The latest telephone scam

[BLACK BEAUTY]

girl scout.jpeg[/QUOTE]

THAT"S ZORRO

[JerriLampon]

Why even call them back?

To find out if this number is worth blocking. Without calling, I wouldn't know.
The best solution is not to have a phone at all.

[TEE4TOO]

The best use of a answering machine is to screen the calls. I would give $5 bucks to that girl scout and tell her to go home and shave

[EllisonCal]

Another trick the scammers are using is to put in a number that you think may be local, by using your area code (843) for example and even the first 3 digits of your home phone or cell phone. Since in my contacts there is only one that has the same area code and first 3 digits it is obvious what they're trying to do. I just don't answer and if they leave a message, I check it later. Usually they just hang up when it's leave a message time.

Don't take any surveys, the newest scam happens right after you've left a site. They pretend to be a survey company hired by the trusted site you just left. They then offer you a free gift for completing the survey. The way you get caught, (the way I got caught!) after leaving Fidelity, was paying $4.99 shipping for the free gift, Then they had a credit card number from a card I rarely use except for an occasional purchase on-line. Two weeks after the free gift I was billed for a monthly subscription to their gift a month scam. In the paperwork with the FREE gift, if you like the gift, but don't want more of their stuff you have to call them and cancel the subscription. Reminds me of the "Columbia Record Club". Got out of this one, fortunately, but now I will never take another survey, no matter who it is!

[AZTB]

That's GOOD info, Cal...we usually error on the side of caution and turn down ALL surveys, whether phone, online or in person. I learned they're usually a fishing expedition for something more that I was willing to give.

[JerriLampon]

That's info, Cal...we usually error on the side of caution and turn down ALL surveys, whether phone, online or in person. I learned they're usually a fishing expedition for something more that I was willing to give.

I just tell them that my charge for a survey is $500 minimum and how do I receive payment?
Click

[Lakebum]

To find out if this number is worth blocking. Without calling, I wouldn't know.
The best solution is not to have a phone at all.

If you call the number back your verifying that it is a working number and you will get many more bogus calls. Just plug the number into the "google machine" and if it's a scam you will see numerous hits (I did that with the number that you posted and got a page full of complaints) Then you go ahead and block it and they think they had a bad phone number IF you did NOT answer.

[couture]

Also never say yes to the most mundane question. They can edit it and make it look like you agreed to the deal. How about a police whistle into the phone for some of theses jerks.

[AZTB]

[NotU]

Be careful if you ever get a call from "the IRS". We all know it's a scam. But I've had clients get voice mails requiring them to call back or their bank account will be seized. If you get that message, quickly delete it or report it. I had one client call the number to complain and it turned out to be one of those $9.95 per minute numbers. She spent quite a bit of time on hold. Be careful.