the 5-digit number? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/4 "2010-05-12T00:39:35Z")
Sounds like the [Craig’s List Phone Verification Scam](http://www.frugalcanadianliving.com/2009/12/craigslist-phone-verification-scam.html). ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/5 "2010-05-12T00:42:27Z")
In my second year of university, we got a long-distance plan that required us to dial a 1-800-number, then we’d get a dial-tone and would complete the call normally. It was a great plan, actually, we got a flat rate for long distance and for starving students calling home to beg for money, it was good deal. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was some other version that allowed someone to call you, you punch in a code and they are forwarded to make a long distance call. I am aware that our office phone lines were abused somehow this way where people called our numbers and somehow hacked our voicemail service so it forwarded their calls to a number in India. Our business had $6,000 in charges and we had to re-set every password in the entire business. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/6 "2010-05-12T00:48:21Z")
> [@Ex\_Chemist](#): > > Sounds like the [Craig’s List Phone Verification Scam](http://www.frugalcanadianliving.com/2009/12/craigslist-phone-verification-scam.html). I agree- it does sound like this. ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/7 "2010-05-12T00:52:31Z")
> [@Ex\_Chemist](#): > > Sounds like the [Craig’s List Phone Verification Scam](http://www.frugalcanadianliving.com/2009/12/craigslist-phone-verification-scam.html). That’s what it was!! Now that you mention it I remember the automated system mentioning Craiglist. Why I did not go and search for it myself is embarassing.:smack: Thanks anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/8 "2010-05-12T01:13:28Z")
You certainly shouldn’t feel embarrassed for having asked about it. I’d say you did pretty damn good by not giving him the number and hanging up- a lot of people wouldn’t even have known to do that. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/9 "2010-05-12T01:20:54Z")
> [@wisernow](#): > > That’s what it was!! > > Now that you mention it I remember the automated system mentioning Craiglist. > > Why I did not go and search for it myself is embarassing.:smack: > > Thanks anyways. Great username/post combo there.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-telemarketing-call-was-weird/539120/10 "2010-05-12T02:44:45Z")
Was there a number for the incoming call on your caller ID? If so, punch it into Google or go to [800notes.com](http://800notes.com) and see if there are any reports on it. ([800notes.com](http://800notes.com) is a site that you can check when you get weird calls that you suspect are telemarketers and there’s a message board that people share info about who’s calling. It can be helpful for hangups and robocalls, and also helpful for avoiding collection agents)