Who Called Us

I'm sure it's a scam also. Pressed 9 to request being taken off list. Person hung up on me.

This morning, I got hit twice by these people, first with an e-mail from BMO-Bank of Montreal concerning "my" Mosaikd MasterCard account, with a link to www3.bmo.com. The text of the message was: We recently noticed that a transaction may have been made without your knowledge of consent. Please log in to your Mosaik MasterCard account by following the link below. During our investigation your account access will belimited. Please verify yor account details in order to lift the limit on your account...Sincerely, Account Review Department. Please do not rely to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response.

A week or so ago, I received a similar e-mail, all in French! I brought this to the attention of customer service at my bank, and was told that it would be appreciated if I kept the bank up to date on any more foolishness like this. I did express my opionion that this had something to do with the Nigerians, who are always looking for a new way to sucker in someone who is not too swift about scams. In the form that pulled up in the e-mail in French, there was a request for you to fill in your account number. DUH.

The second hit came with the phone call from 1-610-404-3141, with an "unknown name". The recording said the call came from "card holder services". I think these people have been bombarding me with phone calls "unidentified name" and the like, for the past several weeks. If I did answer, the line went dead. If my caller ID took the message, there was "dead air" before the number hung up. Only today did I get to hear the recorded message.

I am reporting this to my bank as well.

Credit Card Services are now calling my home from two different numbers.
610-404-3141 and
567-248-4455 listed here whocalled.us#

*****THIS IS SIMILAR TO A POST I MADE ON ANOTHER BOARD. IF YOU'VE READ IT ALREADY, ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES. MY INTENT IS NOT TO "DUPLICATE POST," ONLY TO GET THE WORD OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.*****



I had been receiving DOZENS of "Unknown Name Unknown Number" "robocalls" playing a recorded message, and then asking me to press a number on the keypad to speak to a live operator.



When I did, as soon as they heard my voice, they hung up. I don't know, but my suspicion is that they are targeting the ELDERLY, and since I am not and do not sound elderly, they hang up. This routine has occurred dozens of times. (Next time I press "9" or whatever, I am going to do an impersonation of a toothless elderly man and string them along: "Does your company sell stock? What's the name of your company, so I can check the Wall Street Journal? Do you know how to work a TV remote?")



(I asked my phone company to enable the feature that does not accept unidentified calls. So the callers have no choice but to call me from a number which will appear on my caller ID.)



My father died last year at age 89, and his name is still on a lot of records, so they don't know he's dead. The elderly are more trusting, are less in-touch with modern life and are unaware of elaborate or technical schemes.



Plus, if they are a lonely "shut-in," they like to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line and strike up a conversation with that "cheerful" person. Then when that person they've established such a good rapport with asks them to buy something or give them their credit card number and/or SSN, the elderly person can't find it in their heart to say no. SHAMEFUL!



Today I received a call from (610) 404-3141. I pressed 9 to speak to a live operator to tell them that we are on the Do Not Call Federal Registry List and that I only possess an American Express card which bears no interest.

But as soon as he heard my voice and (I surmise) determined that I was not 89, he said, "oh," and hung up.

The number was on my caller ID, so I called back. I got a recorded message saying this number is disconnected or not in service.

So I trolled the Internet using reverse phone lookup. The only info I got was that it was a land line and the number was unpublished (even though the number was prominently displayed on the web page!).



Further Internet investigation found that the carrier for that phone number was "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL CO" in Berks, PA. When I clicked on "Name and Location" for that phone number I was taken to a site that said, "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL" has been bought by ' D and E Telephone Co.' "

I called the "D and E Telephone Co." and got a very casual-sounding voice mail of an individual dude! -- probably in a ratty apartment! I declined to leave a message.



When I explored even further, it said that "D and E Telephone Co has been bought by Windstream Corp.

"

Windstream Corp's address and phone number is 4001 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212-2442, Phone: (501) 748-7000.



I called them but got a recording saying I was calling after business hours, but you can be sure I'll be calling them tomorrow!



In fact, it might be NEAT if everyone who reads this post calls them as well! : )



Make sure to mention the (610) 404-3141 phone number -- first belonging to "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL CO" in Berks, PA, then bought by "D an E Telephone" of Ephrata, PA 17522-0458, which in turn was bought by Windstream Corp. of 4001 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212-2442, Phone: (501) 748-7000.



Let's all hammer them with inquiries! But don't be verbally abusive, use bad language or be THREATENING (that's against the law). Pressure them, but use your head, and don't violate laws covering abuse by telephone.



But if they hang up on me, it is not abusive on my part if I call them back again, and again...

I doubt they'll call the police on me because that would blow up their own spot and they'd be discovered.



If the people at "Windstream" are accommodating, ask them for the company name using the phone number (610) 404-3141. If they refuse, say, Well they know my number; they called me, and I think I have a right to know who they are. I have your address, do I need to involve law enforcement?



Before that, I plan to act innocent, and say that this number keeps coming up on my caller ID countless times, and I always miss them. "When I call them it's always after their business hours. So I am taking time out of my lunch break to see if you can put me in touch with these people who obviously want to reach me." (Feign innocence, and if they are uncooperative, THEN get assertive (carefully! and legally!))



I also filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at (877) 438-4338. Make sure you get to a live person. They entered my complaint and asked for any details I could provide. I was given a case number in the event I wanted to follow up on the status.



I suggest EVERYONE call this number and do the same.



Not for our sakes -- we're too savvy to ever be taken by these blindingly obvious telephone scams that prey on people less fortunate then we.



Do it for others who may not be as aware as we. And do it for the elderly shut-ins who agree to do whatever the caller asks simply because they're so lonely and so happy to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line.



My friend's late 91-year-old grandfather was a lonely "shut-in," and these sweet-talking young girls used to engage him in meaningful, "sincere" conversation for up to 15 minutes, and then ask him to extend his magazine subscription for 3 years. After this happened countess times, he had a 30-year subscription to a major news magazine -- far longer than his life expectancy! He just couldn't bring himself to say no to someone who was so nice and who "appeared" to take a genuine interest in him.



Targeting the most vulnerable in our society and stealing what little money they may have is insidious!



How these people sleep at night I'll never know.



They should be behind bars long enough to think about what they've done.

[Re: (610-404-3141)]

*****THIS IS SIMILAR TO A POST I MADE ON ANOTHER BOARD. IF YOU'VE READ IT ALREADY, ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES. MY INTENT IS NOT TO "DUPLICATE POST," ONLY TO GET THE WORD OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.*****

I had been receiving DOZENS of "Unknown Name Unknown Number" "robocalls" playing a recorded message, and then asking me to press a number on the keypad to speak to a live operator.

When I did, as soon as they heard my voice, they hung up. I don't know, but my suspicion is that they are targeting the ELDERLY, and since I am not and do not sound elderly, they hang up. This routine has occurred dozens of times. (Next time I press "9" or whatever, I am going to do an impersonation of a toothless elderly man and string them along: "Does your company sell stock? What's the name of your company, so I can check the Wall Street Journal? Do you know how to work a TV remote?")

(I asked my phone company to enable the feature that does not accept unidentified calls. So the callers have no choice but to call me from a number which will appear on my caller ID.)

My father died last year at age 89, and his name is still on a lot of records, so they don't know he's dead. The elderly are more trusting, are less in-touch with modern life and are unaware of elaborate or technical schemes.

Plus, if they are a lonely "shut-in," they like to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line and strike up a conversation with that "cheerful" person. Then when that person they've established such a good rapport with asks them to buy something or give them their credit card number and/or SSN, the elderly person can't find it in their heart to say no. SHAMEFUL!

Today I received a call from (610) 404-3141. I pressed 9 to speak to a live operator to tell them that we are on the Do Not Call Federal Registry List and that I only possess an American Express card which bears no interest.

But as soon as he heard my voice and (I surmise) determined that I was not 89, he said, "oh," and hung up. The number was on my caller ID, so I called back. I got a recorded message saying this number is disconnected or not in service.

So I trolled the Internet using reverse phone lookup. The only info I got was that it was a land line and the number was unpublished (even though the number was prominently displayed on the web page!).

Further Internet investigation found that the carrier for that phone number was "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL CO" in Berks, PA. When I clicked on "Name and Location" for that phone number I was taken to a site that said, "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL" has been bought by ' D and E Telephone Co.' "

I called the "D and E Telephone Co." and got a very casual-sounding voice mail of an individual dude! -- probably in a ratty apartment! I declined to leave a message.

When I explored even further, it said that "D and E Telephone Co has been bought by Windstream Corp."

Windstream Corp's address and phone number is 4001 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212-2442, Phone: (501) 748-7000.

I called them but got a recording saying I was calling after business hours, but you can be sure I'll be calling them tomorrow!

In fact, it might be NEAT if everyone who reads this post calls them as well! : )

Make sure to mention the (610) 404-3141 phone number -- first belonging to "CONESTOGA TEL & TEL CO" in Berks, PA, then bought by "D an E Telephone" of Ephrata, PA 17522-0458, which in turn was bought by Windstream Corp. of 4001 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212-2442, Phone: (501) 748-7000.

Let's all hammer them with inquiries! But don't be verbally abusive, use bad language or be THREATENING (that's against the law). Pressure them, but use your head, and don't violate laws covering abuse by telephone.

But if they hang up on me, it is not abusive on my part if I call them back again, and again...

I doubt they'll call the police on me because that would blow up their own spot and they'd be discovered.

If the people at "Windstream" are accommodating, ask them for the company name using the phone number (610) 404-3141. If they refuse, say, Well they know my number; they called me, and I think I have a right to know who they are. I have your address, do I need to involve law enforcement?

Before that, I plan to act innocent, and say that this number keeps coming up on my caller ID countless times, and I always miss them. "When I call them it's always after their business hours. So I am taking time out of my lunch break to see if you can put me in touch with these people who obviously want to reach me." (Feign innocence, and if they are uncooperative, THEN get assertive (carefully! and legally!))

I also filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at (877) 438-4338. Make sure you get to a live person. They entered my complaint and asked for any details I could provide. I was given a case number in the event I wanted to follow up on the status.

I suggest EVERYONE call this number and do the same.

Not for our sakes -- we're too savvy to ever be taken by these blindingly obvious telephone scams that prey on people less fortunate then we.

Do it for others who may not be as aware as we. And do it for the elderly shut-ins who agree to do whatever the caller asks simply because they're so lonely and so happy to hear a friendly voice on the other end of the line.

My friend's late 91-year-old grandfather was a lonely "shut-in," and these sweet-talking young girls used to engage him in meaningful, "sincere" conversation for up to 15 minutes, and then ask him to extend his magazine subscription for 3 years. After this happened countess times, he had a 30-year subscription to a major news magazine -- far longer than his life expectancy! He just couldn't bring himself to say no to someone who was so nice and who "appeared" to take a genuine interest in him.

Targeting the most vulnerable in our society and stealing what little money they may have is insidious!

How these people sleep at night I'll never know.

They should be behind bars long enough to think about what they've done.

If you dial the number, it says it is disconnected. Obviously a scam.

Their automated message asked me to press 9 to lower interest rates. I hung up.

Did not answer

We took the call and politely asked to be removed from their calling list. She hung up. Her name was Lisa. Tried to call back and continually got a busy signal.

Don't any of you just ignore calls that come in from unknown numbers? I mean, you have your friend and family who's numbers you would readily recognize so why not let any that you don't recognize go directly to voicemail. If they leave a message, just delete it. Can you imagine how aggravating it must be for them to constantly not be able to reach people? How could you possibly be "scammed" if you don't answer calls from number that you do not recognize? More importantly, how could you possibly be "scammed" by not doing business over a telephone!?!?

Just when I thought the scammers gave up on this credit card nonsense, I get one this morning.

HOW CAN I GET THEM FROM CALLING ME? I JUST WANT TO REPORT THEM.....THANKS

Recorded message offering to lower interest rates on my Visa card. Very odd since I only have and maintain an American Express. Maybe they were trying to lower the interest rate on my Visa Debit Card or something. What a SCAM. So much for being on the State AND National Do Not Call lists... LOL!!!

They have left several messages..."press 9 to lower your interest rate". After reading the postings on this site I picked up and pressed 9. The guy asked if I was inquiring about lowering my interest rate, I said yes, then asked him which card, he said a Visa from Citi (I don't have one!), I asked what my balance was, he said $2500 (I don't keep a balance). I discussed his heritage and imediate family history and told him if I ever got another call from them I would call the State Attorney Generals office and report them.

They left a recorded message of the "press 9 to speak to a representative and lower your interest rate" yada yada. Of course, we are on the do not call list, and these folks have no business relationship with us.

I love it when these folks call. I always like to ask them impossible to answer questions about which car (since this is just another twist on the warranty scam), which account, since they are calling me, they should know what business they're calling about.

Automated call to lower credit card rates. 8:10pm Eastern time.

Received automated call from 610-404-3141 on Monday, January 4, 2010 at 11:30 am Mountain Time. Call said to press nine to lower the interest rates on my credit accounts. I pressed nine and the marketer who answered asked if I pressed nine to lower my interest rates. I said, "I'd like you to take this number off of your list" and continued to state that the nuber had belonged to someone else prior to September 2009 and I'm getting calls for someone named Viola or Violet, but this is not her number anymore, but the person hung up right after I said I wanted them to take my number off their list. She didn't apologize or anything, no comment at all, just 'click'.

Call came from Pennsylvania to Kansas at 17:39 hours CST on 12-17-09. Call not snswered and no message left. Other posters advise it'd the lower credit card rate scam.

This # called and wanted to offer a 6% intrest on our credit cards and asked our balance, They knew nothing of our accounts and wanted us to give card numbers and balances. This is a sham !!

call about lowering interest rate on credit card but no bank mentioned. press 6 to speak with someone. scam. didnt do it

These people call with a plea to lower your credit card interest rate. This is a scam. Do not give them any information. If you call them back late, late at night, they'll answer then too. A woman with a strong S. American accent answered. Called the number back today and the call would not go thru. Maybe the authorities are finally onto them.

I agree it is a scam. After pressing 9, the woman asked what my balances were. I told her that she should already know since they called me. She immediately hung up

Here is a new twist! I had a msg left while I was at work - yet ANOTHER call (yes I've had many) offering to lower interest rate. As it is a msg, I can't respond in any way. WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER
BACK (made sure I dialed correctly - called it back twice) - IT WAS A RECORDING ABOUT "ADULT CHAT". MUST BE 18 YRS OR OLDER AND THAT IT WOULD CONTAIN STRONG ADULT SEXUAL LANGUAGE. Yeah, I hung up!! Will
definitely report to the FCC.

I just got a call from these guys. I pressed 9 and got this women. Told her I thought it was a scam but she said it was only to reduce rates on Visa, etc. Then she asked if i'm still charging $xxx a month and I said yes but pay it off each month. She hung up!!

Appears to be a scam! Offer to lower credit card rates to 6.8% on VISA, Mastercard or Discover. When I asked which bank they represented, she hung up.

I truly believe this is a scam - I got the call and "Unknown caller" shows on the caller ID - it is a recording offering help to lower the interest rate on your credit card - limited time only - either call the number back or press 9 - pressed 9 and asked which card - Sears, Pennys, Dillards, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or Traveler's - he asked me to hold on - told him I need to know which one to pull since I worked the Attorney General's office - he hung up.