Who Called Us

This story gets better all the time, and I may have to backpedal from disclaiming local origin. The calls are international, but their source may be stateside. Yesterday I found similar WCU reports under a similar number: 4014014010

That's an even less likely sequence for a phone number and certainly not domestic. Anyway, there is a December report in which the caller claims to represent "VMS Alarms" in Rhode Island, which seems to be listed in three towns. As I went digging in other sources, that same name turned up some more, but always associated with the established pattern of faux surveys, thick foreign accents, cursing, and rude behavior. One such call recipient was told he'd been [quote] 'selected as one of 9' people to get a 'free' GE Home Security System. [end quote]

Thus far the parallels are striking. We are closer to matching up these offshore "401-401" calls to the MLM scheme promoted by "GreatAlarms" and "VMC Satellite", which routinely offered "free" GE security installations. Come to find now, VMS is short for "Versatile Marketing Solutions". Not exactly a security-centric business name there. Makes you wonder if "VMC" is related, hm?

VMS Alarms answers to a much larger firm known as Monitronics, essentially in business as an alarm system monitor, hence more appropriately named. Monitronics appears to operate dealers like a franchise, hiring sales and tech locally. Monitronics and its hired guns have inspired a huge pile of complaints nationwide from both angered customers and shopworn employees, for practices which are unfriendly if not fraudulent.

The common complaints point to incompetent installers, equipment failing to notify the monitoring HQ as expected, deceitful and unhelpful customer service reps, and nearly unbreakable service contracts, often for "service" never rendered. That last part has stung many people who needed to exit their contracts for quite legitimate reasons. They filled in all the blanks, made all the calls, got their confirmations, then found continued billing and/or accounts sent to debt collectors, and absolutely no relief from Monitronics. The other problem categories are just as difficult to resolve since by its business structure Monitronics separates itself from the installers.

The connection to VMS Alarms is less clear. If it's the brains of the call campaign, I theorize it is not an installer but a Monitronics sales front, which in turn is a client of the foreign call center now pelting us stateside. I would believe the calls are placed locally and ID-spoofed, except we simply don't have that many Asian Indians in Rhode Island, and foreign call centers are famously cheap for spamming. However the chain is made, the result is an insidious 'call laundering' with these offshore sales calls disguised as surveys, shielding them from FTC regulation.

Now to come full circle, just a month ago Monitronics put itself up for sale, valued at a cool one billion. I'm not sure but I'd guess an IPO has been rumored for much longer. Why this perks my ears is that I've seen the pattern before with Verizon and other firms which depend on a subscriber model. Every time a merger or sale is in the table, I've seen these firms fall over themselves to drum up new customers, thus fattening the cow before auction.

These alarm shills already bait people with freebies which are more than compensated in the back end with blood-oath service contracts, not even worth their paper as the many complaints indicate. It's no wonder an already flawed business model would lead to a marketing blitz as confusing and hostile as this. I do hope facts get confirmed and names are named before more people are swindled.

CID shows they called 8 times in 5 days. I finally answered to find out what was up. Was asked about smoke detectors, and when i told them I didn't have time, person with heavy accent was very rude and I had to hang up.

Just got two calls from this person today. Answered the second time and hear a deep Asian sounding accent asking about smoke alarms. If hey call again I'm going to speak Spanish and pretend I can't understand s**t there saying. Hopefully that works!

Me: (or is that "You" now?) For the last time, this scam DOES NOT operate from Rhode Island, the full international number is hidden from most CID readers, and there cannot be a 401 exchange here. Several other reports beside mine have pointed fairly close to the truth, much closer than the underwhelming efforts of Ulster County desk jockeys and my local state mounties. You just need to use that little browser scroll gadget and a little time to find the wise nuggets.

Well I know that area code 401 is RI...looked it up but the number 401-401-0125 is a mystery. Calling it just got the "we're sorry can't complete the call...look-up & try again" recording.

Hung-up as soon as the ans machine recording started & left no message.

According to the news article that appeared in the Kingston(NY) Daily Freeman posted by "Dirty Ed" back in July 2010 " The Ulster County Consumer Fraud Bureau is warning residents about a telephone scam where consumers are being contacted regarding sales of alarm systems and smoke detectors......The telephone number where the calls originate from is (401) 401-0125, which according to Rhode Island State Police, is a “spoofed” number that could be coming from anywhere.

The scam appears to be occurring around the country."

Nuf said. Too bad these lowlifes always seem to be 5 steps ahead of the FTC and the DNC list!

Yep, yep .... I have been drawing dotted lines to "GreatAlarms" and "VMC Satellite" for months. I won't say the affiliate marketers and these overseas callers are directly related, but their desperate tactics are certainly in the same neighborhood.

Caller stated they were from GE. Heavy accent. Asked if we had smoke detector's, but we lied and said we don't own a home. She hung up on up. We got called twice in 5 minutes. I looked up GreatAlarms.com and it seems as if they are in this together. Check out the website and it will state GE, and the other names the previous complaints have stated. It is a website for soliciting!! If they call back we are going to have some fun with them.

received call from this number. had to keep saying hello. called late at nite statinbg they were a security company.

Called today, didn't respond to my 'hello'. Thank god these new phones have a call blocking feature!

I did not answer the call. I let it go to voice mail. I heard many voices in the background. The caller hung up after a few seconds.

maybe they are looking for an empty house to rob ?

Someone speaking broken english, asking questions about smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, burglary alarms. I hung up on them. I have 3 lines, they called all 3. Dont bother to waste your time answering this call...

message left on caller ID consisted of foreign speech... perhaps from India?

No message left by caller. Just music playing in background and then hang up.

received call around 7:11 PM called ID was Rohde Island. The questions asked were related to smoke detectors, fire alarms, and alarms in general. After I responded I was told I was eligible for a prize, at that time I hung up. Person on the line had a heavy accent. My telephone number is on the National Do Not Call list and has been there since 2008. I gues the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL list is possibly a government want to be beleiveable list. anyway this was the first call from the 401-401-0125 caller ID number.

Osama was calling to turn himself in. But no one will answer his calls.

At first they called and it said xxxxxxxx RI. So i didnt answer then again they called and it said "Out of area". I answer and he goes "Sweety is your mom or father home?" I say "No. Im alone" to mess with them because my fathers home from the army and he wont take someone messing with his family. Then he goes "Okay, so youre home alone??" And he did this creepy laugh then he goes "Im going to ask you questions" and i go "Go ahead" The he goes "whats your name??" and I hung up.

No such thing as an exchange with same # as area code, plus talking caller ID put an 11th digit on number which doesn't show up on history. I blocked this number months ago but they keep calling, as late as 9 at night. I will never answer. Apparently they'll never stop calling. I'd wish an earthquake on them but then innocent people would get trashed too....All I can do is hope what goes around comes around.

This number called repeatedly, leaving messages threatening to kill us, all because we did not answer the phone. The Asain man kept yelling fuck you and calling us mother fuckers.

received a call from this #. caller id said it was ri. i didnt believe it cuz its #s repeated. checked online 2 discover the call was from romania. female foreigner on the line. first just music then a "hello" she started speaking some stuff bout home security so i didnt give her the chance of day. simply said i think u hav the wrong #. tried 2 call the # w my cell n it said the # was out of service... havnt called bak since. next time ill answer with "special agent kay with the bureau of international telemarketer prosecution organization"... wut now romania????

Be careful not to feed the trolls, "American". Immature brats thrive on the attention.

I'd like to know where the "spam janitor" request button went. The admin has steadily been clearing the crap, but I think they are getting outpaced by all the gibberish posts and lame 'discount SEO' business ads.

How can this site allow those intentionally offensive posts to remain here from the poster calling themself "Indian"? These unintelligent posts should be removed.

Calling repeatedly...And quite rude...I said you have called me four times & she screamed in the phone..Wait for the 5th & Hung up on me!

Unrelenting 'smoke detector' survey scam. Foreign Indian accents. Calling repeatedly.

That was a rather unnecessary political statement, Robert II. Either keep your comments relevant to the board, or please leave.

Thought they might be a friend.. Heavy foreign (african) accent. Could not understand his statement. Asked what he said and then heard only funny noises from their area and one of us hung up... Me for sure. Recommend you say you are Hussein obama and give them the 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Address. Caller ID in Ohio was "Rhode Is Call"

i just got a call from them they started to play me music then hung up the phone didn't say anything to me. I tried calling them back and it says your call can not be completed as dialed

These people called my home at 9:20pm. That is so ignorant and rude! I tried to call back this morning and it says this number is not in service! This needs to end! The have called over and over again!

my 2 children and i are now receiving these calls twice today....filed a complaint with ftc and s/w att representative international and they advised they cannot block an international phone call, but we do not get charged for the incoming calls and not to answer them anymore.

This number dialed all of my phone numbers in sequence, and all are on the do not call list, so it's an autodialer with an automated message. They are selling something, probably Nigerian Snake Oil

No response to greeting, just coughing. I hung up.

401-401-0125

Listed on caller ID as "Rhode Island", both call back and reverse listing reveals that it is NOT a valid phone number (which likely means that they are using some form of anonymizer the mask their real number.)

Apparently we must repeat (and repeat) naming those entities exempt from the FTC Do Not Call registry:

"political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors, or companies with which a consumer has an existing business relationship"
see: ftc.gov

Hence my charge this is a covert sales call. I could well be wrong, but here's my projection: First you answer the very scary questions designed to prime you with visions of your home under attack by fire and thieves. Then you're told you are entered into a contest, setting you up for future contact from ... hmm, let's make a wild guess here ... a sales rep for a security system? Oh, and that call passes too because you have a "prior relationship", albeit predicated on prize notification. Ay-yep, that's how I would leap through that loophole, anyway.

I'm on the do not call list, but in the last three days I have received around 8 calls like this one.

Receive call from this number EVERY DAY

Never accept criticism from anyone who cannot find the Caps Lock key. Let's play "What Do We Know?" We know darn well this is not a domestic caller since there is no 401 exchange here in Rhode Island. It's been established several times that the full number points to Romania. The scammers are counting on most of us without VOIP service to miss those extra digits. I would also note from reading many other sources that the call center ops are reported as sounding Asian, Hispanic, and Indian. The way scam calls are spoofed and rerouted these days, the origin of any suspect caller can be very hard to determine.

What's more important here is the dubious purpose the callers claim for bothering us, and their general attitude. Across the board these callers are said to be rude and barely intelligible. (... Love the story about "fair larms" from Angela) They seize up and become more aggressive no matter how politely their authority is challenged. These are not indicators of a legitimate business or data collection group.

What's really disturbing is how they are flouting Federal Trade Commission rules by disguising a sales call as a "survey". The nature of its questions strongly suggests a fear-inducing tactic, softening up the recipient to think his home may be vulnerable. Then the pitch delivers a seemingly no-cost security solution -- I believe an alleged raffle in this case -- prompting the "mark" to voluntarily exit the "survey" and be sold something more directly. This is not much unlike those barely legal push polls which crop up every election season.

This assumes "Total Solutions" or whatever actually has a sales agenda, and is not simply running another variant of a funds transfer scam, as a few have suggested with reports of potential $35 per minute wireless charges just for keeping the call active.

I maintain that GE Security systems have been mixed up in shady campaigns before. Do some reading on "GreatAlarms" and "VMC Satellite" and their MLM scheme with freebie GE alarm gear set as bait.

YOU RETARDED FOOLS ARE SO F**KIN' FOOLS. U R AS FOOL AS YOU CAN BE...I WORK FOR ONE OF YOUR LARGEST BROKERS BASED OUT OF DELHI....I HAVE BEEN A BROKER WITH NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE BOMBAY,AND HAVE GOT MY MBA FROM YALE...A VERY EDUCATED CITIZEN OF YOUR COUNTRY FINANCED MY EDUCATION....MOVING THERE CORE BUSINESS TO INDIA HAS ACTUALLY GIVEN THEM A QUATERLY GROWTH OF 98%(I DONT KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS).BUSINESS HERE HAPPENS EFFICIENTLY AS PEOPLE DONT CRIB ABOUT THERE JOBS...SO BE IT A SCAM...ITS RUNNING EFFICIENTLY....FILLING BOTH THE POCKETS,THE AMERICAN BOSSES,AND THOSE WHO CALL YOU AS SALES INCENTIVES....

SO

KEEEEEEEEEP CRIIIIIIBING
!!!!

EVEN EDUCATED AMERICANS AND BRITISH WOULD LAUGH TO DEATH AFTER READING YOUR COMMENTS....
U F**KIN' RETARDS!!!

HA HA HA

R U INSANE...I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS...BUT CALLING CODE FOR INDIA IS +91 U IGONORANT F**k....GO GET SOME EDUCATION.....IT MUST BE SOME AFRICAN NATION CALLING YOUR COUNTRY,WHO YOU DONATE TO GET CALLCENTRES OPEN THERE


HA HA HA...

Guy was calling me a mother fucker and an asshole and kept calling back non stop for days now asking about my smoke detector and

From the "Daily Freeman" Hudson, NY.

KINGSTON — The Ulster County Consumer Fraud Bureau is warning residents about a telephone scam where consumers are being contacted regarding sales of alarm systems and smoke detectors.

The callers are asking consumers about their current security and/or alarm systems, then asked for financial information.

The telephone number where the calls originate from is (401) 401-0125, which according to Rhode Island State Police, is a “spoofed” number that could be coming from anywhere.

The scam appears to be occurring around the country.

Residents who see that number on their caller identification screen are asked to ignore it.

The Consumer Fraud Bureau can be reached at (845) 340-3260 for questions or further information.

Sales lady spoke very bad English. Something about a GE Lighting or Alarm system with $100 discount. I am on both the Federal & State 'Do Not Call' lists. What good are they?

Connection bad. Sounded like someone from Nigeria selling smoke alarms. I just hung up.

This fellow phoned me twice and when the connection came through, his voice was exceptionally loud and demanding. He threw his name out very rapidly as well as the 'firm' he was 'working' for. When I queried him as to exactly for whom he was calling, he got a bit huffy and simply siad, "You just need to answer these four questions.", without properly identifying his employer. When I pressed for the name of said employer, he kept repeating that, "...I'm not selling you anything, you don't have to buy anything. All you need to do is answer these four questions...", still not actually identifying the business wanting information from me. I told him that I don't answer questions of people who phone me out of the blue and he finally replied that he was conducting a home safety survey and, "...all you have to do is answer these four questions..."! I informed him that I don't just provide information to anyone I'm not familiar with and he had to go off script to get me to respond to his prying, persoanl questions. I told him I was not at all intersted in answering any of his questions and that he was never to phone my number again. He began to back pedal and try to pry more info that I simply refused to provide, at which time I said, "good-bye!", and hung up on him. What is the purpose of the federal 'do not call list' if thesse unscrupulous firms still feel they 'have every right' to violate my privacy? What a crappy way to conduct a business!

yeah while i was on vacation with my family and friends this number came up when i was walking to the arcade does anyone have any idea who this twat is that called when this number came up

they've called several times. once I finally got a person who kept asking if I had any "fair larms". I don't him I couldn't understand him and he kept repeating "do you have any fair larms". I finally concluded that he was trying to ask me in VERY broken English if I had any fire alarms (smoke detectors) at which time he did a survey to which I made stuff up for the answers. BUT THEY KEEP CALLING BACK !

This is actually an over seas call - +40 is india. +0+40+14010125 My caller ID said that number and name was India. Do your research before you post erroneous information.
Don't call it back using the exchange code or you will be hit with per minute charges.
I answered and said this was a business number and he asked if I was in the market for a new fire detection device.
I told him again it

After hanging up the first time I got a second call from "Grace". I promptly advised her that this was a private line and it was registered in the do not call government registry. That they are not to call the number again or a complaint will be filed. They are not exempt from complaints. The person apologies and hung up. I believe they removed me from the list. They said it was a survey but most surveys are scams anyways.

Indicated it wasn't a "sales call" then proceeded to ask if I had any fire alarms. I hung up the phone. Don't remember who they said it was. A ring to that number indicates that the caller id signal is fake. I've filed a complaint on the do not call list using information provided below. Total Solutions was also the company name I was given. I indicated that the phone number itself is fake and fraudulent and that it was likely a scam.

Received two calls in 10 minutes. Since they were from India I made some comments about a cow that I will not repeat.
All I can say is if everyone getting these calls contacted their Legislators and requested that any call center work outsourced to India be bill a 25% tax we could start shutting down the call centers in India and bring jobs back to the USA.

I am sick and tired of all the illegal calls from India.

Im in Hadley, mass,Today July, 8, 2010 @6:22pm 401-401-0125, call me. My machine pickup, no messages. Im going to BLOCK this mother F**ker.

i keep getting that call to. only about two or three times but they never answer. it's really strange that this number calls alot of people and just hangs up

These you-know-what so-and-sos called us at 8:50 PM - no damn excuse for a call so late in the evening. Picked up and all I heard was music - I'd like to give 'em some music, where the sun duddn't shine!

Have had calls from this number five times in the last 2 weeks. We are in OH

The phone number was actually +4014010125 - +40 is the country code for romania. Could be a foreign call.

got a call from this number yesterday, came up "unknown caller" with the number. It sounded to be an Indian woman who (and as i read already on this list here) wanted to know if i had smoke alarms in my house, a fire extinguisher, and she asked something along the lines of as far as security goes around my area, and of people breaking into my house, do i have any concerns. then she told me that for answering her short survey i was entered into sometype of raffle. she never asked for any personal information other than my first name. non the less, i dont understand why people pull this crap.

This person called a couple of minutes ago. It scared me. I picked it up and said Hello. He said hello with a chiense or german accent. Then he said Hi There! It freaked me out so I hung up.

called my cell ...which I use for emergency only. I called this number back from my house phone and got a recording that the number I was trying to reach was no longer in service....hmmm -it was working a few minutes ago

Be very careful about a big scam going on right now in USA
affections.beautyhilite.com
Strongly recommend reading this article.

I answered the phone and heard a foreign voice which I couldn't understand. I told the person I am on the DoNotCall list and put me on your list and do not call me again.

someone called me from this number a few months ago. the phone number doesnt work all the times but the multiple times i did call back to see who it was calling me i eventally got thur. It was a female that answered.

WHEN YOU ANSWER THIS PHONE CALL, YOU HEAR RINGING, THEN A FOREIGN ACCENTED PERSON ANSWERS THE PHONE MAKING IT APPEAR THAT YOU CALLED THEM AND THE PHONE COMPANY MAY CHARGE YOU FOR THAT CALL.

WHEN I RESEARCHED THE NUMBER 4014011025, IT HAD AN ALLEDGED NAME OF:MULTIPLE OCN LISTING" THEN IT SAYS "UNAVAILBLE FOR ASSIGNMENT"

THIS IS A SCAM SO IF IT COMES UP ON YOUR CALLER ID OR ANYTHING ODD ON YOUR CALLER ID, DON'T ANSWER IT.

I AM ON THE DO NOT CALL LIST AND I WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE PHONE COMPANY.

What happens when you answer in a non English language?

Just for fun, if you are working or living in an environment that you could do this in, answer the phone whenever a suspected telemarketer is on the line. If you hear a real human voice and they start their shpeel, hold a gas charged air-horn to the phone & blast them for a second or two! You can get them from amazon.com for as little as $7.00 for the 1.4oz can or under $30.00 for the 8oz which will last a very long time if used in short bursts. Refill 8oz cans are about $16.00. Free Shipping often available on orders over $25.00!

Even if it's a recording, wait and see if a human takes over the call or if there is an option for them to start recording you, then blast them!

Don't get mad, GET REVENGE!

Some eastern indian sounding lady said she was from ge and they were merging with VMS but... I said ,no you aren't, She said , yes I am. I said no you aren't . You are a spoofed number and this is bull...s.. If you are legit send me the information snail mail. Next time I will answer "homeland security, special agent K.... see what happens. Same number , different verse each and every month.

They called the other day from a different number that turned out to be an untraceable cell phone, and again today from the number listed here. This time it was a woman who said she was with "Omnitronics" and was a certified General Electric representative. She did have a heavy accent. I told her I'd already told someone else to remove us from the list yesterday and hung up on her. Yesterday, however, was an American male, who informed me that "Florence" had recently filled out a survey and had won a prize from General Electric. I told him, "I have no doubt that you're a scam artist, as Florence was my mother, and she died in 2006. Remove us from your calling list immediately". I'm glad to see the information the one person reported about the identity/financial info theft ring. Hope they catch these criminals.

Shady call from this phone #. They have been calling for over a year and seem very deceptive. They ask about smoke detectors and mention something about General Electric. Hang up immediatly!

If I am on the " Do not call" list , How come I still get these annoying calls???

Caller (Indian accent) identified himself as from VMS, my local GE dealer.

Called at 2:41 p.m. 6-21-10. Left no msg. on answering machine. If the government wasn't going to do anything about such calls as this they should not have started the Do Not Call list nor had a form to fill out with a complaint! The next time I get one of these calls I'm going to scream in their ear as loud as I can, then hang up. We should not have to put up with this crap! And to the person apologizing for Rhode Island, thank you but I don't think anyone is blaming the state of RI.

scammers

Accent sounded Indian; caller identified himself as "Jace" from TSS. He was calling about a fire safety survey. I answered all of his questions by saying "sure," but was unable to remember my first or last name when he asked for those. That just seems to happen when these kinds of calls happen. I explained that I would be glad to stay on the line as long as it took me to remember my name. He became audibly upset that I did not know my name, but seemed unable to end the call. I explained that I would be more than happy to provide the information when I remembered it. I could hear him conversing in a non-English language and then the call ended. I tried calling him back, but the number was disconnected.

I don't have caller ID, but got the number 401-401-1025 via *69. Caller was a woman with an accent (Indian?). Said she was with DSS (or something that sounded like that); asked "Do you have smoke alarms in your home?" My response was simple: "Please remove this number from your call list." Her response: "No, no, never." I stayed on the call a few moments longer during which neither she or I spoke, but no question that the background sounds were that of a noisy call center.

have rcvd many annoying, rude calls from this # wondering if we have smoke detectors in home.
Person will not give name or credentials of company

this caller said I won a "free" General Electric home security system...I hung up...

They called at least 10 times over three days, driving me crazy. The last time I answered sweetly, then when they started their pitch, I started pushing buttons on the phone until they hung up. Not one more call in over a week. I don't know why it worked, but I also know that we will probably never find out who this is or why they are calling. They will probably never be brought to justice. The only satisfaction you could possibly get from this situation is if you take my advice and get them to stop calling your phones. Spread the word! Post this solution everywhere you can find a phone call complaint website, and maybe we CAN stop them.

called here and I told them I have fire alarms, extinguisher, alarm system and big guard dog...they hung up

I have received several calls from the same number identified as a RI call. Men and women call and have Eastern Block or Russian accents. First time they said they were going to try to restore my credit because we paid our credit cards late and we would see skyrocketing interest rates without their help. We don't pay bills late. They wanted that 3-digit number on the back of our card. Yeah, right! Then they called back several weeks later telling us we won a free security system. Yeah, right! What will they think of next?

Have received several calls from 401-401-0125. Begins with the My name is John with TSS and I am doing a security survey. Male caller with middle-eastern accent. Originally, I was hanging up. This last time I asked that I be removed from the calling list. Wait and see...

Are people really this bored to be calling and harrassing others around the United States? Too much idle time on people's hands. Came up as 401-401-0125 down at the bottom for description it came up as XXXXXXXXXXXX so they know what they are doing to block their privacy. Bunch of losers is what I call them. Get a life and a real job.

Said "Hello, this is not a sales call. Do you have smoke detectors in your home?" I hung up. It sounded as though it was a VOIP / Asian caller.

This number calls my house several times a day. I finally answered it and I got hung up on. When I called it back I was told that the number I called is not in available please hang up and try again. Whoever it is should be reported to the proper authorities.

RUDE FOREIGN PERSON WHO WONT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER AND KEPT TRYING TO GET NAMES.TERRIBLE ENGLISH REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND

Got a call on my cell from this number just a few minutes ago... I answered, and I could hear someone talking, but there was too much static for me to understand them. I said "Hello?" a couple of times, and they hung up after about 15 seconds. My cell # is on the DNC list, but I am quickly learning that that doesn't mean much...

Received a call from (401) 401-1025. Claimed to be a survey. The CID showed "Unavailabe". They asked about smoke detectors. The call left me with an uneasy feeling. We are on the "Do-Not-Call" list so made a complaint with tha FCC.

Call from a woman with a lot of noise in the background, saying this was "not a sales call" but a survey from "CSS." First question was whether we had smoke alarms in our house. I told them I didn't feel like answering questions from strangers and hung up.

I just got a call from 401-401-0125, caller was Michael from the 'Fire Safety Company', although getting that information was like pulling teeth, the deep accent, fast talk, and demanding style made it difficult. He kept asking me if I had smoke detectors in my house, and when I answered his question with a question, he keep getting angrier and at one point said 'We're not selling anything, we just are doing a survey and want to know if you have smoke detectors in your home'. When I said, 'What state are you calling from and why do you need to know?' he shouted 'F*CK YOU!' and hung up. I'm going to be calling my state attorney general directly tomorrow, because when I have spoken directly to his office in the past, this is the sort of detail that helps them with their solicitation cases.

Claimed to be a survey call, not a sales call, and asked if I had a smoke alarm.

Comes up as Unknown Caller - Non English Speaking Person

Called but LEft no message. Tried to call back and said: " can't be completed as dialed"

Caller I'd read : rhode island

5/26/10

I also get this number once in a while. I live in RI so the 401-401 looks very suspicious to me. There is no 401 exchange in the RI area code. Did not pick up and no message left.

They called and asked for King- well King is my doag and I told the man that he was sleeping and he disconnected. He sounds like he has a deep accent of some kind and english is not his primary language. Calls frequent every couple of days- will take the advice of the person using a screecher and see what he thinks when I hold the phone and test my smoke detector:)

YEAH SURE THEM IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS RHODE ISLAND YET THE JERKY CALLER (AS SOMEONE ELSE IN MY HOUSE ANSWERED) STATES OF HEVING 2 NAMES!!!! NOW WHY THEM HAVING 2 NAMES DELING WITH 2 DIFFERENT COMPANIES. YEAH SURE THEY THREATED ME THEY SOULD SHUT OFF MY ELECTRICITY UNLESS I PAID THE BILL WITH 24 HRS. WHAT THE HELL CRAP IS THAT??? MY BILL WAS PAID IN FULL 3 WKS AGO, THEN COULD HEAR SOMEONE ELSE WHISPER IN THE BACKGROUND TO ALSO STATE WHOM CALLING WAS THT I NEVER EVER PAID FOR A HOSPITAL BILL WHICH WAS OVER $5,000.-YES FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARTS!!! NOW WHAT KIND OF CRAP CHIT IS THAT????? I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A LONG TIME. GEEZ HOW MUCH MORE MONEY ARE THESE CALLERS TRYING TO THEFT US FOR??

Got a call from this number on 05/11/10. Hard to understand male doing a smoke detector survey. He got upset because I couldn't understand him. I thought he was trying to explain. When he asked "Okay?", I made the mistake of responding "Okay." On 05/22/10, I received a call from 401-490-2714 identified as VMS. The number ties back to providence, RI. A female said I had taken this survey and, via a drawing, I was lucky enough to win a $1,200 GE Home Security System. I said the survey caller was impossible to understand, and that I already had an ADT Home Security System. She said "Give me a name of a family member or friend who might want to take advantage of your win". I said "No, Thanks." and hung up. At least this person was very polite, but GE Security Systems is playing with the Federal No Call rules.

A man with an accent calling himself James told me he had good news. Due to a survey that I never took 2 weeks ago, I had been entered to win a home security system from GE. And guess what? I won. What luck.
I told him I wanted no such thing. He said "Thank you" and just sat there. So I just sat there. Then I said "Can you take us off your calling list?" and he said "No" then he hung up. I'd be pissed if it wasn't somewhat amusing.

I don't know who these goon balls are but I am really getting upset with them. These ppl have called everyday for the past 7 days. But last night was the cake, they called me at 9:15pm. So now I am keeping a ledger of when they call. I look forward to hearing from them again, because I intend to get their name, their supervisors name, company name, and tell them we are on the "national do not call lists" and if they call again I will sue them and their company for phone harassment.

These jokers have called here several times before. They just called me again at 9:11 PM EST. I'm going to the DNC site to file a complaint right now.

i let it go to the machine, some lady said Hello a couple of times and then hung up.

Caller ID came up Unkown Call RI. I answered. Man with heavy accent. I asked what company. He answered GSS?? I think. Hesaid not selling anything. Then he started to ask if we had two working smoke dectors. Told them I wasn't answering any questions because I didn't know who they were and hung up on them.

they keep calling against our do not call list...

The 'actual' phone number which is an OUT OF THE COUNTRY exchange 011.
Complete phone number is:011-401-401-0125.
Next time you are called by this number ANSWER "DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE" or CONSTABLE DILLAN'S OFFICE" or "COUNTY JAIL", etc.
I thinks they will not call your number again.

Have called several times. Left no message at any time.

Calls but leaves in message

I have a screech alarm for the next 401 401 0125 number that comes in and ear plugs for me. The Db is loud enough to let the receiver saying what for a nice long while if not cause damage. They have been warned not to call several times and have gotten rude on the phone with my wife. Not taking this sh$t.

Call comes up on caller ID as from Rhode Island. Caller is an East Indian male. Same man has called several times although he has been told not to call again/not interested in talking to him. He implores that I not hang up. He says he is not selling anything only gathering survey info to benefit people in my area. He ask if we have working smoke detectors & if we change the batteries every 6 months. Then he ask for my first name (gave him a fake to see where he was going) He then ask if I am the home owner or a renter. His questions continue to get more personal so I end the sharade and tell him not to call my number again that I know he is gathering marketing info to try to get personal info and I'm not interested in talking to him ever again. I have a little surprise for him if he calls again. (Don't think he'll like it!)

have received 21 calls from them this morning alone in about to deive to rhode island and shove the phone up someones key hole lol

Usually these vermin call my land line and it transfers to my cellular. THIS time, however, it went directly to my cellular. That means these phuq-heads are calling cell numbers. May they all rot in hell for circumventing the DO NOT CALL list. There should be a Star Chamber to eliminate these azzwipes from the planet. That said, it only took less than a minute to store their number and give it a silent ringtone on my cell so that I won't be bothered by that particular number again.

man with a middle eastern accent called while I was asleep at 9:08 pm. to our unlisted number. s half asleep I did not catch where he said he was from. Because the day before I had made changes to my homeowners poilcy I thought it mighht be them calling. Asked if I had smoke detectors...did I check the batteries every 6 months..did i have a smoke alarm...did i have any fears of keeping my home safe from fire or burglary...I told him I was married to a firefighter - no worries. lol Asked for my name which I would not give... He said he wasn't trying to sell me anything and asked for my name again I said no and hung up.

Would appreciate being taken off this call list. My cell was called.

When I answered I keep getting a foreign sounding person asking me " how many smoke detectors do you have?" So then I asked where is your call center located ( this happened 2 times ) both times they hang up immediately after I ask their location.

Called today. I never answer unknown calls.

They and the rest of the out of area, private, unavailable and 1-800, etc numbers can call til the cows come home and will get no answer from me. If it's important and legitimate they will leave a message. No name? No message? guess what? I don't care who you are.

They called me to day, and our phone number is unlisted, and i said "Hello" twice and the second time, they decided to hang up.

Just received a from 401 4010125 not the first time. They ask "Do I have a smoke detector...Do I check the battery....am I a home owner. I told them to take me off their list and she kept right on talking Called the number back (401) 401-0125 and it would not go through.

Just received a spam call from 401-401-0125. Some dickwad with a thick Indian/Pakistani accent. Hey, jerkoffs our number is on the DO NOT CALL LIST. That means, Do Not Call us. Copish?

phone said Rhode Island,,I said identify yourself and got a woman chanting in some unknown language

have had this number call before, leaves no message. just irritating as we have signed no call list. stop this garbage.

BEWARE! These people call anyone, any age, any place, and are using very dirty tactics. First they called my cell phone, I answered and got a dial tone. A few seconds later they called another cell phone in our family, that is virtually the same number except the last digit is one number higher. I didn't answer it. Thirty minutes later they called my first cell phone again. These guys are obviously calling all numbers and going in numerical order, not even knowing who they are calling, or the age of the person, where they actually reside in the planet, etc.. That is cold calling at its most evil, obviously the people calling from this number are up to no good.

Those of you who get called, and then your fax machine gets a call, is because they are simply blindly calling all numbers in numerical order, and are fishing for someone stupid enough to buy whatever they are selling or stealing (like your identity, perhaps?). This is a teleSCAMMER, plain and simple.

me too 5/4/10 just un assign RI

Caller ID said "Out of Area" but showed the fake number. It now will be blocked by my phone. So why do we all have to pay for Caller ID when the info. is always fake? Something to think about...these phone companies are making a ton of money off of us as it is. Unfortunately, we are not getting what we are paying for!

Received same call, caller with an accent from 401 410 0125 demanding I answer yes or no, do I have working smoke detectors. I did not answer yes or no, I felt I was being set up either way, so I terminated the call. This was on 5/2/10

Caller ID on Phone said RI. When I checked the number on my Optimum Voice the number came up as Romania. Go figure

We keep getting calls from a company called TSS. Foreign-sounding voice says they are not selling anything, but want to know if we have smoke alarms & do we change the batteries yearly? I said our smoke alarms are hard-wired. He will not stop talking even when I am speaking. I have asked each time to be removed from the list. I can't understand half of what they are saying. They have called 5 times in the past three days. We are on the National Do Not Call List.

man with a middle eastern accent said he was doing a "survey" for TSS security...later he said GE. asked if I had smoke detectors...did I check the batteries every 6 months..did i have a smoke alarm...did i have any fears of keeping my home safe from fire or burglary...I told him no I had no fear.....lol
asked for my name which I would not give...he called me he should know who I am.
he eventually hung up..lol

My call was identical to TW's listed below. I also called the number, just like TW and got the same response.

This number called my home twice. Did not pick up, they did not leave a message. I am on the do not call lists. I tried to call back, but the call does not connect.

a foreign speaking man gave the same story regarding smoke alarms and this is not a sales call. he wanted to know if we had smoke alarms. i told him in a firm voice he has been calling my home day and night for months, who are you? he proceeded to say, the two word seven syllable mantra, ---- --- 3 times, i kindly said and same to you sir, and hung up. i feel so violated and have been trying to find out who this is.... i found many complaints and will be bringing it to my towns police station today. cox comm. will not help.

Phone rang and the woman had a heavy indian accent - like other commentators, LOTS of background noise, so I knew right away it was a telemarketing call. I had said hello several times (probably before the call connected on their side fully) before the woman asked, 'how was I this evening?' than immediately said she was calling on behalf of (something) a company of General Electric - I cut her off, advised her I am on the DNC list, to remove my number immediately and DO NOT place me back into their phone bank.

My CID unit shows OUT OF AREA and NO NUMBER but the *69 function gave me the 401-401-0125 number. So filed a complaint with the Fed and the DNC website. If it is out of the country, than nothing can be done of course.

Today is April 28, 2010. So far I have received 5 calls from 401-401-0125. I do not answer as I do not recognize the name. One call per hour for the past 5 hours......creeps.

I have received three of these calls about the smoke alarm survey so far, and all the telemarketers seemed to be from India and were reading a prepared script. The first time I completed the survey, and was told I had been entered in some sort of random drawing. The next night I got called by a guy with what I would describe as a polite but overly anxious, seedy manner and New York borough-style accent that wanted to let me know I had won a free alarm system that he could install for me. I told him I wasn't interested, but I keep getting the survey calls even though I tell them I'm on the do not call list. Very frustrating.

"Smoke alarm survey; very broken English; lots of static. Has called twice.

If you "DO NOT" know the number calling you? "DO NOT" answer, once you answer "THEY" know they have reached a working number and then sell your working number to hundreds of other telemarkers.

Just got a call, the guy said he was doing a survey and asked about whether I had smoke alarms. After some confusion he asked about whether I was the home owner. It did not sound like a professional organization and their was background noise that seemed to me to be many people talking in the same room.

Showed as "Rhode Island Number". Couldn't understand the called (thick Indian accent). I said I was on the "Do Not Call List" and the person hung up.

We have received at least 7 call from this number in the last week. Usually the calls come in the afternoon or evening EST ( Ohio) I attempted to call the number back. It was an international call. I checked with my phone company they told me the call was from Romania.

Tons of calls from this number. Lists as Rhode Is Call. On DNC list and they still keep calling. Driving me nuts.

Call and when I answered a woman wanted to know...they want to know if I have a working smoke detector. I told her not to call again and she hung up on me. Caller ID say Rhode Island.

started asking me if I had a smoke detector. When i asked why I was being called when I'm on the DO NOT CALL LIST he yelled something and hung up.

Four call in an hour. Nobody on other end.

this number has called multiple times on phone. it is so annoying we are on do not call lists...

My cell phone is on the do-not-call list and this call came in at 7 PM. Caller identified self as "Cindy from PSS" and immediately launched into a spiel about how this was a survey and not a telemarketing call. I asked for her last name; she wouldn't give it. I asked what "PSS" stands for and she hung up. I've reported this to donotcall.gov, for what good that may do.

I didn't answer as CallerID said XXXXXXXXX RI and this number

Called, but left no message. Caller ID showed "XXXXXXXXXX RI".

I have a great idea. IF you do answer a number that is unknown to you (and most of us nowadays don't, thanks to Caller ID), answer it "District Attorney's Office" or This is the law office of [made up name]. I've done this in the past and they don't call back! (I only posted this here for the heck of it - I could've posted it at any of the numbers!)

Received a call at 9:15pm at night saying he was doing a survey on smoke detectors and asking about smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors if I have them in my home. Then when he was done hung up on me. Guy had a accent. Call did not make sense.

hung up when i answered

Got a call from them at 9PM last night on my business line. It was an Indian guy, wanting to know if I had a smoke detector. I told him that wasn't any of his business. He said "well I don't know about that". So I told him to f*$k off. He said "Well you do the same okay" and then he hung up. The same bastards called today on my home line which is on the do not call list and has call blocking on it. There was no caller ID info, but it was the same Indian assholes ("Alfred") wanting to know if I have a smoke detector. How they got past the call blocking is beyond me...

left no message. just a bothersome irritant distraction.

Well, i think i know what's going on here, there's a website called prankdial.com people use it to make calls annoymusly and it puts you into their system i think. other then that i don't know.

Caller ID says unknown caller and no one leaves a message on my answering machine. Recieved call at 5:04 pm on April 12th 2010.

Did not answer; just clicked like I would when I answer then hung up without saying anything. Next time they call they will get my very loud whistle in their ear. Why would someone in Rhode Island (if that is where they are located) call people in Texas to ask about their home security or do a survey. Idiots.

Gentleman refused to give me the number for his headquarters. He told me I HAD to answer the questions because he was doing a Home Safety Survey for our community. Said he would keep calling and hung up on me.

Claimed to be from VMS Alarms, trying to scam me out of some money for a useless alarm system. Told them the number was on multiple DO NOT CALL lists, and cussed them out good.

401-401-0125 called both of our cell phones at the same time. Wife picked up, they hung up and mine stop ringing right then.

Heard some kind of music for 9 seconds, sounded like a guitar, then the call terminated.

Darn Robo-dialers. My husband and my cell phones went off simultaneously with calls from this number(our numbers are 1 digit different). Did not answer and they went to voicemail. Listening to messages I heard what sounded like a call center and then the call was disconnected. Both numbers ARE on the state and federal no call lists. What is being said here might make me answer the next time just to play games with the idiots.

got a call on my cell phone from this number today (in brooklyn, but it's an ohio area code). similar to others here, he said he was from general electric and i won some kind of alarm system, it was hard to tell exactly what he said. i hung up.

I just received a call from this number today. Frist time they called. I did not answer it. I am in Ohio.

401 401 0125 voice said "Hello? Hello?" then hung up. ID said Rhode Island

Thursday April 8, 2010

LENOX -- Police here are warning residents of a probable phone scam whereby residents are contacted by phone and given a sales pitch for alarm systems and smoke detectors.

The residents are asked about their security systems or smoke alarm systems and then asked for their financial information.

"Most of the people contacted don't allow it to get that far," said Police Chief Stephen E. O'Brien. "But we're asking people who get such a call to hang up."

The telephone number from where the call originates is (401) 401-0125, said O'Brien. A call back to the number receives an error recording informing the caller that they cannot complete the call. Googling the number reveals that the scam seems to be perpetrated throughout the country.

Residents who see that number on their caller identification screen are asked not to pick up the phone, said O'Brien.

Residents who have any questions can call the Lenox Police Department at (413) 637-5507.

The caller ask to know if I had smoke alarm. I asked him to take my number off the list He yelled back 3 times no no no
Then I lost it. To bad there is not a way to stop this.

Caller id stated Romania. I answered with my business greeting and there was a pause like a telemarketing company and then a woman with a foreign (possible easter european) accent stated hello and I could hear other people speaking in the background. I stated my company greeting again looking for a response and they hung up.

Tried calling the number back, the number is not a working number. SCAMMMMMMM!!!!!

No message was left . Were do they get the phone numbers from better yet who sell it to them?

I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS!!! Man called about 1:15pm to ask if I had working smoke detectors, etc. and I asked him if he was aware of the laws of my state regarding smoke detectors AND telemarketers. He asked if I checked the batteries, etc. I told him NO and no thank you. He kept talking and I said, I don't want what information or product your company is soliciting. He said...I want your P&ssy and I said oh good luck and hung up. HE CALLED ME BACK and said I was harassing him. I informed him he called me, TWICE, is saying vulgar things, and to give me to a supervisor. He hung up of course. The number does not ring back and I want to submit a complaint. This is horrifying. He knew my name (from the list?) and if you put my number in google or a reverse look up it shows where I live. How can this be possible. I feel violated and outraged. Please post name of company, working phone number, etc.

This seemed to work. When they call, I picked up and immediately hung up. They called right back and I did the same thing. They haven't called me since and it's been a couple of weeks. I think it's because I just cost them money twice, that they won't call me again!

We use VoIP and it gives the 'actual' phone number which is an OUT OF THE COUNTRY exchange 011. Complete phone number is:011-401-401-0125. Called on line 1, they hung up instantly. Then immediatley called on our line 2 and I could hear a lot of talking in the background- thus another SCAM once again. The dot-head finally said 'hello?' then the line disconnected. A roto-dialer.
Here we go folks with another BS scam heard round the world for a year or 2 until they start using another number.
BTW, people, get off the DO NOT CALL crap...it's a gov't run crap-hole of inefficiency and it does nothing to stop call slamming- stop whining and stand up for yourselves- the gov't aint gonna do it. Mark these calls us IGNORE and ignore them!!

I knew right away that this is a BOGUS number. ONLY Area Codes can have a "0" or a "1" as the middle number in the first two three-digit exchanges. THIS IS A SCAM NUMBER and therefore it is a SCAM PHONE CALL. On another site they said the company name is "Total Solutions" and is based in Rhode Island. I suspect it is an ILLEGAL SCAM, staffed with ILLEGAL ALIENS and is RIPE for a complaint to donotcall.gov, the FEDERAL COMPLAINT LINE for all these types of calls. I urge ALL 'victims' to take the time to register a complaint with the Feds, eventually they will be FORCED to go look for them and SHUT THEM DOWN.

Caller ID: unknown Call RI

As a Rhody resident I am particularly embarassed. Not sure if this is related, but a sales campaign has been running recently for GE security systems. An affiliate marketer referral fee of $115 is paid out for pointing to a "GreatAlarms" website. If this is part of the same scheme you can imagine why unintelligible reps are trying so hard for that prize.

See Ripoff Report for more:
ripoffreport.com

call 5:29pm and 6:29pm today
this is a spoofed #
no message left
unlisted # and on DNC( not that they ever do anything anyway)
caller id said Rhode island but when the area code and exchange # is the same beware
i do not answer #'s i do not know and if it were important they would leave a message
so 2 calls in 1 hour
hope this isn't going to be an ongoing thing
FTC has many complaints against this number in the last week but spoofing and changing the caller's # does nothing to stop these cretins

Has called numerous times over the past few weeks. I answered today and had the same experience as discussed by others. I could not understand the thick accent. I did understand "no sales call". Ha! We now receive about 5 or 6 calls every day...most of them repeat nuisance calls of this nature. What is going on with the Do Not Call????

Just received the same type of call as outlined above..."Do I have a smoke detector...Do I check the battery....am I a home owner". I assume they are pre-screening for some type of sales call. Called the number back on the Caller ID at (401) 401-0125 and it would not go through.

I received the call today for the first time too. It was a man who struggled with his script to sell me with a "wonderful offer" of a General Electric home security system. It's a telemarketer. I interrupted him and told him to remove my number from his calling list and to never call here again. I am filing a report with the Do Not Call . Gov registry as we are listed on it.

this caller said I won a "free" General Electric home security system...I hung up...

They called at 9:24pm.....Isn't that a violation?? Let machine pick it up, they hung up.

Someone with a thick accent said that he was conducting a survey and asked if I had a working --something-- in my house, and I couldn't understand what he said. Told him that I didn't have time for a survey and hung up.

Don't know who this is, I will track it if possible.

Multiple calls have come from this number over the last week and a half. No message; they just keep interrupting my day. Wankers!

called my cell didn't leave a message. didn't know the number calling so I didn't answer it.

third call in two weeks.. they want to know if I have a working smoke detector.... I asked who they were, and they hung up

picked up, heard ringing, then someone picked up. sounded like telemarketer

Only "Rhode Island" and the phone number showed on the caller ID. When I answered, it sounded like a phone was ringing, so I hung up.

no message. never heard from this number before.

They called yesterday and today and left no message. They also called my fax machine.

No message was left. ID showed "out of area"