Possible (Probable?) Scam
 

My caller ID showed this call from "Service Department" from an area code that is not one of the local ones.

The recorded message starts out with - an offer for a 'free alarm system installed in your home . . . for free' in exchange for the 'company' putting a small sign in our yard. I didn't listen to the rest of the message.

Seems like a good way for strangers to get a good layout of one's home and property!!

They also try to do it by coming door-to-door!

we had a phone call today from someone (from overseas) saying DH could get a free BP monitor, glucose monitor, and some kind of bed or something, all free from Medicare. I just kept saying NO and they gave up.

A lot of those alarm companies will do a free install and free equipment because they know the real money is in the ongoing monitoring fees.

I had someone call on my Sears card on Sunday. turned out to be real. they put an insurance on an appliance (service policy) onto my card. one for over a thousand and one for over six hundred. I talked to him a bit and then called Sears myself just to make sure it was a legit call. ended up disputing the charges. not fond of Sears at the moment!!!

I have gotten more than a dozen calls about the free alarm system just for letting them put a sign in the yard. they call while we are working, if I'm home I let the machine get it. My Daughter went on line and put our cell phones and house phone put on the do not call list. House phone use to be on it but, after changing phone carriers it wasn't. I have not gotten any calls since then.

Hadn't thought about that - although I did know that most companies have monitoring fees.

I just prefer for ME to call THEM for something like that.

I just won't answer those kinds of calls...that's why I have caller ID! :)

They've called me too....don't know which is worse, them or the constant letters from insurance companies that "don't want me to miss my Medicare upgrade"...all the same form letters!

My husband received an email this morning from AT&T saying that his bill is now online and that he owed more than 1,400, the only problem is we haven't had AT&T service for over 4 years. We decided that it was another email scam!! Anyway I hope it's a scam sure don't want to pay that much money.

I've been getting these alarm calls daily for awhile now. I already have an alarm & monitoring, so don't need it. I've also reported them via do not call website.

We got a thing recently about insuring our water lines because even though, "the county provided the lines, they don't maintain them". Very interesting since our community owns its own water system and has nothing to do with the county. IF only these people would put their creativity to something positive instead of trying to rip us off.

I received a call yesterday it started out like this " Don't hang up there has been a home robbery or you have been selected ........" at this point I hung up so much for the DO NOT CALL list and I just signed up for it again.

WOW !! I was going to suggest the donotcall.gov to everyone to keep your cell phone and your land lines off the "predatory list" as I call telemarketers. I have used that one for years and its great-haven't received any phone calls that are from the telemarketers.

We got one of the AT&T emails yesterday too for the same amount. Wish I had kept it and forwarded it to them.

Yes, it's a scam. I almost bought into it then fortunately something clicked and said no thank you.

Same here!

I don't even give them a chance anymore..I politely say "no thanks, not interested" and hang up...

Ditto. People in my circle know that if it's an emergency & they're at an unknown number (i. e: mu DIL travels for work & could call from just about anywhere), we have a code worked out that let's me know it's them & to answer/ Gawd... if it isn't some nut wandering the streets or the computer, it's the phobe. Wgere are you safe exactly?

Same here.

I got one a couple years ago you won't believe! This guy said he was from Publisher's Clearing House...the unclaimed prize department. Said that they had a drawing & I won $450,000. It would be delivered by a courier tomorrow morning....& all I had to do is pay to insure the check on it's way here....insurance was $1250. I knew it was a scam by then so I said "I guess you want my bank account or credit card #". He said "Oh no! Don't EVER give that to someone!!! You can wire the money to me"...& the courier would refund it upon safe arrival of my check. I told him to just deduct the insurance from the $450,000. He hung up on me.

The next day, I got another call. Different phone # on caller ID. This guy told me the same story. I stopped him mid-spiel, & told him that this must be my lucky week 'cause I won $450,000 yesterday too! He stammered a second & then tried to continue. Stopped him again...told him that you don't have to pay a cent to collect on a Publisher's Clearing House prize & I knew it was a scam. This guy got mad & told me that I HAD to pay the insurance & collect the prize or I'd be in violation of the agreement you make with PCH when you enter....& they'd sue me! Oh yeah, he also said they'd RUIN my credit rating. And I should be expecting a letter from their lawyers shortly! I told him I was the Postmaster General's cousin (NOT!)...& he finally hung up. I kinda wished he didn't...I was starting to have some fun with this!

I guess my luck finally ran out 'cause that was the last $450,000 I won that week! Ha!Ha!

boy it's a shame you didn't record the conversation. you could have told him that too!

I got one from Verizon this morning cc to about 20 people saying I owed 1865.59.

I wish people could come up with better things to do than rip people off. We recieived a letter stating that nothing will change for us to continue using a credit card except that they are the new company handling it. To keep paying to them.
!. We haven't use or had a credit card close to 5 years and all are closed.
2. if it was sold to them why are the banks selling closed out credit cards no longer in use?

We won't even get going on the telemarkers about things we don't have anymore or .........

Now all alarm companies offer free equipment and upgrades when you sign up for the monitoring fees. It's worth having the system but go with a well known company or local company.

Wow, what a coincidence. You all owed exactly the same amount. What are the odds of that happening?

Gotta wonder if some of these scammers have connected brain cells....

Also, what is bad is that some of these compaines will put it on your credit report and you don't even know them than you have to spend years disputing it. The 3 credit beau.companies also sell your information to anyone that will pay-------that is wrong for them todo it but they do.. How do you stop the credit Beau. from selling your information???

I also think the 3 credit beau.are blackmailing people. They are suppost to check on things .I don't think they do any think but sit there.

occasionally I like to have a bit of fun with them.... " oh YES,,,,,, tell me ALL about it!!!! I need the details too."..... as they begin to prattle on I lay the phone down and go about what I was doing... once it took 20 min before the telemarketer figured out I was gone.... LOL....

I used to hand the phone to my 2 year old granddaughter. She loooooooooooved talking on the phone. Too bad she didn't speak English yet. LOL

I have had this. I used to be a police officer. Don't EVER let anyone you do not personally know into your house or on your property. When it sounds too good to be true...it is.

I just got the 3rd or more call on this. They said to press 1 if I wanted more info. Press 4(?) if I wanted my number removed. They annoyed me so I pressed 1, turned up my TV and turned on the speaker phone and waited until I heard the clear button. Their # is 253-382-9098. I am on the 'do not call' list.

Just another scam. They do install for free - but the monthly charge is $30 - $40 !

there are people who call businesses saying they are the phone company and working on the lines and to please punch 9. well that gives them access to your line and all sorts of calls from African countries show up on the bill later. try calling the 800 numbers given-no answer to have them taken off. so much trouble!

I have been getting those calls too and got one on my cell. I chewed them out for calling me cell and hung up.

Watch the AT&T thing. I changed providers and AT&T refused to except it. Kept saying that their equipment was still in service and trying to charge me for it (was a very large bill also).

I always say that I am happy with the security system I have..............calla

Watch out for the scam where they call you as a grandson or other relative that has been in an emergency and needs money wired to them. We have gotten it twice. They start out by saying "hi, grandpa" or "grandma". They give you a fictitious scenario and of course, you want to help whoever is in trouble. We discovered they won't give their name until you inadvertantly give it to them. We have caught on at the last minute, and then hung up. But we were sucked in to the beginning of the call - it sounded realistic.