Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Don't Try to Scam This Old Lady

PhotobucketThere I was, watching another NCIS marathon, when the phone rang. When I answered, I heard the voice of a man who was obviously from another land. He told me his name, "Jaabbrrr Wllllrlkld, from the Blllddnnn Corporation". I asked him to repeat it, and he said, "Jaabbrr Wllllrlkld, from the Blllddnn Corporation." Hmmmmm.

Then, he informed me, enunciating quite clearly, that his office had received a check in the mail for $1.9 Million, which was addressed to me and went to him by mistake, and if I would give him some information, he would......... "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING??? he asked."

I said, "Oh, I've heard all about these calls and since I've never been scammed before, I'm just really tickled to hear from you." 'What do you mean?", he asked. "I said, Im not going to give you any information. In fact, I'm not going to talk to you any more at all." And I hung up.

Jay came in during my little bit of fun and, of course wanted to know who was on the phone. I did my best imitation of the accent and recited what the call was about, and what I had told the guy. Conversation over. Jay knows how I love to mess with their minds.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again. This time, Jay answered it. I only heard his side of the conversation, which went something like this: "Hello? Who's calling, please? What do you want to talk to her about?" Long pause, then, "Well, tell you what, I'll give you the phone number at the Arkansas Attorney General's office and you can tell him all about that check."

I started to chuckle again, and, Jay suddenly hollered, "WHAT????" And, then, he said something to the guy that I'd rather not repeat, but it concerned the guy's mother. And, he hung up. "If he calls back, I'll answer again."

I'm betting he won't.

Stay tuned.

27 comments:

MarmiteToasty said...

To dam funny, we have fun with those sort of callers to, sometimes we can have them on the phone for 20 minutes lol we are seeing who can win the record for keeping them dangling the longest :)

x

Arkansas Patti said...

Gee, I feel left out. No one ever wants to give me millions.
Do you suppose anyone really falls for that?
Pretty sure you number is scratched off the list. Way to go.

Anonymous said...

Funny post, Betty!! And, so very true with these jerks that call, and sometimes at 9pm, and give a spiel!! I am sure that there might be some poor soul that would taken in by the sound of money, and I hate that!!! Glad you and your hubby gave them the riot act...They won't call you guyz again, betcha'~!

Grannymar said...

If he calls again, ask him for his number and to spell his name and THEN tell him the call is being recorded for security purposes! That should finish his game. ;-)

kenju said...

This is why I never answer the phone unless I recognize the name or number of the caller.

Sister--Helen said...

You are as bad as me ...the high lite of your day was a stupid guy calling on the phone....we do not have a very interesting life do we...you know I just have to look for amusenment where ever I can find it...you know my husband does very strange things...really wierd...I think these things he does are just nuts...yet, as my best friend points out , Helen here you are still with him and still talking about him....this says something about me and my life....nuts!

Chancy said...

Those phone scams are the pits.
And why do they always sound as if they arecalling from India or Timbuktu.

I love Jay's response I will remember that one.

Looking to the Stars said...

Well done! You gave me a good laugh. I don't know why someone would think people would fall for a line like that. Have a good day.

Betty said...

Marmite Toasty: I wasn't really at the top of my game, but he got the message.

Arkansas Patti: I'm afraid some folks do fall for it. I hope not, though.

margarethall: Thanks. But, Jay is my son. I always think everyone knows that. Don't know why. lol

Grannymar: Good idea. I'll remember that.

kenju: I should do that, too.

the 4th sister: I have to take my fun where I find it, these days.

chancy: They sound like that because they usually ARE calling from India or Timbuktu. lol

Looking to the Stars. Thanks. You have a good day, too, hear?

Darlene said...

Unfortunately these rats do get people to fall for their scam. I have a friend whose daughter is brain damaged and she gave one of these guys her bank account number (fortunately she made a mistake in the number) and her correct social security number. When they were unable to draw funds from her bank they called back telling her what she did was fraudulent and they were going to sue. Poor thing was hysterical and called her mother. Her mother hoped they would call back again so she could do her own threatening, but they never did, of course.

Her mother had to go to the bank, call the S. S. office and spend an afternoon dealing with the situation. She notified all the credit card companies and put some sort of stop on her daughter's information.

I'm glad you were able to show them that not all of us are so gullible, Betty. Good one!

NitWit1 said...

My best friend's retired husband loves to get any scamming call. He has caller ID and usually recognizes scammers.

Sometimes he simply answers, "Good Morning, you have reached the Bull Shoals Police Dept." The other end. "Click."

or he will let them start a spiel about something, like upping your life insurance some amount you could never afford, he will interrupt "Do you realize what this # is?" Other end, "no", "You have reached the mortician's line of the Local Funeral Home." CLICK

He has a pocket full of retorts.

Richard Lawry said...

It's one thing to try and scam you, but calling during NCIS - that's unforgivable.

An Arkies Musings

Betty said...

Darlene: How awful for your daughter's friend, but it's lucky she gave the wrong bank account number. That would have been an even bigger mess. Something should be done about these scammers.

Nitwit1: I had a friend who used to answer, "Smith's Pool Hall". It always knocked the caller off guard.

richies: Yes, how dare they?!? Thanks for coming by.

Word Tosser said...

Betty what a hoot about your friend... it reminded me of my father who would answer the phone in the 40's with....
Murphy's Funeral Home
you stab them
we slab them

He couldn't understand why they hung up.. lol...

Margaret Hall said...

Oooops, my apologies...(hangs head in shame)...I guess that I don't know names yet, and I feel stupid!
But, I will try and straighten up!
.....

oklhdan said...

My dad loved messing with sales solicitors, there were many phone scammers in his day though. Unfortunately many people do get taken advantage of and don't remember the warning, "If it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't."

Betty said...

Word Tosser: "Murphy's Funeral Home", lol.

Margaret: That's ok. I don't always identify him properly. I'll have to remember that no everyone has been reading my blog from Day 1.

oklhdan: I think I need to get out more, if that's my fun for the day. lol.

Grayquill said...

An old missionary friend said when he gets those kind of calls he stops them and asks them if they were to die tonight would they go to heaven or hell. I guess that kinda throws them off their game.
I guess it is kind of mean though.

Betty said...

Grayquill: That would probably shut them up, at least temporarily.

Deanna said...

LOL. It amazes me that they think we are that stupid but some do fall for that. When a telemarketer/scammer calls here, I ask them to please wait a minute and then put the phone down and go about my business. I've never checked to see how long they hold... ;0

Betty said...

Deanna: I've thought about doing that. Maybe I will next time. lol

Mari Meehan said...

Wow! I've never known anyone that really happened to! You're a celebrity of sorts! Not that it's a claim to fame you'd want to claim! Lol!

Lisa said...

Not to compare you to my grandmother, Betty, as you are ever so much younger, but this story reminded me of when some losers were taking advantage of my grandmother by calling and getting her credit card info. We didn't realize it then, but her Alzheimer's had begun, and they were more successful than you might think. I was visiting her when yet another scoundrel called, and I happened to answer the phone. I'm pretty sure that person never called her again, given the sharp earful they got from me!!

Betty said...

Dogwalkmusings: I had only heard of letters, but I guess they have started calling people, too.

Lisa: Good for you. I hope they never called her again. I hate those predatory creatures!

Cazzie!!! said...

Yayyy for Jay! Saviour :)
And I stll love love love NCIS!

Anonymous said...

ROTFLMAO!!!

Hilarious!!!!

But what about the check?????

Anonymous said...

Hang on a minute.......

You answered during a NCIS marathon. How dare you interrupt the viewing of one gorgeously gorgeous Michael Weatherly for that lousy bit of fun!!!!

LMAO!!!!!